If you are a veteran in Delaware planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: Delaware does not run its own grant or loan program for veteran home repairs or modifications. The state's real value shows up elsewhere, through a property tax credit and a rare cash pension tied to disability status. Here is how the federal grant money works, what Delaware adds, and how to apply for both.
The four federal VA grants#
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers four grant and health-benefit programs nationwide, and Delaware veterans qualify the same as veterans anywhere. 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, so nothing is repaid. 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 Delaware adds#
Delaware's own agency for veterans is the Office of Veterans Services (OVS), part of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, at vets.delaware.gov, 302-739-2792. OVS does not run a home repair, improvement, or adaptation grant or loan program. Its benefits list is claims help, a paraplegic pension, education for children of deceased service members, National Guard education, the Milford veterans home, cemeteries, license plates, park discounts, and employment preference.
Delaware's real contribution runs through the Disabled Veterans School Property Tax Credit. It wipes out 100% of the non-vocational school district property tax on your primary residence. To qualify, you need a VA rating of 100% permanent and total service-connected disability, and Delaware's own program page explicitly includes veterans rated through individual unemployability. You must have held Delaware legal domicile for three years, have prior property taxes paid in full, and apply by April 30. Once approved, there is no annual re-application, though the credit cannot be combined with the Senior School Property Tax Credit. All 16 non-vocational school districts participate. Delaware levies no state-level property tax, so this school district credit is the statewide relief that matters most.
Delaware also pays a state pension of $3,000 per year to veterans with service-connected paraplegia, a rare cash benefit that pairs naturally with the federal SAH grant for veterans in that disability category.
How to apply in Delaware#
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 Delaware with VA Builder ID Verified status →
For the federal VA grants, state-accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) at OVS in Dover help you file VA Form 26-4555 and related claims free of charge, and an accredited officer never charges for this service. Chapter-based service officers are also available statewide through VFW, DAV, American Legion, the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS), and VVA posts. For the school property tax credit, file with your county assessment office instead of OVS: New Castle County at 302-395-5520, Kent County at 302-744-2401, or Sussex County at 302-855-7871.
How the programs stack together#
The federal VA grants pay for the actual construction, so start there, since that money never has to be repaid. Delaware's school tax credit does not fund a project, but it can remove your entire school district property tax bill going forward once approved. A veteran rated permanently and totally disabled, including through individual unemployability, may also qualify for the paraplegic pension if paraplegia is part of the service-connected disability picture.
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 vets.delaware.gov and finance.delaware.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does Delaware have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. Delaware's contribution is a school property tax credit and a paraplegic pension, alongside the four federal VA grants that pay for construction.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay school property taxes in Delaware?#
A veteran with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating can qualify for a credit covering 100% of non-vocational school district property tax on their primary residence.
Does Delaware's disabled veteran tax credit cover veterans rated through individual unemployability?#
Yes. Delaware's own program page explicitly includes the individual-unemployability path as qualifying for the Disabled Veterans School Property Tax Credit.
Who helps Delaware veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
State-accredited Veteran Service Officers at the Office of Veterans Services in Dover file VA Form 26-4555 and other federal claims at no charge. Chapter VSOs are also available statewide.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Delaware 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.