Last reviewed: 2 May 2026.
A Disabled Facilities Grant from your local council is the main public funding route for a stairlift in the UK, but it is not the only one. UK charities pay for stairlifts (or contribute to them) for thousands of households a year, often faster than the council can. They are particularly useful when the means test rules you out of a DFG, when your DFG award does not cover the full cost, or when you cannot wait the typical four-to-six-month council timeline.
This page covers the charities that most commonly help, what they typically offer, who qualifies, and how to apply. None of these are first-come-first-served slots; we have linked to the live charity websites so you can check current funding availability before you start an application.
National charities that grant for stairlifts
Independence at Home
A national charity specifically set up to help people with long-term illness or disability stay in their own homes. They make grants towards mobility equipment, including stairlifts, where the local authority cannot fund the full cost. Awards typically range from £200 to £1,500. Apply through a referrer (social worker, OT, or charity worker) rather than directly. Independence at Home is a strong first stop because their remit is exactly this.
Turn2us
Turn2us does not directly grant stairlifts in most cases, but they run the largest free benefits-and-grants search engine in the UK. Type your postcode and circumstances into their grant finder and it lists trusts and charities that may fund a stairlift for someone in your situation, including small local-only trusts that you would never find by searching alone. We mention them first because they catch funding routes the rest of this list misses.
Margaret’s Fund
A grant-making trust for women with chronic illness who need help with the cost of a recovery aid or home adaptation. Awards are typically around £200 to £400 and can contribute towards a stairlift. Apply through a healthcare or social-care professional.
Age UK
Age UK does not grant stairlifts directly but runs an Information & Advice service and partners with local Age UK branches that may have small home-adaptation funds. They are also the gateway to specialist benefits checks that often unlock more council funding. Worth a free call (0800 678 1602) before you start applying anywhere.
Independent Age
Charity for older people; runs a Help-at-Hand service that includes signposting to charity grants and benefits checks. Their guides on the DFG and home adaptations are well-written and free. Limited direct grant-making but good route into other funds.
Condition-specific charities
If your need for a stairlift is linked to a specific medical condition, the relevant charity may have a small grants pot or a list of partner trusts. The most active are:
- MS Society: small one-off grants up to around £300, often used for mobility equipment.
- Parkinson’s UK: emergency grants and a benefits-and-money helpline that can identify routes to a stairlift.
- Macmillan Cancer Support: one-off grants for people living with cancer; can contribute to home adaptations where mobility is affected.
- Stroke Association: signposts rather than grants directly, but their service finder turns up local trusts.
- British Lung Foundation / Asthma + Lung UK: can help where breathing-related mobility issues drive the need.
Military and ex-military: see the dedicated page
If you or a family member served in the armed forces, you have access to a separate set of charities including SSAFA and the Royal British Legion that often pay for stairlifts in full. We cover those in detail on our stairlift help for UK veterans page.
How to apply
Most charities will not accept a direct application from the person needing a stairlift. They expect a referral from a recognised professional (council Occupational Therapist, GP, district nurse, social worker, or a registered charity caseworker like an Age UK adviser). The standard route is:
- Get a free benefits check (Turn2us, Citizens Advice, or Age UK) so you have an evidenced picture of income and savings.
- Ask your council for an OT assessment so you have an OT-signed recommendation that a stairlift is necessary.
- Apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant through your council’s housing or adult social care team. See our country-specific guides for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- If the DFG is refused or does not cover the full cost, the OT or social worker can refer you to one or more of the charities above.
- Run your details through the Turn2us grant finder for additional small local trusts.
How much, and how long
Charity grants for stairlifts in the UK typically range from £200 to £1,500. They are more often a top-up than a full-pay route. Decisions usually take two to six weeks, much faster than the four-to-six-month DFG process. If you are weighing options while you wait for a DFG decision, see our guide to renting a stairlift while you wait for your DFG, and our breakdown of what to do if your DFG does not cover the full cost.
Stairlift Costs UK is independent of all the charities listed on this page. We earn a commission only when readers buy a stairlift through one of our partner suppliers, never on charity grant referrals. See our full disclosure.
Pricing information
Unless stated otherwise, prices shown are fully installed prices for a standard staircase. Complex installations may carry additional charges.
Stairlifts installed for a disabled person may qualify for zero-rate VAT under HMRC Notice 701/7. Your supplier will confirm VAT eligibility at the point of quotation.
Our price ranges are compiled from supplier rate cards, published dealer price lists, and real quotes shared by homeowners. They are intended as a general guide, not a firm quotation.
Prices last reviewed: May 2026