Welfare Info

Specially Adapted Housing Grant

Certain Veterans and Servicemembers with serious service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a Specially Adapted Housing Grant for the purpose of constructing an adapted home or modifying an existing home to meet their adaptive needs. There are...

What is Specially Adapted Housing Grant?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides grants to Servicemembers and Veterans with certain permanent and total service-connected disabilities to help purchase or construct an adapted home, or modify an existing home to accommodate a disability. Two grant programs exist: the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant and the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. Under either grant, a Temporary Residence Adaptation grant (TRA) may be available to Veterans who are/will be temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member.

Program Requirements

The Specially Adapted Housing Grant is available to Veterans or Servicemembers who have a service-connected disability due to military service, entitling them to compensation for permanent and total disability due to:

 

  • The loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair; OR
  •  
  • Blindness in both eyes having only light perception, plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity; OR
  •  
  • The loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity together with:
    (1) Residuals of organic disease or injury, or
    (2) The loss or loss of use of one upper extremity.

    Item (1) and Item (2) above must so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair; OR
  •  
  • The loss, or loss of use, of both upper extremities, so as to preclude use of the arms at or above the elbows; OR
  •  
  • Severe burn injuries.

The Special Housing Adaptation Grant is available to Veterans or Servicemembers who have a service-connected disability due to military service, entitling them to compensation for permanent and total disability due to:

  • Blindness in both eyes with 20/200 visual acuity or less; OR
  •  
  • The anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands; OR
  •  
  • Certain severe respiratory ailments.


The current or most recent VA Rating Decision issued by the Veterans Service Center of jurisdiction establishes the Veteran or Servicemember's basic eligibility for a Specially Adapted Housing Grant. The VA Rating Decision is subject to review and revision.

Most Veterans who receive a Specially Adapted Housing Grant are also eligible for Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance covering the unpaid principal, not to exceed $200,000, on the mortgage loan. You can go to "Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance" to see the program requirements.

Generally, in order to receive VA benefits and services the Veteran/Servicemember's character of discharge or service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general). However, Reserve and National Guard members must have an honorable discharge. Sometimes, Veterans/Servicemembers receiving undesirable, bad conduct, and other types of dishonorable discharges may qualify for VA benefits depending on a determination made by VA.

 

Application Details

What is the application process for Specially Adapted Housing Grant?

To complete an application, use VA Form 26-4555, "Veteran's Application In Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant."