Financial assistance for accessible living

Barrier-free living is becoming increasingly important to enable elderly and disabled people to live self-determined lives. However, financing the necessary remodeling often presents a challenge. Fortunately, many government and private grants exist to help owners and renters with financing.

One of the most important public subsidies is the KfW program “Altersgerecht Umbauen”. This is where owners and renters can save from up to 15.Benefit from a € 000 grant to make their home barrier-free. Likewise, Baukindergeld, housing subsidies and the application for a severely handicapped certificate can help with the financing.

Private foundations such as Aktion Mensch or the German Foundation for the Chronically Ill are also important places to turn for financial assistance with barrier-free living. Find out now about the various grants available to you and create a safe and self-sufficient home for yourself.

Why is accessible housing important?

The importance of accessible housing is often underestimated. There are many reasons why it is important to design apartments and houses so that they are accessible and usable for people with disabilities. Firstly, this concerns older people who have limitations due to the natural aging process or due to an impairment. On the other hand, young people can also be affected due to an illness or accident.

However, accessibility does not only mean a barrier-free access and movement concept, but also a barrier-free design of bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces. A barrier-free living situation enables people with disabilities to live a self-determined and independent life. But barrier-free design is also advantageous for families with small children and for households with luggage or groceries.

• Financial support through grants: There are several grants that provide financial support for accessible housing, making it affordable for lower-income households. For example, there are grants for bathroom remodeling or the installation of a stair lift.
• Increasing property value: a barrier-free living situation can also increase the value of a property by making it accessible and usable for a wider target group.
• Sustainability: barrier-free design of apartments and houses also promotes sustainability, as it helps to ensure a long service life.

All in all, there are many reasons why barrier-free housing is important and worthwhile. Those who opt for barrier-free design benefit not only from a higher quality of life, but also from various financial and environmental advantages.

Overview of subsidies for barrier-free living

State subsidies for barrier-free living can be applied for construction or conversion measures. One possibility is the installation of elevators, ramps or lowering of floors. Many measures can be accompanied by financial subsidies to enable barrier-free remodeling.

An important subsidy is the “KfW subsidy for barrier reduction”. This state subsidy can be claimed for measures such as the installation of grab bars, door enlargement or lowering of floors. In addition, there are also subsidies under state law. In many German states, homeowners can receive subsidies of up to 50 percent of the cost of barrier-free conversion measures.

Further subsidies are available especially for age-appropriate housing. These include grants for the installation of bathtub lifts or shower seats, among others. The conversion of apartments into nursing or visiting service rooms can also be subsidized.

• With the subsidy from the KfW Bank you can save up to 12.5% of the investment costs
• Up to 4.000 euros can be obtained from the KfW development bank for barrier-free construction measures per residential unit
• For home ownership, homeowners can receive up to 10.Apply for € 000

For barrier-free measures, it is important to always keep an eye on the current funding opportunities. Because not all programs are available at the same time and certain policies are only funded at certain times. It is also important to apply correctly and in a timely manner in order to receive funding.

Basic requirement: The application

In order to benefit from the numerous grants for barrier-free living, the right approach is of great importance. In any case, the basic requirement is the application. It doesn’t matter if it’s subsidies from health insurance, long-term care insurance or public agencies.

The application should always be filled out completely and include all necessary documentation. This includes, for example, medical certificates or craftsmen’s invoices. This is the only way to ensure that the application can be processed quickly and without problems.

• If you are unsure about which documents are required, you should find out exactly in advance.
• It is also advisable to submit the application early, as processing can often take several weeks or even months.
• Another important point to note is regular communication with the appropriate agency. This can clarify important issues and, if necessary, ask for missing documents.

Those who meet these basic requirements and proceed carefully can benefit from the numerous subsidies for barrier-free living and thus significantly improve their quality of life.