Who qualifies for the Housing Adaptation Grant?

It is for a person with a disability, where changes to the home are needed so they can live there comfortably and safely. It applies to owner-occupied homes and, in some cases, private rented or local-authority-tenant homes. It is means-tested on your household income for the previous tax year, with disregards and deductions applied.

What works does the grant cover?

Typical works include a downstairs bedroom and bathroom or wet room, wider doorways and level access, ramps and grab rails, stairlifts, and extensions where a bigger structural change is needed. The works must relate to making the home suitable for the person with the disability.

Do I need an Occupational Therapist report?

For most adaptations, yes. An Occupational Therapist (OT) assesses the person's needs and recommends the works, and the council uses that report to decide the grant. For larger or structural works the OT report is central to the application.

Is the Housing Adaptation Grant means-tested?

Yes. The amount depends on your gross household income for the previous tax year. Incomes of €37,500 or less can get 100 percent of the cost, the percentage tapers as income rises, and no grant is paid where household income is over €75,000 after disregards and deductions.

Can I start the works before the grant is approved?

No. You must wait for written approval before any work begins. Works started before approval are not covered. This is why getting the application and OT report right first matters, and it is exactly the part we handle for you.

How long does the Housing Adaptation Grant take?

It varies by local authority and by how complex the works are, but a complete application with the OT report, quotes and documents in order is processed far faster than one with gaps. Mobility Aids applications are usually the quickest, larger adaptations take longer.

Can I combine it with other grants?

The three adaptation grants (Housing Adaptation, Housing Aid for Older People and Mobility Aids) are not paid twice for the same work, but the right one is chosen for your situation. Separate SEAI energy grants can apply to insulation or heating works alongside an adaptation.

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (2026)

Q: How much is the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability?

The grant is worth up to €40,000. If your gross household income is €37,500 or less, it can cover 100 percent of the cost of the works up to that maximum. The percentage tapers down as income rises, to 30 percent for incomes between €62,501 and €75,000, and no grant is paid above €75,000. For a home less than 12 months old the maximum is €20,000.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability is the largest of Ireland’s home adaptation grants, worth up to €40,000 to change a home so a person with a disability can live in it safely and comfortably. This guide explains who qualifies, what it covers, the income bands that decide your amount, and exactly how to apply. And if you are in Cork or across Munster, we handle the whole application for you, free.

€40k

Maximum grant

up to, for major adaptations

100%

Of cost covered

at incomes up to €37,500

Report guides it

for most structural works

What the grant is for

This grant funds the changes that turn an ordinary house into one that works for a person with a disability. That can be as focused as a downstairs bathroom, or as significant as an extension for wheelchair access. The test is simple: the works must make the home suitable for the needs of the person with the disability.

A downstairs bedroom & bathroom

The most common adaptation: a ground-floor bedroom and an accessible wet room, so daily life does not depend on the stairs.

Level access & wider doorways

Ramps, level thresholds, wider doors and hallways for a wheelchair or walking frame, inside and at the entrance.

Stairlifts & grab rails

Where the stairs must still be used, a stairlift, plus grab rails and supports in bathrooms and on steps.

Extensions & structural work

Where more space is genuinely needed, an extension or structural change to make the home fully accessible.

How much you get: the income bands

The grant covers a percentage of the cost of the works, and that percentage depends on your gross household income for the previous tax year. Disregards and deductions can reduce the income that counts, so it is worth checking properly rather than assuming you earn too much.

	What the grant covers
Income up to €37,500	100% of cost, up to €40,000
€37,501 to €62,500	Sliding scale, from 100% down to 30%
€62,501 to €75,000	30% of cost
Over €75,000	No grant

The application, step by step

The paperwork is where most people get stuck, so here is the whole journey laid out. The single rule that runs through all of it: never start the works before you have written approval.

From first call to finished works

1

Occupational Therapist assessment

For most adaptations, an OT assesses the person’s needs and recommends the specific works. This report is the backbone of the application.
We coordinate this for you
2

Quotes for the works

You get quotes from a contractor for the recommended works. They need to match what the OT report describes.
3

Complete the application

The council form, OT report, quotes, proof of income, tax details and ownership documents are submitted together.
This is the part we handle
4

Council decision & approval

The local authority assesses eligibility and income, and issues written approval with the grant amount before any work starts.
5

Works carried out

Once approved, the works go ahead. Do not begin earlier: anything done before approval is not covered.
6

Grant paid

On completion and sign-off, with the paid invoices and any tax clearance in order, the council pays the grant.

Who can apply

The grant is for owner-occupiers, and in defined circumstances for people renting privately or living in local-authority housing. What matters is that a person with a disability lives in the home and needs the adaptation. Because it is means-tested, the amount is set by your household income, but the door is not closed just because you are working: the taper runs all the way to €75,000.

Questions people ask

Straight answers

Is this the same as the Housing Aid for Older People Grant?

No. They are separate grants with different maximums. The Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €40,000) is for a person with a disability; the Housing Aid for Older People Grant (up to €10,700) is for essential repairs in the home of someone aged 66 or over. We match you to the right one.

Does the grant cover the full cost of an extension?

It covers a percentage of eligible works up to €40,000, set by your income band. A large extension can cost more than the grant, so the grant reduces the cost rather than always covering all of it.

Can I choose my own builder?

Yes. You get quotes for the works the OT recommends, and the council approves the grant against those. The works must match the approved scope.

What if the person is not the homeowner?

The grant can still apply in defined cases where the person with a disability lives in the home, including some private-rented and local-authority tenancies, with the owner’s consent where needed.

The bottom line

The Housing Adaptation Grant can transform a home for a person with a disability, and at incomes up to €37,500 it can cover the whole cost, up to €40,000. The works are the easy part. The application, the OT report and the strict “approval before works” rule are where it goes wrong, so getting them right first time matters.

If you are in Cork or across Munster, Ballyhome does the paperwork for you, free of charge: the OT coordination, the forms, the quotes and the council follow-up. You can also read our guides to the Housing Aid for Older People Grant and the faster Mobility Aids Grant, and see how SEAI energy grants can run alongside an adaptation.

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (2026)