If you are a Texas veteran planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, you have more than the four federal grants available in every state. Texas runs a real state loan program with published amounts, the Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP), plus a property tax break that lowers what you pay every year. Here is what each program covers and how to apply.
The four federal VA grants#
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers four grant and benefit programs nationwide, and Texas veterans qualify the same as veterans anywhere else.
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) pays up to $126,526 in FY2026 for a severe, permanent service-connected disability. Special Home Adaptation (SHA) pays up to $25,350 in FY2026 for a lesser but still qualifying disability. Both are grants, not loans. 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 Texas adds#
Texas layers two of its own benefits on top of these federal grants: a home improvement loan and a property tax exemption.
The Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP) is run by the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), part of the Texas General Land Office (GLO). It offers below-market-rate loans for repairs and improvements to a primary residence in Texas. You can borrow up to $50,000 with a 2 to 20 year term, or take a smaller loan of $7,500 to $10,000 with a 2 to 10 year term. These are loans, not grants, so you repay the money over time. Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or greater receive a discounted interest rate. Rates move over time, so confirm the current rate with the VLB rather than a figure you read online.
VHIP finances improvements eligible under the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Title I standard, which covers accessibility improvements. Describe your project to the VLB and confirm it qualifies before you apply.
Texas also offers a disabled-veteran property tax exemption, filed with your county appraisal district rather than with the state. Veterans with a VA 100 percent total-and-permanent rating, or with individual unemployability, pay no property tax on their homestead. Veterans with a lower rating qualify for a partial exemption instead. A 10 to 29 percent rating removes $5,000 from assessed value. A 30 to 49 percent rating removes $7,500, a 50 to 69 percent rating removes $10,000, and a 70 to 100 percent rating removes $12,000. Unremarried surviving spouses can keep the exemption.
How to apply in Texas#
Texas veterans use three doors. For a VHIP loan, contact the VLB at 1-800-998-4456 or apply online at newloan.vlb.texas.gov; you must be a Texas resident with qualifying service, and your primary residence must be wholly within Texas. For the property tax exemption, file with your county appraisal district and bring proof of your VA disability rating. For help with a federal VA claim, including VA Form 26-4555, contact the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) at tvc.texas.gov; TVC claims counselors and county Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) help you file federal claims for free.
Finding a provider who knows this program: Not every contractor has handled veteran home-modification work. 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 Texas
How the programs stack together#
Think of these as three layers. Start with the four federal VA grants, since that money never has to be repaid. If the project costs more than the grants cover, VHIP can fill the gap, though you repay it over time. The property tax exemption is separate, reducing what you owe your county each year for as long as you own the home. You are layering these programs, not choosing one over another.
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 VA.gov, glo.texas.gov, tvc.texas.gov, and the Texas Comptroller's property tax exemption guidance in July 2026.
Frequently asked questions#
Does Texas have a state program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
Yes, but it is a loan, not a grant. VHIP, run by the Texas Veterans Land Board, offers below-market-rate loans for repairs and improvements to a primary residence in Texas.
How much can I borrow through the Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program?#
You can borrow up to $50,000 with a 2 to 20 year term, or a smaller loan of $7,500 to $10,000 with a 2 to 10 year term. Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or greater receive a discounted interest rate.
Do 100% disabled veterans pay property taxes in Texas?#
Veterans with a VA 100 percent total-and-permanent rating, or with individual unemployability, qualify for a total homestead property tax exemption filed with the county appraisal district. Veterans with lower ratings qualify for partial exemptions instead.
Who helps Texas veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
The Texas Veterans Commission and county Veterans Service Officers help Texas veterans file federal VA claims, including VA Form 26-4555, at no cost. Reach the TVC at tvc.texas.gov.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Texas 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.