A stairlift is a machine that can be installed onto stairs allowing for people who cannot walk up or downstairs, or do not have the energy to climb up and downstairs, to safely move from one floor of their house to another.
Such machines are sometimes installed in homes across America so that people can continue living at home after they have retired instead of being forced into retirement homes. Many people who are required to use stairlifts can get them paid for by the government.
Getting a stairlift paid for by the government typically depends on many factors and there are often waiting lists to get on approvals lists for such machines. If a person gets onto an approval list early on, they will be able to get their machine sooner. Here are the steps to follow to get a Government Grant for a stairlift
Determine if your stairlift is covered
Most people will be required to pay for a considerable amount of their costs. Most government programs have been designed so that those who have enough money to cover the costs do so, and those who don’t have as much finance can get help. However, the solution for people who are unemployed retired, or have a limited income is typically to get help from the federal government. To know whether or not you are eligible for a grant for a stairlift, you will need to know what your income is. You should also get information on your savings, investments, and pensions to determine whether you are eligible for the grant.
Fill out paperwork
After determining if you are covered by a government program, it will be necessary to fill out any forms or paperwork that you need. Some companies will help you to get the forms regarding stairlift grants that you need to fill out, but it may also be possible to find them yourself. These usually have to be filled out in person, so you will need to schedule a time to go into a local office and fill them out. If you are not able to do so, you will need to hire a professional.
Get approval from your doctor
To get a stairlift grant from the government, it is often necessary for you to have seen a doctor and have been deemed as being unable to move up or downstairs without help. This would be documented in a letter which you should also take along as part of the paperwork that you are filling out. Simply contact your hospital or physician’s office and ask them to write one out for you if this is not something that they offer (some physicians may charge for writing such letters).
Get in contact with the government
After you have filled out your paperwork and compiled all of the information needed, you will be able to request your stairlift. Some organizations may have an intake department, but if they do not you will need to contact the person who is in charge of receiving applications for government grants. You can find these by searching through your local phonebook or looking on the internet for organizations that offer grants. They will then guide you further and let you know what else is necessary, if anything, based on your specific situation.
Wait for a response
After you have sent in your paperwork, it will take some time to get a response. The government deals with many applications every day, and it can take quite a while for them to respond. If you don’t hear anything within 2-3 months, you should call the office that you submitted the paperwork. Be persistent if necessary as this isn’t always something that happens quickly. Also, if you feel as if your situation has changed significantly, call and let them know this as well.
Reapply if you are turned down
If your grant for a stairlift is turned down, then you should apply again. You can do this either by calling the organization that you applied with or filling out new paperwork if they tell you to do so. Sometimes it may take more than one application or there might be some other reason why they cannot accept your previous submission, but it will help tremendously to reapply. One of the reasons that it is so important to reapply is that some grants are only good for a certain period, and if you miss that window you will not be able to get another one.
Get confirmation
After receiving grant approval for your stairlift, you should get confirmation of this. This will include information on how much money has been approved and what the repayment terms are (if any). You may receive checks in the mail or have them deposited directly into your account; regardless of what happens, make sure that everything is confirmed before moving on to the next step. After everything is confirmed, then it should be possible to schedule the install of your stairlift.
After following the steps outlined above regarding how to get a stairlift grant, it will hopefully be easier for many people to access their benefits without having to spend money out of pocket on new machines. Knowing one’s options often helps make the process go more smoothly.
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