Williamsburg County covers about 937 square miles of flat, low-lying Coastal Plain between the Black, Great Pee Dee and Santee Rivers. Its towns, Kingstree, Lane, Hemingway, Greeleyville and Stuckey, sit among farms and spread-out homes rather than dense neighborhoods.
Most houses here are one level: ranch homes, farmhouses and manufactured homes. So the stairs that cause trouble are often at the front porch, the back door or a split-level entry, not a full second floor. This page walks through which kind of lift fits those homes and where Williamsburg County families can look for help paying for one.
A single-story ranch home or farmhouse can still have steps that block someone with weak knees or poor balance. Raised porches, back stoops and steps down to a carport are common trouble spots.
For those spots, an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure is usually the first thing we look at. If the steps are short and a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
Split-level homes have short runs of stairs between floors, and that is where a straight stair lift often fits well. A straight rail is the simplest install and usually the least costly option.
If a staircase turns or has a landing partway up, a curved lift with a custom rail is needed instead. In low-rise buildings, ask the owner or manager about shared stairways before planning any install.
About 28.1% of residents are 65 or older, so many families in the county are thinking about staying in their own homes longer.
Flat terrain helps here. With level lots, outdoor lifts and ramps tend to be easier to place than on hilly ground.
Money is a real concern in this county, where household incomes have historically been among the lower ones in South Carolina. That makes it worth checking every program before paying out of pocket.
Veterans can start with Williamsburg County Veterans Affairs at 147 W Main Street in Kingstree, (843) 355-9321. Residents 60 and older and family caregivers can contact Waccamaw AAA at 1230 Highmarket Street in Georgetown, (843) 546-8502, or the SC Department on Aging line at (800) 868-9095 to confirm which Area Agency on Aging serves them.
Statewide options to ask about include the SC Community Choices Waiver (Medicaid HCBS), the South Carolina Assistive Technology Loan Program, the SC Housing Trust Fund - Home Repair Program, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the South Carolina Homestead Exemption (Property-Tax Relief). None of the programs listed below names stair lifts outright, so ask each office directly.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities to buy, build or modify a home; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call Williamsburg County Veterans Affairs at (843) 355-9321 to ask about eligibility.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or a serious breathing injury; the source does not mention stair lifts. Williamsburg County Veterans Affairs at (843) 355-9321 can help with the application.
Funds changes to a family member's home where an eligible veteran is living for a while, up to $50,961 for SAH-eligible or $9,100 for SHA-eligible veterans (FY2026); stair lifts are not mentioned in the source.
Services for people 60 or older with limits in at least two Activities of Daily Living, including home devices and minor home repair; the source does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 868-9095 to reach the Area Agency on Aging serving your county.
Support for caregivers, including supplemental services that vary by region; the source does not say whether stair lifts or home modifications are included. Call (800) 868-9095 to confirm with your local Area Agency on Aging.
Older adults
1230 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, 29440
Veterans
147 W Main Street, Kingstree, 29556
Possibly. Many ranch homes and farmhouses in Williamsburg County have raised porches or back steps, and an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle those.
Split-level homes usually have short, straight runs of stairs, so a straight stair lift is often the fit. If the stairs turn or have a landing, a curved lift is needed.
Yes. The SC Department on Aging supportive services program serves people 60 or older with limits in at least two daily activities. Call (800) 868-9095 or Waccamaw AAA at (843) 546-8502 to ask whether stair lifts are included.
Williamsburg County Veterans Affairs is at 147 W Main Street in Kingstree, and the phone is (843) 355-9321. They can explain the SAH, SHA and TRA grants.
The Family Caregiver Support Program helps caregivers of people 60 or older who need help with daily activities. Its supplemental services vary by region, so call (800) 868-9095 to confirm what is offered locally.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
