If you or a parent in Pennsylvania needs grab bars, a ramp, a walk-in shower or a stair lift to stay safely at home, there are 31 programs below that may help pay for it: 5 in aging and disability, 4 in healthcare/insurance, 6 in housing and community development, 10 in lending, 4 in social and vocational, 2 in tax sources.
Most people qualify for at least one, but each program has its own rules: age, income, disability, veteran status, or whether you own or rent. Start with the three calls below. They are free, they know the local programs, and several can send someone to look at the home.
Veterans in Pennsylvania should also ask the VA about housing grants, which can pay far more than local programs; see our VA grants guide.
Local aging and disability offices are usually the best first call. Many can send someone to look at the home, and some pay for small changes directly.
Older Americans Act Title III-B / III-E (Area Agencies on Aging)
Pennsylvania's state unit on aging funds local Area Agencies on Aging. Your local Area Agency on Aging may help with a home safety check or small changes; find it through the Eldercare Locator.
Visit website (800) 677-1116 Our guide: Area Agencies on Aging: Home Repair and Modification Help
Assistive Technology (AT Act)
Pennsylvania's federally funded assistive technology program; some AT programs help with home changes or link people to low-cost loans.
Visit website Our guide: State Assistive Technology Programs: Try, Borrow, Reuse and Finance Equipment
Centers for Independent Living (HHS)
Independent living centers in Pennsylvania give advice, skills training and referrals to people with disabilities; some help pay for home changes.
Visit website Our guide: Centers for Independent Living: Disability-Led Help to Stay Home
VA SAH / SHA / TRA / HISA grants
Four VA grants that help Veterans with qualifying disabilities adapt a home, from small HISA jobs to whole-house SAH projects.
Visit website 1-800-827-1000 Our guide: VA Home Modification Grants (SAH, SHA, TRA and HISA)
Vocational Rehabilitation (RSA)
Pennsylvania Vocational Rehabilitation Services may pay for home changes or devices when they help a person with a disability reach a job goal.
Visit website Our guide: Vocational Rehabilitation: Home Modifications for Working Adults with Disabilities
Health programs can pay for changes when they are tied to a medical need. Medicaid waivers are the biggest source here; Medicare rarely pays for home changes.
Medicare / Medicare Advantage and private insurance
Original Medicare pays for medical equipment, not home remodeling, but some Medicare Advantage plans offer safety items or modifications as extra benefits.
Medicaid HCBS waivers (Section 1915(c))
Pennsylvania Medicaid runs Pennsylvania's Medicaid home and community-based waivers. Some waivers pay for home changes (often called environmental modifications) so a person with low income who needs long-term care can stay home. The USC PA state profile summarizes which waivers cover this.
Visit website Our guide: Medicaid Waivers That Pay for Home Modifications
Money Follows the Person (Medicaid)
Helps people with disabilities or chronic conditions move from a nursing home or other institution back to a home in the community. Services differ by state.
Social Security Administration
Work rules for people on SSI or SSDI. They can set money aside or subtract disability-related work costs, which may include home changes, so their benefits drop less.
Housing programs fix homes for people with lower incomes. Many run through your city, county or a local nonprofit.
HUD Community Development Block Grant
Your city or county may use federal Community Development Block Grant money for home repair grants or loans, including ramps and barrier removal.
Visit website Our guide: CDBG Home Repair and Accessibility Programs (Community Development Block Grants)
HUD HOME Investment Partnerships
HOME is a HUD block grant that many states and cities use for homeowner rehab grants and deferred loans, and accessibility work is an eligible cost.
Visit website Our guide: HUD HOME Program: Homeowner Rehabilitation and Accessibility Help
NeighborWorks America
Local nonprofit housing groups, such as NeighborWorks affiliates, may give repair advice, loans or grants. Search the NeighborWorks directory or your city name plus "Neighborhood Housing Services" to find groups in Pennsylvania.
Visit website Our guide: Nonprofit Home Repair Programs for Older Adults (Rebuilding Together, Habitat and More)
State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs)
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is Pennsylvania's housing finance agency. HFAs mostly fund home buying and affordable housing, and some offer low-interest or deferred repair loans. Check its site for any current repair or accessibility program.
Visit website Our guide: State Housing Finance Agency Repair and Accessibility Programs
USDA Section 504 Home Repair loans and grants; Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants
Rural Pennsylvania homeowners with very low income can ask these area offices about 504 repair loans and grants.
Visit website Our guide: USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants
DOE Weatherization Assistance Program
Lowers energy bills for lower-income Pennsylvania households and can include small health and safety repairs.
Visit website Our guide: Weatherization Assistance Program: Free Energy and Safety Upgrades
Loans spread the cost over time. Some are low-interest or forgivable for older and lower-income homeowners.
FHA 203(k) / Title I (HUD)
An FHA 203(k) mortgage lets you buy or refinance a home and include the cost of renovations, including accessibility work, in one loan.
Visit website Our guide: FHA 203(k) Loans for Accessibility Renovations
Other state or local program
A credit line borrowed against the home's value that can be drawn on as needed for home changes. It is repaid with interest. Ask a local bank or credit union.
Other state or local program
A second mortgage that pays out a lump sum for home changes and is repaid on top of the first mortgage. Ask a local bank.
Other state or local program
A personal loan from a bank puts no lien on the home, so it can work for renters and smaller projects. Approval depends on income, debt and credit.
Other state or local program
Replacing the current mortgage with a new one can free up cash for home changes when the owner has enough equity.
Other state or local program
Some remodelers donate part of the labor, materials or financing for a project. Ask your contractor.
Other state or local program
Many contractors partner with finance companies that lend for remodeling jobs. Ask your contractor what they offer.
HUD HECM reverse mortgage
Homeowners 62 and older can turn home equity into cash for modifications with an FHA-insured HECM, but it costs money and reduces what heirs inherit.
Visit website Our guide: Using a Reverse Mortgage (HECM) to Pay for Home Modifications
Other state or local program
A bank may lend against a certificate of deposit the owner already holds. This can cover smaller projects.
Other state or local program
Some banks and brokerages let owners borrow against an investment account and use the money for home changes. Ask about the terms and risks first.
Disability, job and community groups can sometimes pay for changes that help a person live or work independently.
Nonprofit repair program
Churches, service clubs, trade unions and builder groups sometimes run volunteer projects such as ramp builds, or raise money for home changes. Call 211 to find groups in Pennsylvania.
Our guide: Nonprofit Home Repair Programs for Older Adults (Rebuilding Together, Habitat and More)
Crime Victims' Benefits (U.S. Department of Justice)
Pennsylvania's crime victim compensation may help pay for home accessibility changes after an injury from a crime, when insurance or restitution does not cover it.
HHS Social Services Block Grant
State human services offices use these federal funds for emergencies. For people already on public assistance, they can sometimes cover a ramp, rails or grab bars.
Workers' Compensation (U.S. Department of Labor)
If a work injury makes daily life at home hard, Pennsylvania workers' comp may pay for home changes or a move to a more suitable home.
Some home changes can lower your taxes. Keep receipts and a doctor's note when the change is for a medical need.
IRS (U.S. Department of the Treasury)
Many accessibility changes can count as deductible medical expenses if you itemize, under the IRS rules in Publication 502.
Visit website Our guide: Deducting Home Modifications as a Medical Expense (IRS Publication 502)
State tax credit or deduction
Pennsylvania's list adds state tax credits to the usual sales and property tax items, but the source text ends before giving details or a link. Check with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and your county assessor before relying on any credit.
Our guide: State Tax Credits and Property Tax Breaks for Home Accessibility
| Change | Typical national cost | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Grab bars (installed) | $200 to $350 | each |
| Tub-to-shower / walk-in shower conversion | $2,000 to $12,000 | installed |
| Curbless roll-in shower | $2,900 to $15,000 | installed |
| Walk-in tub | $4,000 to $10,000 | installed |
| Comfort-height toilet / raised toilet seat | $375 to $800 | installed |
| Stair lift (straight) | $2,000 to $9,000 | installed |
Yes. This page lists 31 programs in Pennsylvania that can help pay for home changes such as grab bars, ramps and walk-in showers. Most are run through your local Area Agency on Aging, Medicaid, housing programs, or nonprofits, and each has its own eligibility rules.
Call your local Area Agency on Aging. It is free, it knows the programs in your county, and it can often arrange a home assessment. You can find yours through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov.
Original Medicare generally does not pay for home modifications like grab bars, ramps or shower conversions. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited supplemental benefits for safety items, so check your plan. Medicaid waivers are more likely to help if you qualify.
Yes. Several programs on this page serve renters, but you will usually need the landlord's written permission before any change is made. Look for the 'Renters' tag on each program.
It varies a lot. Small items like grab bars can happen in weeks; larger grants and Medicaid waivers can have waitlists of months. Apply to more than one program at once, and ask each about current wait times.