If you are a veteran in Kentucky planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: Kentucky does not run its own grant or loan program for veteran home repairs or modifications. The state's real value shows up on your property tax bill instead, through a disability homestead exemption with a veteran-specific perk. Here is how the federal grant money works, what Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky adds#
Kentucky's own agency for veterans is the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA), at veterans.ky.gov, 502-564-9203, based at 1111 Louisville Road, Suite B, Frankfort, KY 40601. KDVA does not run a home repair, improvement, or adaptation grant or loan program. Its benefits are claims assistance, a dependents' tuition waiver, state veterans centers, and five state veterans cemeteries. Kentucky's real contribution comes through the disability homestead exemption instead.
Under KRS 132.810 and the Homestead-Disability Amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, homeowners age 65 or older, or those permanently and totally disabled, can deduct a set amount from their home's assessed value. For the 2025-2026 assessment years, that amount is $49,100, up from $46,350 in 2023-2024. The figure is indexed every two years by law, so it will reset again for 2027-2028. You must own and occupy the home as of January 1 of the assessment year to qualify.
Veterans get a genuine edge here. A veteran with a total service-connected disability rating who has received compensation for the full assessment period files once and never reapplies annually, once first approved. Other disability claimants without that rating face yearly re-verification instead. Apply at your county Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) office using Form 62A350, not through KDVA.
How to apply in Kentucky#
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 Kentucky with VA Builder ID Verified status →
For the federal VA grants, KDVA's Veterans Benefits Field Representatives cover all 120 Kentucky counties and are fully accredited with the federal VA Office of General Counsel. They help file VA Form 26-4555, other claims and appeals, and VA health care applications, all free of charge. For the homestead exemption, file with your county PVA instead, not with KDVA. Start at veterans.ky.gov to find your nearest field representative.
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. Kentucky's homestead exemption does not fund a project, but it lowers your assessed value every year going forward, and a totally disabled veteran only has to file the paperwork once.
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 veterans.ky.gov and revenue.ky.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does Kentucky have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. Kentucky's contribution is a disability homestead exemption, alongside the four federal VA grants that pay for construction.
How much is the Kentucky homestead exemption for disabled veterans in 2026?#
The exemption is $49,100 for the 2025-2026 assessment years, deducted from your home's assessed value. It resets every two years under state law.
Do 100% disabled veterans have to reapply for the Kentucky homestead exemption every year?#
No. A veteran with a total service-connected disability rating files once and never reapplies annually, once first approved and compensated for the full assessment period.
Who helps Kentucky veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
KDVA Veterans Benefits Field Representatives, covering all 120 counties, help with VA Form 26-4555 and other federal claims at no cost. Find your nearest representative at veterans.ky.gov.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Kentucky 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.