**VA Pamphlet 26-69-1: Questions on Specially Adapted Housing and
Special Housing Adaptations (Online Version)**

**[Part 2 - Special Housing Adaptations]{.underline}**

**(This electronic version of VA Pamphlet 26-69-1 was revised October
2007.)**

Part 2 is designed to answer questions, which may be asked by veterans
or servicemembers and their families regarding Special Housing
Adaptations for Disabled Veterans under 38 U.S.C. § 2101(b).

***Eligibility & Statutory Requirements***

**1. What is the governing law relating to special housing adaptations
for disabled veterans or servicemembers?**

Title 38, United States Code, chapter 21. The original statue was Public
Law 96-385, dated October 7, 1980. Public Law 109-233, The Veterans
Housing Opportunity and Benefits Act of 2006, dated June 15, 2006,
amended Public Law 96-385 and expanded benefit eligibility.

**2. Which veterans or servicemembers are basically eligible for the
Special Housing Adaptations Grant?**

Veterans or servicemembers who have a service-connected disability due
to military service, entitling them to compensation for permanent and
total disability due to:

a\. Blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or

b\. The anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.

**3. Who determines the veteran's or servicemember's basic eligibility
for the grant?**

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

**4. Is there any time limitation or deadline for applying for a Special
Housing Adaptations Grant?**

No, there is no time limit on the use of the grant.

***Special Housing Adaptations Benefit***

**5. How much special housing adaptation assistance can a veteran or
servicemember receive?**

An eligible veteran or servicemember may receive a VA grant for the
actual cost to adapt a house or for the appraised market value of
necessary adapted features already in a house when it was purchased, up
to the maximum grant amount.

6\. How many times may a veteran or servicemember receive special
housing adaptations assistance?

Public Law 109-233 authorizes up to three usages of grant benefits. If
changes to the governing law provide for an increase in the current
maximum grant amount, veterans or servicemembers who have not used
assistance available to them up to three times may be entitled to the
increase in the maximum grant amount at that time.

**7. How may the grant be used?**

a\. The veteran or servicemember has the option to use the grant under
any one of the following plans:

Plan (1). The veteran or servicemember may adapt a house, which he/she
plans to purchase and in which he/she intends to reside.

Plan (2). The veteran or servicemember may adapt a house, which a member
of the veteran's or servicemember's family plans to purchase and in
which the veteran or servicemember intends to reside.

Plan (3). The veteran or servicemember may adapt a house, which he/she
already owns and in which he/she intends to reside.

Plan (4). The veteran or servicemember may adapt a house, which is
already owned by a member of the veteran's or servicemember's family in
which the veteran or servicemember intends to reside.

Plan (5). The veteran or servicemember may purchase a house, which has
already been adapted with special features that VA has determined are
reasonably necessary because of the veteran's or servicemember's
disability and in which he/she intends to reside.

b\. Under Public Law 109-233, a temporary grant (TRA) may be made
available to veterans who are/will be temporarily residing in a home
owned by a family member. This assistance, up to \$2,000, may be used to
adapt the family member's home to meet the veteran's special needs at
that time. TRA is currently not available to servicemembers.

**8. What is meant by "a member of the veteran's or servicemember's
family"?**

A member of the veteran's or servicemember's family is defined as a
person related to the veteran or servicemember by blood, marriage or
adoption.

**9. Is a veteran or servicemember who obtains a house with special
adaptations entitled to exemption from State real estate taxes?**

This depends upon the particular State. There are many States that do
provide such relief from taxes, either in whole or in part. The
Specially Adapted Housing Agent will be able to provide a veteran or
servicemember with more detailed information.

**10. What adaptations are considered necessary for a veteran or
servicemember who is blind in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or
less?**

The following adaptations are considered reasonably necessary for a
veteran or servicemember who has blindness in both eyes with 5/200
visual acuity or less:

a\. Special lighting; e.g., fluorescent, high intensity, open, indirect.

> b\. [Sliding](http://www.homeloans.va.gov/SAHphotos.html) doors. This
> would include sliding kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, as well as
> pedestrian sliding and pocket doors. If it is not possible to adapt
> existing cabinets with sliding doors, new cabinets with sliding doors
> are acceptable.

c\. Handrails. Grab bars are acceptable in the bathroom, but a glass tub
enclosure is not.

d\. Smoke detectors/fire detection systems and/or carbon monoxide
detectors.

> e\. Security systems. This may include the replacement of hollow core
> exterior (but not interior) doors with solid core doors, deadbolt
> locks, storm shutters, etc. This may also include an emergency exit;
> e.g., a level 5' x 5' platform with stairway and railings.

f\. Intercom system.

> g\. Room addition to an existing house to store sensory aids provided
> by VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service and to store exercise
> equipment. This may also include the heating and/or cooling of this
> room, if the heating and/or cooling unit is permanently attached.
> Built-in storage areas such as shelves are also acceptable.
>
> h\. Covered porch, in areas of severe inclement weather. An awning
> over the front and/or rear door(s) is acceptable in more moderate
> climates. A patio or an enclosed patio is unacceptable.

i\. Swimming pool (but not spas, hot tubs, saunas, etc.).

j\. [Concrete or asphalt
walkways](http://www.homeloans.va.gov/SAHphotos.html) (but not
driveways), if the new walkway involves a new design; e.g., wider or
with curbs. However, the replacement of an existing walkway with the
same design, only new material, is a maintenance item and is
unacceptable.

k\. Fencing, to overcome a safety hazard.

l\. Additional outlets and electrical service capacity to accommodate
sensory aids equipment.

m\. Correction of safety defects or hazardous situations; e.g.,
replacing space heaters with an electrical heat pump or replacing a gas
range and oven with an electrical range and oven.

n\. Other adaptations with the approval of VA.

NOTE: Maintenance and personal property items, new kitchen appliances,
new bathroom fixtures, automatic garage door openers, and fireplaces are
not usually considered reasonably necessary adaptations because of
blindness.

**11. What adaptations are considered necessary for a veteran or
servicemember who has lost or lost the use of both hands?**

The following adaptations are considered reasonably necessary for a
veteran or servicemember who has the anatomical loss or loss of use of
both hands:

a\. [Lever-type fixtures](http://www.homeloans.va.gov/SAHphotos.html) in
the kitchen and bathrooms.

b\. Quad-rubber doorknob covers or lever-type latches/locks for doors.

c\. Lowering of cabinets, countertops and sinks.

d\. Light switches: toggle or press system.

e\. Tap plates to open and close interior doors; keyless entry-lock
systems for exterior doors.

f\. Automatic garage door openers.

g\. Circuit breakers.

h\. Smoke detectors/fire detection systems and/or carbon monoxide
detectors.

i\. Special plumbing fixtures; e.g., bidet.

j\. Replacement of single or double hung windows with crank-type
windows.

k\. Correction of safety defects.

l\. Other adaptations with the approval of VA.

***How To Apply For Benefits***

**12. Where does a veteran or servicemember go to find out if he/she is
eligible for a Special Housing Adaptations Grant?**

Any VA office, but preferably the [VA office where the veteran's or
servicemember's claim records are
located](http://www.vba.va.gov/ro_list.htm). The toll free number for VA
is 1-800-827-1000.

**13. How is the veteran or servicemember advised that he/she is
eligible for a Special Housing Adaptations Grant?**

A notice of eligibility (rating decision) will be sent to the veteran or
servicemember from VA. A VA Specially Adapted Housing Agent will visit
the veteran or servicemember and counsel him/her in the various possible
ways of using the grant. He/she will be furnished a [supplemental
application form](http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-26-4555d-ARE.pdf)
(VA Form 26-4555d, Veterans Application for Assistance in Acquiring
Special Housing Adaptations) to be filled out when he/she is ready to
obtain the grant.

When the veteran's or servicemember's request for the grant is approved,
he/she will receive a commitment letter from VA setting forth the terms
and conditions under which the funds will be made available. Any
contract executed by the veteran or servicemember must include the
condition that it is subject to VA approval and his/her obtaining the
grant.

**14. Will VA help an eligible veteran or servicemember to pick out a
lot, obtain the services of an architect, obtain bids for construction,
and arrange necessary financing?**

Yes. Specially Adapted Housing Agents are specialists in this field and
will counsel and make suggestions and recommendations to the veteran or
servicemember at every stage of grant administration to help obtain a
specially adapted house.

**15. Is design assistance for specially adapted housing available from
the Department of Veterans Affairs?**

> VA Pamphlet 26-13, Handbook for Design: Specially Adapted Housing,
> provides guidelines, recommendations, and illustrations to assist the
> physically handicapped veteran or servicemember and the
> architect/designer to construct or remodel a home so that its design
> fully meets all of the veteran's or servicemember's special needs.

***Other Similar Benefits***

**16. Is life insurance available, which would pay off the mortgage on a
specially adapted house in case the veteran dies before repaying the
loan?**

Yes. Most veterans who receive a Specially Adapted Housing Grant are
eligible for [Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance
(VMLI)](http://www.homeloans.va.gov/docs/vmli.pdf) covering the unpaid
principal, not to exceed \$90,000, on the mortgage loan. VA
representatives will explain this program and assist eligible veterans
in applying for this protection, using VA Form 29-8636 (Veterans
Mortgage Life Insurance Statement). VMLI can only be issued to veterans
age 69 and younger. Once issued, VMLI will remain in effect, regardless
of age, if there is mortgage indebtedness. Questions concerning VMLI
should be directed to the Insurance Center located in Philadelphia at
1-800-669-8477.

**17. Are there other benefits similar to housing adaptations to which a
disabled veteran may be entitled?**

Yes, an eligible veteran may be entitled to the Home Improvement and
Structural Alteration (HISA) grant benefit, which has a maximum of
\$4,100 for a service-connected disability and \$1,200 for a
nonservice-connected disability. The Prosthetics and Sensory Aids
Service at the nearest VA health care facility will furnish additional
information concerning this benefit upon request (including how to file
VA Form 10-0103, Veterans Application for Assistance in Acquiring Home
Improvement and Structural Alterations).

**18. If a veteran or servicemember has already received a Specially
Adapted Housing Grant, may he/she also receive a Special Housing
Adaptations Grant?**

No. Once a veteran or servicemember has received the Specially Adapted
Housing Grant, he/she is no longer eligible for the Special Housing
Adaptations Grant.

**19. If a veteran or servicemember receives a Special Housing
Adaptations Grant and his/her physical condition changes to later
qualify him/her for a Specially Adapted Housing Grant, may the veteran
or servicemember then become eligible for a Specially Adapted Housing
Grant?**

Yes. If a veteran or servicemember receives a Special Housing
Adaptations Grant, and their physical condition changes to later qualify
him/her for a Specially Adapted Housing Grant, the veteran or
servicemember would be entitled to the full Specially Adapted Housing
Grant, as provided by law.

NOTE: Part 2 of VA Pamphlet 26-69-1, Questions and Answers on Specially
Adapted Housing and Special Housing Adaptations, will soon be available
in Braille, in a large print booklet, and on an audiocassette tape. To
obtain a copy of this alternative media, please contact the [Specially
Adapted Housing Agent](http://www.homeloans.va.gov/sahagent.htm) at
[your VA Regional Loan Center](http://www.homeloans.va.gov/rlcweb.htm).
The toll free number for VA is 1-800-827-1000.