Minnesota covers 685 towns, from Hennepin County and Ramsey County up to St. Louis County, Cook County and Lake of the Woods County. About 69.3 percent of residents own their homes, so for many families the house with the stairs is one they plan to keep.
This page is the starting point for the whole state. It explains which kind of stair lift tends to fit which kind of staircase, how Minnesota's state, Medicaid and VA programs can help pay for one, and where to find the page for your own county.
Minnesota has a population of 4,751,949, and 16.0 percent of residents are 65 or older. That is a large group of people living with stairs to a bedroom, a bathroom or a basement laundry.
With 69.3 percent of Minnesotans owning their homes, most people deciding on a lift can make the install choice themselves. Renters can still get a lift, but the landlord has to agree before anything is mounted to the stairs.
A straight stair lift is the simplest case: one run of stairs with no turns or landings. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, and these are usually the quickest to install.
If the stairs turn a corner, have a middle landing or curve, you need a curved lift with a rail bent to fit that exact staircase. That takes measuring and fabrication first, so plan for more lead time.
Steps up to a porch or entry from outside call for an outdoor model built for the weather. When a wheelchair has to go along too, a platform lift is often the better fit than a seat.
Minnesota has several routes. The Elderly Waiver (EW) and the Alternative Care (AC) Program both list home access work under the EAA service limit of $21,722 per waiver year, effective 4/1/2026. For people under 65 with disabilities, the CADI Waiver has an EAA limit of $40,000 per waiver year, with an exception process above that cap.
If you do not qualify for a waiver, Minnesota Housing offers loans. The Fix Up Loan has no income cap for accessibility work, and the Rehabilitation Loan Program offers a deferred 0% loan for low-income homeowners.
Veterans should know the split in VA benefits: HISA pays for ramps and structural changes, while the stair lift itself comes through VA Prosthetics when it is medically prescribed. Each program is listed below with its phone number.
We have pages for counties across the state, including Anoka County, Dakota County, Olmsted County, Stearns County, Otter Tail County and Winona County. Each county page focuses on that area so you can plan with local details in front of you.
Start with the county where the home is, not where the family lives. Program offices and installer scheduling work from the address of the house.
A Medicaid 1915(c) home and community-based waiver that funds stair lifts under Minnesota's EAA service, up to $21,722 per waiver year (effective 4/1/2026). Call (800) 333-2433.
A state-funded program for seniors that covers home access adaptations, including stair lifts, up to $21,722 per waiver year under the EAA service limit (effective 4/1/2026). Call (800) 333-2433.
A Medicaid 1915(c) waiver that funds stair lifts for Minnesotans under 65 with disabilities, up to $40,000 per waiver year with an exception process above the cap. Call (866) 333-2466.
A state home-improvement loan that can finance a stair lift, with no income cap for accessibility work, up to $75,000 secured or $25,000 unsecured. Call (651) 296-8215.
A deferred 0% forgivable loan of up to $37,500 for low-income homeowners that covers accessibility repairs, including stair lifts. Call (651) 296-8215.
VA Prosthetics (PSAS) covers a medically prescribed stair lift with no set dollar cap, while HISA ($6,800 service-connected, $2,000 non-service-connected) covers ramps and structural changes, not the lift. Call (877) 222-8387.
It can, through waivers. The Elderly Waiver (EW) funds stair lifts under the EAA service, up to $21,722 per waiver year effective 4/1/2026. Call (800) 333-2433 to ask about eligibility.
Yes. The CADI Waiver funds stair lifts for Minnesotans under 65 with disabilities, with an EAA limit of $40,000 per waiver year and an exception process above that. The number is (866) 333-2466.
The Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan has no income cap for accessibility work. It goes up to $75,000 secured or $25,000 unsecured. Call (651) 296-8215.
Both can be covered, but by different parts of the VA. HISA pays for ramps and structural changes, while the stair lift itself comes through VA Prosthetics when medically prescribed. Call (877) 222-8387.
Yes. A curved stair lift uses a rail made to fit your staircase, including turns and landings. It needs to be measured and built first, so it takes longer than a straight lift.
Likely yes. We have pages for counties across Minnesota, from Aitkin County to Yellow Medicine County. Look for the county where the home is located.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
