Disabled veterans with special physical needs may find it difficult to get around their homes. Veterans Affairs offers assistance to those who need new or modified homes to accommodate their conditions. These are the Specially Adapted Housing grant and the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. A Mobile, AL veterans disability attorney can help you or a loved one apply for these programs.
The SAH grant helps veterans with service-connected disabilities build, remodel, or pay down a specially adapted house. More specifically, a veteran can use an SAH grant for one of the following:
- Build a specially adapted home on land that is to be acquired
- Construct a home on land that is already owned, if it is suitable for specially adapted housing
- Remodel an already existing home, if it can be made suitable for specially adapted housing
- If an adapted home was acquired without the VA’s help, the grant may be applied against unpaid principal mortgage balance
To be eligible for an SAH grant, the veteran must have a permanent and total service-connected disability. In addition, one of the below criteria must apply:
- Loss, or loss of use, of both legs
- Loss, or loss of use, of both arms
- Blindness in both eyes plus the loss, or loss of use, of one leg
- Loss, or loss of use, of one lower leg plus residuals of organic disease or injury
- Loss, or loss of use, of one leg plus the loss, or loss of use, of one arm
- Certain severe burns
- Loss, or loss of use, of one or more lower extremities due to service on or after September 11, 2001. This last criterion is currently limited to 30 recipients per fiscal year.
The Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant is similar to the SAH grant. A Mobile, AL veterans disability lawyer can provide guidance as to which is best suited for your needs. The SHA grant helps disabled veterans adapt or purchase a home to accommodate their disability. It can be used for one of the following:
- Adapt an existing home that the veteran or a family member already owns in which the veteran lives
- Adapt a home that the veteran or a family member intends to purchase in which the veteran will live
- Help a veteran purchase a home that is already adapted in which the veteran will live
Eligible veterans seeking SHA grants must have one of the below conditions, plus a permanent and total service-connected disability:
- Blindness in both eyes with 20/200 sight or less
- Loss, or loss of use, of both hands
- Certain severe burns
- Certain severe respiratory injuries
A veteran is eligible for a maximum of three SAH or SHA grants, up to the maximum allowable dollar amount. In fiscal year 2019, the maximum allowable dollar amount for SAH grants is $85,645. Meanwhile the maximum allowable dollar amount for SHA grants in fiscal year 2019 is $17,130.
The VA’s grant money may be used to construct a variety of different housing renovations, such as:
- Bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens
- Covered porches, ramps, and walkways
- Garages and carports
- Security items
- Sliding doors, handrails, and grab bars
- Doors and windows
- Flooring materials
- Asphalt or concrete walkways
The adapted housing grant requires that the veteran has a permanent and total service-connected disability. If you’ve been denied this determination, a Mobile, AL veterans disability benefits attorney may be able to appeal the decision.
Trust the Team at Ascend Disability Lawyers, LLC
Our lawyers at Ascend Disability Lawyers, LLC are experienced in all aspects of the veterans disability benefits process. We can help you apply for adapted housing grants and other programs. Give us a call today to get started.
