Housing Aid for Older Persons Scheme

Information

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is used to improve the condition of an older persons home. In general, this scheme is aimed at people 60 years of age and above. However, if there is a case of genuine hardship the local authority may give assistance to people under 60 years of age.

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme replaced the Essential Repairs Grant administered by the local authority and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Rules

The type of work which is grant aided includes:

• Structural repairs or improvements
• Re-wiring, repair or replacement of windows and doors
• The provision of water, sanitary services and heating
• Cleaning and painting 
• Radon remediation
• Re-wiring and any other repair or improvement work considered necessary. 

Many older people may be eligible for the Scheme, however, priority will be given to people on the basis of financial need.

The grant can be paid to people in:

• Owner occupied housing 
• Houses being purchased from a local authority under the tenant purchase scheme.

Priority applicants

Your application will be prioritised based on medical need. Highest priority will be given to a person who is terminally ill or where alterations/adaptations would facilitate discharge from hospital or continuance of care in your own home.

Occupational Therapy report

When the local authority recieves your application, it may request an Occupational Therapist's (OT) assessment. The local authority can arrange for an OT assessment, but under the new grant you can employ an OT to carry out an assessment and get back up to €200 as part of the total grant up to the maximum you are entitled to.

Means test

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is a means-tested grant.  This means your total household income is assessed to find out if you qualify for the grant and at what level of assistance.

Household income is:

• Property owner's (tenant's in the case of private renting) and spouse's/partner's annual gross income in the previous tax year

The following is not taken into account when calculating your household income:

• €5,000 for each member of the household aged up to 18 years 
• €5,000 for each member of the household aged between 18 and 23 years and in full-time education or a FAS apprenticeship 
• €5,000 where the person for whom the grant is for, is being cared by a relative on a full-time basis 
• Child Benefit 
• Family Income Supplement 
• Domiciliary Care Allowance 
• Respite Care Grant 
• Carer's Benefit and Carer's Allowance (if the carer's payment is made in respect of the person for whom the grant is for) 

Tax clearance

If you get a grant of more than €10,000 you must have a valid Tax Clearance Certificate. If you intend to pay more than €650 to a contractor, you must get your contractor to submit his/her C2/Tax Clearance Certificate to the local authority.

Payment of a second grant

It is possible to get a grant under the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme a second time if your needs have substantially changed over time.

Starting the work

The grant will not be paid if you start work before the grant is approved. However, it is expected that the work will start within 6 months of your grant approval. 

Rates

The maximum grant available under the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is €10,500 which may cover 100% of the cost of works.

100% of the approved cost of works is available to those with annual household incomes of less than €30,000 and tapering to 30% for those with annual household incomes of €54,001 to €65,000.

Housing Aid for Older People Scheme:

The maximum grant levels will increase in line with the building cost index on an annual basis, this will protect the value of the grant into the future. However, income bands for the purposes of means-testing will also be amended annually in line with wage inflation.

Where to apply