Expanded Benefit Will Help Severely Disabled Veterans

Washington, January 4^th – The VA has announced that a new law will allow eligible, seriously injured veterans and servicemembers to receive special adaptive housing grants of $10,000 or $50,000 up to three times so long as the total grants stay within specified limits outlined in the law.  Previously they had only been allowed to use the benefit once.

Eligible for the benefit are those with specific service-connected disabilities entitling them to VA compensation for a "permanent and total disability."  They may receive a grant to construct an adapted home or to modify an existing one to meet their special needs. 

VA has three types of adapted housing grants available.  The Specially Adapted Housing grant (SAH), currently limited to $50,000, is generally used to create a wheelchair-accessible home for those who may require such assistance for activities of daily living.  VA's Home Loan Guaranty program and the Native American Direct Loan program may also be used with the SAH benefit to purchase an adaptive home. 

The Special Housing Adaptations (SHA) grant, currently limited to $10,000, is generally used to assist veterans with mobility throughout their homes due to blindness in both eyes, or the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, or extremities below the elbow.

A third type established by the new law, the Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant, is available to eligible veterans and seriously injured active duty servicemembers who are temporarily living or intend to temporarily live in a home owned by a family member. 

For more information about grants and other adaptive housing programs, contact a local VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000 or local veteran service organization.  Additional program information and grant applications (VAF-26-4555) can be found at http://www.homeloans.va.gov/sah.htm.  

To see the full VA press release go to:
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1440

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