If you are a veteran in New Mexico planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: New Mexico 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, reshaped by two constitutional amendments voters approved in November 2024. Here is how the federal grant money works, what New Mexico 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 Mexico 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 Mexico adds#
New Mexico's own agency for veterans is the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (NMDVS), at dvs.nm.gov, 1-866-433-8387, headquartered at 407 Galisteo St. in Santa Fe. NMDVS does not run a home repair, improvement, or adaptation grant or loan program. Its benefits are tax relief, vehicle fee and excise relief, education scholarships, park and museum passes, hunting and fishing licenses, hiring preference, and a veteran-owned-business procurement advantage.
New Mexico's real contribution comes through two separate property tax exemptions, reshaped by twin constitutional amendments New Mexico voters approved in November 2024. Keep them apart; they run on different rules.
The first is the disabled veteran exemption. A veteran with a 100% permanent and total service-connected VA rating gets a full waiver of property tax on the primary residence, so nothing is owed. The 2024 amendment extends relief further: from tax year 2026, a veteran rated below 100% receives a partial exemption equal to their federal disability percentage. A 70%-rated veteran gets a 70% property tax exemption starting that year, with no all-or-nothing cliff. The veteran or unmarried surviving spouse applies to NMDVS for certification, then files with the county assessor.
The second is the standard veteran exemption, open to any qualifying veteran or unmarried surviving spouse regardless of disability rating. It rose from $4,000 to $10,000 of taxable value starting tax year 2025, and the amendment indexes it to inflation from 2026 onward. No 2026 dollar figure is published yet, so the amount to plan around is $10,000, adjusted annually for inflation.
How to apply in New Mexico#
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 Mexico with VA Builder ID Verified status →
For the federal VA grants, NMDVS Veterans Service Officers, based in 15 field offices statewide, help you file VA Form 26-4555 and related claims at no charge. For either property tax exemption, NMDVS certifies your eligibility first, then the county assessor applies it, not NMDVS. Start at dvs.nm.gov or call 1-866-433-8387 to find your nearest field office. NMDVS and county assessors also hold joint outreach events around the state to help veterans sign up for exemptions in person.
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 Mexico's two exemptions do not fund a project, but each can substantially reduce or eliminate your property tax bill going forward, and a veteran rated below 100% now qualifies for meaningful relief instead of an all-or-nothing outcome.
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 dvs.nm.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does New Mexico have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. New Mexico's contribution is two property tax exemptions, alongside the four federal VA grants that pay for construction.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay property taxes in New Mexico?#
No. A veteran with a 100% permanent and total service-connected rating gets a full waiver of property tax on the primary residence.
What did New Mexico's 2024 constitutional amendments change for veterans rated under 100%?#
From tax year 2026, veterans rated below 100% get a partial exemption equal to their federal disability percentage, and the separate $10,000 standard exemption is now indexed to inflation.
Who helps New Mexico veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
NMDVS Veterans Service Officers, located in 15 field offices statewide, help with VA Form 26-4555 and other federal claims at no cost. Find your nearest office at dvs.nm.gov.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in New Mexico 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.