How
to Fund Home Modifications
Insurance
Settlement
If your disability
was a result of an accident in your car, in your home or in
the workplace, you should check with the appropriate insurance
carrier(s) to see if the company or companies will provide
funding for needed home modfications.
If you receive
a negative response you can appeal to another level in the
company. Most rejection letters include a written appeal procedure.
Follow the directions carefully, adhere to their deadline
and don’t procrastinate. If you need to, seek help from
an experienced advocate.
Private
Payment
The easiest way
to do home modifications, if you have sufficient funds, is
to pay for them yourself. Frequently, people use their
own money plus funds from another source. However, anything
beyond self-funding will mean that you will need to follow
the rules set down by each funding agency or organization.
If the home modification
meets certain conditions, it may be tax deductible. Part of
the expense of building a ramp or modifying the bathroom for
accessibility, or other modification, may be deductible if
they increase the resale value of the property and have been
prescribed as medically necessary. Consult a tax professional,
and order a free copy of IRS Publication 502 for more information.
The link to the IRS website is www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf
to download the information, or call 800-829-3676.
Foundations
and Disability-Specific Organizations
Another funding
source is foundations and disability-specific organizations.
You may locate them through the United Way, local telephone
directories, community newspapers, public libraries, friends,
family members, and colleagues.
Pennsylvania’s
Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT) is a statewide,
federally-funded “one stop” program for assistance
in learning about and acquiring assistive technology needed
for home modifications.
The Pennsylvania
Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) provides low-interest
loans for the purchase of assistive technology devices, including
ramps, modified bathrooms, widened doorways, stair glides,
and lowered counter tops. Loans can also be made for such
services as designing, constructing, and repairing home modifications. You
will find further information on both of these programs in
the “Other Programs” section of this website.
Bank Loan
If you are eligible,
there are many banks that will loan you money through a home
equity oan, second mortgage or, if you are old enough and
own your home, a reverse mortgage. Numerous websites explain
reverse mortgages; here is one www.seniorjobbank.org/rm/index2.html
Public
Assistance
If you do not have
an insurance settlement or you are in financial need, you
may seek assistance from one of the state or federal agencies
that can fund home modifications. The next page of this website,
the Helpful Resource Chart,
lists the various public programs. The information is listed
in rows and columns. Find the section that applies to you
and click on the link (right side) for further information.
At the bottom of each segment of information there is a direct
link to that program on an agency’s website.
| 
