The VA has three main grant programs to assist disabled veterans with necessary home modifications.
This grant is designed to help provide a barrier-free living environment that affords the individual a level of independent living they may not otherwise enjoy, such as creating a wheelchair-accessible home. Veterans and service members with specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant for the purpose of constructing or modifying a home to meet their adaptive needs. This grant is currently limited to $63,780.
The grant is available to veterans who are entitled to disability compensation for permanent and total disability due to one of the following:
• Loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair;
• Blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity;
• Loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury;
• Loss or loss of use of one upper extremity, which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair;
• Loss or loss of use of both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms at or above the elbow;
• A severe burn injury (as so determined).
This grant is for modifying an existing home to meet adaptive needs, such as assistance with mobility throughout the home. Veterans and service members with specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to this type of grant. The grant is currently limited to $12,756. A temporary grant may be available to veterans who are or will be temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member.
The grant is available to veterans who are entitled to disability compensation for permanent and total disability due to one of the following:
• Blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less;
• The anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands or extremities below the elbow;
• A severe burn injury (as so determined).
Under this program, veterans may receive assistance for any home improvement necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. A grant is available to veterans who have received a medical determination indicating that improvements and structural alterations are necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of their disability. A veteran may receive this grant and either Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation grant.
The Home Improvement and Structural Alterations program is available for both service-connected veterans and non service-connected veterans.
• Home improvement benefits up to $6,800 may be provided to service-connected veterans.
• Home improvement benefits up to $2,000 be provided to non service-connected veterans.
You can apply for the Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation grants by completing VA Form 26-4555, “Veterans Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant.”
You can apply for a Home Improvement and Structural Alterations grant by completed VA Form 10-0103, “Veterans Application for Assistance in Acquiring Home Improvement and Structural Alterations.”
If you would like more information concerning these programs, feel free to contact your County veterans services officer.
Rick Johnson is Rowan County veterans services officer. Fore more information, contact him at 704-216-8139 or go online to www.RowanCountyVeterans.com