If you are a veteran in Maryland planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: Maryland does not run its own grant or loan program for veteran home repairs. The state's real value shows up on your property tax bill instead, tied to your disability rating. Here is how the federal grant money works, what Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland adds#
Maryland's own agency for veterans is the Department of Veterans and Military Families (DVMF), at veterans.maryland.gov, 410-260-3838. DVMF does not run a home repair or adaptation grant program. Its housing page lists shelters, transitional housing, and rental resources, not repair money. Its other benefits are claims assistance, a state veterans home in Charlotte Hall, and burial services. Maryland's own benefits chart lists SAH eligibility at a 100% rating, whether schedular or based on individual unemployability. Maryland's real contribution comes through property tax relief, and two distinct mechanisms matter here.
The first is a full statewide exemption. Under Tax-Property section 7-208, the dwelling house of an honorably discharged veteran with a permanent, 100% service-connected disability is completely exempt from real property tax, with no income limit. A surviving spouse keeps the exemption. Unlike most property tax breaks, you can apply through your county's assessment office any time of year, not just by a September 1 deadline.
The second differs. Under Tax-Property section 9-265, counties, Baltimore City, and municipalities may grant a local credit for veterans rated 50 to 99% disabled: 50% of the tax bill at a 75%-or-higher rating, 25% at 50 to 74%, with a federal adjusted gross income cap of $100,000. This credit is not automatic statewide, only where your county or municipality has adopted it, and it cannot combine with the section 7-208 exemption.
Separately, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)'s Accessible Homes for Seniors funds ramps, widened doorways, accessible showers, and grab bars through 0% deferred loans of up to 30 years, or grants up to $25,000 where a household does not qualify for the loan. It is not veteran-specific. Eligibility is based on a household member age 55 or older and income at or below 80% of the area median.
How to apply in Maryland#
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 Maryland with VA Builder ID Verified status →
For the federal VA grants, DVMF's Service Program offices have VA-accredited Veterans Benefits Specialists who file VA Form 26-4555 at no cost, at 800-446-4926 ext. 6450. For the section 7-208 exemption, file with your county's assessment office instead of DVMF. For the section 9-265 credit, contact your county or municipal finance office, since only some have adopted it. For Accessible Homes for Seniors, contact DHCD's Special Loan Programs at 301-429-7409.
How the programs stack together#
The federal VA grants pay for construction, so start there, since that money is never repaid. Maryland's tax relief does not fund a project, but the section 7-208 exemption can remove your entire tax bill at a permanent 100% rating. Between 50 and 99%, call your county finance office about the section 9-265 credit.
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.maryland.gov and mgaleg.maryland.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does Maryland have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. Maryland's contribution is property tax relief, alongside the four federal VA grants that pay for construction.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay property taxes in Maryland?#
No. Under Tax-Property section 7-208, a veteran with a permanent 100% service-connected disability gets a full exemption on their dwelling, with no income limit.
Can Maryland veterans rated 50 to 99% get property tax relief?#
Possibly. Section 9-265 lets counties and municipalities grant a credit of 25 to 50% of the tax bill, but only where your county has adopted it.
Who helps Maryland veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
DVMF's Service Program offices provide VA-accredited Veterans Benefits Specialists who file VA Form 26-4555 at no cost. Call 800-446-4926 ext. 6450.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Maryland 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.