If you are a veteran in New Jersey planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: New Jersey does not run its own grant or loan program for veteran home repairs or modifications. Its real benefit is a full property tax exemption for qualifying disabled veterans, along with a smaller deduction for veterans generally. Here is how the federal money works, what New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey adds#
New Jersey's own agency for veterans is the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), at nj.gov/military. DMAVA does not run a home repair, improvement, or adaptation grant or loan program of its own. Its benefits are tax and services based, and the federal grants above still carry the construction money.
New Jersey's real contribution is a full, 100 percent property tax exemption on your principal residence and the lot it sits on. To qualify, you need an honorable discharge and a VA-certified 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability rating. You must wholly own or hold legal title to the home and occupy it as your principal residence. This is among the more complete exemptions offered by any state, since it covers the entire assessed value, not a capped amount. Veterans who do not meet that disability threshold can still claim the state's separate $250 annual veterans property tax deduction, available to honorably discharged veterans generally.
How to apply in New Jersey#
Apply for the full exemption with Form D.V.S.S.E., filed with your municipal tax assessor rather than a state office. Attach your DD-214 and your VA disability letter confirming the 100 percent permanent and total rating. If the assessor denies your application, you can appeal to your County Board of Taxation using Form A-1. Appeal deadlines are set by each county rather than the state, so confirm your county's deadline with the assessor's office when you file; April 1 is a typical filing date used in several counties.
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 New Jersey with VA Builder ID Verified status →
DMAVA Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) help New Jersey veterans file federal claims, including VA Form 26-4555, at no charge. For questions about the property tax exemption itself, the Division of Taxation can be reached at 609-292-7974.
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. New Jersey's property tax exemption does not fund a project, but for a qualifying 100 percent disabled veteran, it removes the property tax bill entirely every year you own and live in the home.
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 nj.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does New Jersey have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. New Jersey's contribution is a property tax exemption, alongside the four federal VA grants that pay for construction.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay property taxes in New Jersey?#
No, if they meet the criteria. A veteran with an honorable discharge and a VA-certified 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability rating gets a full exemption on their principal residence and its lot.
How do I apply for New Jersey's disabled veteran property tax exemption?#
File Form D.V.S.S.E. with your municipal tax assessor, along with your DD-214 and VA disability letter. Denials can be appealed to your County Board of Taxation with Form A-1.
Who helps New Jersey veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
DMAVA Veterans Service Officers help file federal claims, including VA Form 26-4555, at no charge.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in New Jersey 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.