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A stairlift can make a real difference to your confidence and independence at home. But the cost, anywhere from around £2,000 for a straight stairlift to £7,000 or more for a curved one, can feel out of reach.

Several sources of funding exist, and you can pursue more than one at the same time. This guide covers the Disabled Facilities Grant, VAT relief, charitable grants, local authority support, and finance, with practical guidance on who qualifies and how to apply for each.

If you would like to read about choosing the right stairlift before exploring your funding options, our stairlift buying guide covers everything from staircase type to weight capacity and aftercare. 

 

How Much Does a Stairlift Cost and Why Financial Help Matters

Straight stairlifts typically start from around £2,000 to £3,500. Curved stairlifts, built to measure for your staircase, usually cost from £4,000 upwards. Reconditioned models can bring that figure down, but they still represent a significant outlay for many households.

For people on a fixed income, or facing unexpected health changes, the cost alone can be enough to delay getting help that is genuinely needed. It is worth finding out what help is available before assuming the full cost is yours to cover.

 

The Disabled Facilities Grant - The Main Government Route

The Disabled Facilities Grant, or DFG, is the primary government-funded route for stairlifts and other home adaptations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is a mandatory grant: your local council is legally required to provide it if you meet the criteria, and cannot refuse on budget grounds alone.

In England, the DFG covers up to £30,000. In Wales the limit is £36,000, and in Northern Ireland it is £25,000. According to Foundations UK, around 58,606 grants were completed in England in 2023/24, with total DFG funding reaching £761 million in 2025-26.

Scotland operates its own scheme. Rather than the DFG, Scotland has the Scheme of Assistance, which requires local councils to cover a mandatory minimum of 80% of approved adaptation costs for eligible applicants. The remaining portion may be means-tested.

 

Who Is Eligible for the Disabled Facilities Grant?

To qualify, you (or someone living with you) must have a disability or long-term condition that affects your ability to manage at home. You must also intend to continue living at the property for at least five years after the work is completed.

The grant is open to homeowners and tenants, including private renters, housing association tenants, and council tenants. If you are renting, your landlord must agree before work goes ahead.

For adults, the DFG is means-tested. The council will look at your household income and savings, with amounts over £6,000 included in the assessment. If your savings or income are above the threshold, you may be asked to contribute. Grants for disabled children are not normally means-tested.

 

How to Apply for the Disabled Facilities Grant - Step by Step

Step 1: Contact your local council. Get in touch with your council's housing adaptations team or adult social care department. Explain that you are having difficulty managing the stairs and want to explore a Disabled Facilities Grant. Many councils have an online referral form, but a phone call or visit works too.

Step 2: Have an occupational therapist assessment. An OT will visit your home to assess how you manage everyday tasks including the stairs. They will look at your balance, mobility, and risk of falls, and recommend the most suitable adaptation. Their report forms a central part of the DFG application.

Step 3: Submit the formal application. Once the OT has completed their assessment, you or the council submit a formal DFG application. The council then has up to six months to issue a decision.

Step 4: Obtain an approved quote. If your application is approved, the council needs a quote from a registered installer before work can begin. Your council or local Home Improvement Agency may be able to help with this.

Step 5: Installation and payment. Once everything is agreed, the stairlift is installed. The grant is usually paid directly to the installer, or reimbursed to you after the work is complete, depending on your council's process.

Timescales vary. In some areas, the full process from first contact to installation takes three to six months. Where OT waiting lists are long, it can take considerably longer. Applying early matters, particularly if managing the stairs is becoming unsafe.

 

Getting an Occupational Therapist Referral

Most people can access an OT without waiting for a GP referral.

The most common route is to ask your GP to refer you to NHS occupational therapy services at any routine appointment. You can also self-refer to your local council's adult social care OT team, as most councils allow this without needing a GP referral first.

If NHS waiting lists are long and your safety on the stairs is a concern, a private OT assessment is available. A private assessment typically costs between £150 and £300 and carries the same weight in a DFG application as an NHS one.

 

What If the DFG Does Not Cover the Full Cost?

If your stairlift costs more than the DFG maximum, you may not need to cover the difference alone. Some councils run discretionary top-up grants that supplement the standard DFG. These vary considerably from one area to another, so it is worth asking your council what additional support is available locally.

Home Improvement Agencies, covered below, can also help you find any local funding that may be available.

 

Scotland - The Scheme of Assistance

If you live in Scotland, the Disabled Facilities Grant does not apply. Instead, you apply through the Scheme of Assistance, administered by your local council. For eligible applicants, the council must cover at least 80% of approved adaptation costs, with any remaining contribution potentially means-tested.

The process follows a similar structure: contact your council, arrange an OT assessment, and submit a formal application. Your local council's housing team is the place to start.

 

VAT Relief - How to Save 20% on Your Stairlift

VAT relief is not a grant, but it can cut the cost of your stairlift by a meaningful amount. Eligible customers pay either 0% or 5% VAT, rather than the standard 20%.

There are two tiers. If you have a physical or mental impairment with a long-term and substantial adverse effect on your ability to carry out everyday activities, or a condition the medical profession treats as a chronic illness, you qualify for zero-rated VAT under HMRC Notice 701/7. This applies regardless of age.

If you are aged 60 or over but do not meet the disability definition above, you pay a reduced rate of 5% on your stairlift purchase.

VAT relief does not apply to temporary conditions such as a broken limb. The exemption is for ongoing health conditions.How the Self-Declaration Works

Claiming VAT relief is simpler than most people expect. Before you buy, you complete a VAT relief eligibility declaration form confirming that you, or the person you are buying on behalf of, meets the HMRC criteria. You give the completed form to your supplier, not to HMRC. The supplier keeps it with their VAT records.

No medical certificate is required. Self-declaration is sufficient, though it is worth being accurate, as HMRC does carry out checks.

Our team at Right Choice Mobility can walk you through this. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, we are happy to advise before you commit to a purchase. As an NHS approved supplier and Which? Trusted Trader, we handle this with customers regularly.

 

Charitable Grants - Other Organisations That Can Help

A number of charities offer grants for home adaptations including stairlifts. They fill gaps: when the DFG falls short, when you do not qualify, or when you need to move faster than a government application allows.

Charitable grants generally process faster than government routes. Some take a few weeks rather than several months.

 

Independence at Home

Independence at Home offers grants of up to £2,000 for people with a disability or long-term illness who need financial help with home adaptations or specialist equipment. The grant covers stairlifts and is means-tested.

You cannot apply directly. Applications must be submitted on your behalf by a social worker, OT, GP, or another healthcare or support professional. If you think you might qualify, ask your OT or GP to make a referral.

 

SSAFA - The Armed Forces Charity

If you or your partner has served in the British Armed Forces, SSAFA may be able to help. The charity supports current and former personnel, including reservists, and their immediate families, with welfare needs including home adaptations and mobility equipment. Eligibility covers anyone who received a minimum of one day's pay from the British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, or Royal Marines.

Contact SSAFA's Forcesline service or reach out via their website. Processing times are typically shorter than government grant routes.

 

Turn2Us

Turn2Us runs a free online grants search that matches you to charitable funds based on your postcode and circumstances. It covers a wide range of funds, including those linked to former occupations, local community trusts, and charitable foundations that are not widely advertised.

Run a Turn2Us search early. You may find a grant you were not aware of, particularly if you have worked in a trade or industry with a linked benevolent fund.

 

Age UK

Age UK does not usually award grants directly, but local branches are often aware of local funding sources and can point you toward relevant charities and schemes in your area. Their information line is a useful first call if you are not sure where to start.

 

Local Benevolent and Occupational Funds

Many people do not realise that charitable funds exist for former employees of specific industries or public services, including former teachers, miners, NHS staff, and police officers. These funds sometimes help with home adaptation costs. Turn2Us is the most practical way to find any you may be entitled to based on your working history.

 

Local Authority Support Beyond the DFG

Beyond the standard DFG, your local council may have additional schemes worth asking about.

Some councils run discretionary grant programmes that top up the DFG or help people who narrowly miss eligibility. Availability varies from one authority to the next. Ask your housing adaptations or adult social care team directly what is available in your area.

 

Home Improvement Agencies

Home Improvement Agencies are not-for-profit organisations that help older and disabled people arrange home adaptations. They can support you through the DFG application process, obtain quotes from registered installers, and in some cases administer grant funding themselves.

Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies, runs the Adapt My Home tool at findmyhia.org.uk. This includes a DFG eligibility self-assessment and a means-test calculator, so you can get a rough idea of what you might receive before making formal contact with your council.

To find your local HIA, visit findmyhia.org.uk and enter your postcode.

 

Finance and Payment Plans

If you do not qualify for a grant, or want to proceed without waiting for a lengthy assessment, finance is worth considering. Many stairlift retailers offer interest-free or low-interest payment plans spread over 12 to 36 months.

If safety on the stairs is a concern now, proceeding on finance while a grant application is in progress is a practical option. You get the stairlift when you need it rather than waiting several months for a decision.

When comparing finance options, look for a clearly stated representative APR, FCA-regulated lending, and no hidden installation or set-up fees. Our team can talk through what is available when you get in touch.

 

What to Do First - Your Practical Starting Point

Start with the DFG. Contact your council's housing adaptations or adult social care team and ask about the Disabled Facilities Grant. Making contact costs nothing and starts the clock on what can be a lengthy process, so do not wait until you are certain you qualify.

Check your VAT relief eligibility at the same time. Ask your stairlift supplier whether your condition qualifies for zero-rated or reduced-rate VAT. It is a saving you can apply to any purchase, regardless of whether a grant comes through.

Run a Turn2Us search. This takes around ten minutes and may surface charitable funds you would otherwise miss, including occupation-linked or local community grants.

Ask your council about discretionary top-ups and HIA support. When you speak to your council about the DFG, ask specifically what additional local schemes exist and whether a Home Improvement Agency can help you through the process.

If timing is a concern, look at finance. If waiting for a grant decision is not practical, finance can bridge the gap. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive.

These routes can run alongside each other. You do not have to pick one and wait.

 

Talk to Us Before You Decide

Our team at Right Choice Mobility is happy to talk through which funding routes apply to you. As a Which? Trusted Trader and NHS approved supplier, we work regularly with customers navigating the DFG process and VAT relief, and we understand how the different options fit together.

If you would like to see stairlifts in person before committing, you are welcome to visit our showroom in, Highams Park, London.

Call us on 0208 527 7487 or visit our contact page. When you are ready to look at stairlifts, our stairlifts collection is a good place to start comparing models and getting a sense of costs.