VA Expands Housing Grants for Disabled Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amended the regulations regarding grants for the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Program.
The Specially Adapted Housing Program
Within this program, there are two major sources of assistance:
- Specially Adapted Housing Grant
- Special Housing Adaptation Grant
The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant helps disabled Veterans construct or modify a home to meet their adaptive needs. These are generally larger projects that require more drastic changes to a structure.
The Special Housing Adaptation (SAH) Grant is designed to make specific, smaller changes within a home to increase the mobility of a disabled Veteran.
The assistance provided by the SAH Program can be used to purchase, construct, or adapt a home that meets the needs of the disabled Veteran. The funds can also be used to reduce the debt from buying a home that has already been adapted.
The amount of SAH assistance a disabled Veteran can receive is based on a few things:
- The nature of the Veteran’s disability
- The scope of the project
- The amount of SAH assistance already received
RELATED: VA Adapted Housing Grants: An Overview
SAH for Blindness
There is SAH eligibility for Veterans with blindness in both eyes. Previously, there had to be a “loss or loss of use” of another extremity in order for blindness to be considered for SAH funding.
As such, the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity is no longer a criterion for receiving SAH benefits for blindness in both eyes.
Additionally, “blindness in both eyes” has been changed from having only light perception to “having central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a standard correcting lens.”
This means that Veterans who are blind in both eyes are eligible for SAH assistance and can receive up to $100,896 for the year.
More SAH/SHA Grants Available
Previously, an eligible disabled Veteran was permitted three separate grants from the SAH program but there are now a maximum of six (6) grants of assistance.
To be eligible, “the disability had to be incurred on or after September 11, 2001, and must be due to the loss or loss of use of one or more lower extremities which so affects the function of balance or propulsion as to preclude ambulating without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.”
RELATED: VA Auto Allowance for Adaptive Equipment
Applying for an SHA/SAH Grant
To apply for either the Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grants, you must use VA.gov.
You can also apply by mail:
- Fill out the Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant (VA Form 26-4555)
- Mail the completed form to the nearest regional loan center.
- If you need assistance, call 877-827-3702, M-F, 8 am to 9 pm ET.
Or, if you’d prefer to submit your application for assistance in person, then fill out VA Form 26-4555 and bring it into the nearest VA regional office for processing.
(Image courtesy of oneinchpunch via Shutterstock)
