The Housing Aid for Older People Grant helps people aged 66 and over pay for the essential repairs that keep a home safe, warm and dry, worth up to €10,700. It is one of the most useful and least-known supports available to older homeowners in Ireland. Here is who qualifies, what it covers, the income limits and how to apply, without the jargon.

Housing Aid for Older People at a glance
Maximum grant
Up to €10,700100% of cost at incomes up to €37,500
Who it is for
Homeowners aged 66+discretion for under-66 in hardship cases
Means-tested
Yeson the previous tax year’s household income
Income cut-off
Over €75,000no grant above this, after disregards
Where to apply
Your local authorityCork County or Cork City Council in our area

What the grant pays for

The focus is “essential”: the repairs a home needs to stay safe and livable, not cosmetic upgrades. Tap through the main categories of eligible work.

Structural repairs and essential improvements, including roof repairs that keep the house watertight and sound.

Rewiring and electrical safety work to bring an older, unsafe installation up to a safe standard.

Repairing or providing heating so the home can be kept warm. Note: new standalone oil or gas boilers are no longer covered.

Providing a water supply and basic sanitary facilities where they are missing or inadequate.

Repairing or replacing windows and doors for warmth, security and safe access.

Do you qualify?

Three things decide it: age, the home, and income. Tick what applies:

Quick eligibility check
0 of 5 ticked

How much you get

The grant covers a percentage of the cost, set by your gross household income for the previous tax year. Because disregards and deductions apply, your assessable income is often lower than your headline income.

  • Income up to €37,500: up to 100 percent of the cost, to a maximum of €10,700.
  • Between €37,501 and €75,000: a sliding scale, tapering down to 30 percent.
  • Over €75,000: no grant.

The application, start to finish

01
Check & quote
Confirm eligibility and get quotes for the essential works needed.
02
Apply
Submit the council form with proof of age, income, tax and ownership.
03
Approval
Wait for written approval and the grant amount before any work begins.
04
Works
The approved repairs are carried out by your contractor.
05
Paid
On sign-off, with paid invoices in order, the grant is paid out.

Questions people ask

Straight answers
Can I get this and adapt the house for a disability too?

They are separate grants. If the works are essential repairs for an older person, this grant fits. If they are adaptations for a disability, the Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €40,000) or Mobility Aids Grant (up to €8,000) may be right. We match you to the correct one.

Does a pension count as income?

Your household income is assessed, but there are disregards and deductions, and some income is not counted in full. It is worth having your assessable income checked rather than assuming a pension rules you out.

Do I have to repay it?

No. It is a grant, not a loan, once the works are approved and completed to the required standard.

How long does approval take?

It depends on the local authority and the works, but a complete application with quotes and documents in order moves far faster than one with missing paperwork.

The bottom line

If you, or a parent, are 66 or over and the home needs essential repairs, the Housing Aid for Older People Grant can cover up to €10,700, and up to the full cost at incomes of €37,500 or less. The repairs are straightforward. The paperwork and the “approval first” rule are where it trips people up.

Ballyhome handles the entire application for homeowners in Cork and across Munster, free of charge: the forms, the quotes and the council follow-up. For younger applicants or bigger changes, see our guide to the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, and how SEAI energy grants can improve heating and insulation alongside repairs.