If you are a veteran in California and need to modify your home for a disability, you have more than the four federal grants available in every state. California also runs a home loan program through the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), plus a generous property tax break for disabled veterans. Here is what each program covers and how to apply.
The four federal VA grants#
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers four grant and benefit programs nationwide, and California veterans qualify the same as veterans anywhere else.
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) pays up to $126,526 in FY2026 for severe, permanent service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both legs or blindness rated 20/200 or worse. Special Home Adaptation (SHA) pays up to $25,350 in FY2026 for conditions like loss of use of both hands or certain respiratory injuries. Both are grants, not loans. Apply with VA Form 26-4555; SAH or SHA can be used up to six times over your lifetime as funds remain.
Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) helps if you are living temporarily in a family member's home. In FY2026 it pays up to $50,961 through the SAH path or $9,100 through the SHA path. TRA can only be used once, counts as one of your six lifetime uses, and draws down whichever grant total, SAH or SHA, you qualify under. Congress currently authorizes TRA through September 30, 2026.
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) is a VA health benefit, not a housing grant, so you apply through the VA medical center's Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service with VA Form 10-0103 and a provider's prescription. Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800 over their lifetime; other eligible veterans can receive up to $2,000. Renters can use HISA with the landlord's notarized permission. SAH and SHA construction runs through a contractor holding a VA Builder ID, a registration, not an approval rating.
What California adds#
California layers two of its own benefits on top of these federal grants: a home loan program and a property tax exemption.
The CalVet Home Improvement Loan, part of CalVet Home Loans, can be used to remodel, repair, add an addition, or add disabled accessibility to your home. CalVet does not publish a maximum loan amount, so call 866-653-2510 (new customers) or 866-653-2504 (existing customers) to ask what you can borrow. Unlike the VA grants, this is a loan you repay. Treat the VA grants as your first stop and the CalVet loan as a way to cover costs the grants do not reach.
California also offers the Disabled Veterans' Exemption on your primary home if you have a 100% disability rating, or are compensated at that rate for unemployability, are blind in both eyes, or have lost the use of two or more limbs. For 2026, the exemption is worth $180,671 of assessed value. A low-income version raises that to $271,009 for household income of $81,131 or less, with annual recertification required. These amounts adjust every year with the California Consumer Price Index.
File this exemption with your county assessor's office, not with CalVet and not with the VA, using form BOE-261-G. That is a step many veterans miss because they assume CalVet or the VA handles it automatically. It does not; you apply at the county level yourself.
How to apply in California#
California veterans deal with three separate doors. For the federal VA grants, your County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) can help you file for free; every county has one, findable through CalVet's locator at calvet.ca.gov/find-a-service-provider. For the CalVet Home Improvement Loan, call 866-653-2510 (new customers) or 866-653-2504 (existing customers). For the property tax exemption, contact your county assessor's office and file form BOE-261-G; CalVet and your CVSO cannot process that one for you.
Finding a provider who knows VA paperwork: Not every contractor has worked on SAH, SHA, or HISA projects. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' VA Builder ID Verified status, so you can filter for professionals who have handled this paperwork before. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in California with VA Builder ID Verified status →
How the programs stack together#
Think of these as three layers. Start with the four federal VA grants, since that money never has to be repaid. If the project costs more than the grants cover, the CalVet loan can fill the gap, though you repay it over time. The property tax exemption is separate, reducing what you owe your county each year. You can use all three, since each one solves a different problem.
For more on the federal programs, see our VA home modification grants guide and VA grant decision tree. Our guide to paying for home modifications and wheelchair ramp cost guide can help you plan a project budget.
Figures on this page were verified against VA.gov, calvet.ca.gov, and the California State Board of Equalization in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does California have a state program that pays for veteran home modifications?#
Not a grant. CalVet offers a Home Improvement Loan for repairs, additions, or disabled accessibility work, but it is a loan you repay. No maximum amount is published, so call 866-653-2510 to ask what you qualify for.
What is the California disabled veterans' property tax exemption worth in 2026?#
For 2026, the exemption is worth $180,671 of assessed value, or $271,009 under the low-income tier for household income of $81,131 or less. File with your county assessor using form BOE-261-G.
Can I use a CalVet loan together with a VA grant like SAH or HISA?#
Yes. The federal grants and the CalVet loan come from different sources and cover different needs, so nothing stops you from using both. Apply for the VA grant first since it never has to be repaid, then use a CalVet loan for any remaining cost.
Who helps California veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
Your County Veterans Service Officer can help with VA Form 26-4555 and related paperwork at no cost. Find your county's CVSO through CalVet's locator at calvet.ca.gov/find-a-service-provider.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in California and filter for VA Builder ID Verified status. Our wheelchair ramp cost guide can help you plan your budget.
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application procedures change. Figures on this page were verified against official government sources on the date shown, but you should confirm current details at VA.gov or with the administering agency before making decisions. Adapta Home USA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.