If you are a veteran in Massachusetts planning repairs or accessibility work, here is the direct answer: Massachusetts runs no veteran-only grant program for home repairs. Instead, the state offers a disability-based loan fund open to veterans, tiered property tax relief, and a Veterans Service Officer in every city and town by law.
The four federal VA grants#
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers four grant and health-benefit programs nationwide, and Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts adds#
Massachusetts's own agency for veterans is the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS), at mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-veterans-services, 617-210-5480. EOVS does not run a veteran-only home repair grant. But the state's Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) serves any homeowner with a disabled household member, including veterans, and covers ramps, bathroom and kitchen access work, stair and platform lifts, sensory spaces, hard-wired alarms, fencing, and accessory dwelling units.
HMLP is a loan, not a grant, and that distinction matters. It offers $1,000 to $50,000, or up to $30,000 for manufactured homes, at 0% interest with deferred payment, meaning nothing is due until you sell or refinance. Household income can run up to 200% of area median income, using HUD Boston metro figures statewide, and countable assets must stay under $75,000. The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission runs HMLP with CEDAC as fiscal partner, through nine regional provider agencies covering all ten regions.
Massachusetts also layers property tax relief through Massachusetts General Laws chapter 59, section 5, administered by local boards of assessors. Clause 22 provides a base $400 exemption for a 10% or greater service-connected disability, Purple Heart recipients, and surviving spouses; 22A and 22B add $750 and $1,250 for loss or loss of use of one or two limbs or eyes. Clause 22C provides $1,500 and directly rewards veterans whose home was acquired with federal Specially Adapted Housing assistance, a clean tie-in to the SAH grant above. Clause 22E offers a base $1,000, rising up to $2,000 where locally adopted, for a 100% disability rating. Clause 22F provides a full exemption for paraplegic veterans or those with 100% service-connected blindness, including surviving spouses.
The 2024 HERO Act added local options 22I and 22J, letting cities and towns apply an annual cost-of-living increase or up to double these amounts. Adoption varies by municipality, so treat the figures above as base amounts.
Massachusetts also runs Chapter 115, a means-tested safety net paying toward shelter, food, fuel, and medical costs for low-income veterans, applied for through your local Veterans Service Officer.
How to apply in Massachusetts#
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 it before. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Massachusetts with VA Builder ID Verified status →
By state law, every Massachusetts city and town has a Veterans Service Officer, who can help you file VA Form 26-4555, apply for HMLP, and request Chapter 115 benefits at no charge. For property tax exemptions, file with your local board of assessors instead. Start at mass.gov, or call EOVS at 617-210-5480.
How the programs stack together#
The federal VA grants pay for construction, so start there, since that money never has to be repaid. HMLP can bridge remaining costs as a 0% deferred loan, and the Clause 22 family can reduce your property tax bill for years, with Clause 22C rewarding a SAH-acquired home specifically.
For more, 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 budget.
Figures on this page were verified against mass.gov and malegislature.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does Massachusetts have a state program that pays for veteran home modifications?#
No veteran-only program exists, but HMLP is open to any household with a disabled member, veterans included, alongside the four federal VA grants.
What is the Home Modification Loan Program and can veterans use it?#
HMLP is a state loan, not a grant, of $1,000 to $50,000 at 0% interest with deferred repayment. Disabled veterans qualify like any eligible homeowner.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay property taxes in Massachusetts?#
It depends on the clause. Clause 22F provides a full exemption for paraplegic veterans or 100% service-connected blindness, while clauses like 22E only reduce the bill.
What are Chapter 115 benefits and can they help with housing costs?#
Chapter 115 is a means-tested safety net paying toward shelter, food, fuel, and medical costs. Apply through your local Veterans Service Officer.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Massachusetts and filter for VA Builder ID Verified status.
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.