If you are a veteran in Washington planning repairs or accessibility work on your home, here is the direct answer: Washington does not run its own grant or loan program for veteran home repairs or modifications. The state's value shows up in a sales tax refund tied to a federal adaptive-housing grant and in a property tax exemption. Here is how the federal grant money works, what Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington adds#
Washington's own agency for veterans is the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), at dva.wa.gov, 1-800-562-2308. WDVA does not run a home repair, improvement, or adaptation grant or loan program. Its Veterans Innovations Program offers hardship aid such as eviction and foreclosure prevention, utility help, and transportation support, but it is not repair money. WDVA's housing pages point veterans toward the federal SAH and HISA benefits instead.
Under RCW 82.08.0207, a veteran who used a VA adaptive-housing grant, such as SAH or SHA, to build or modify a home can recover up to $2,500 in state sales and use tax per project, covering the state's 6.5 percent tax on materials and labor. You apply directly to the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR), not the seller or contractor, with your VA grant award letter, contracts, and invoices. The refund draws from a statewide pool capped at $125,000 per fiscal year, running July through June. DOR's published figures showed the FY24-25 pool sitting at $0 claimed, meaning the full $125,000 remained available.
Washington also offers a property tax exemption for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 80 percent, or who receive VA compensation at the 100 percent rate. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence, and the exemption is income-qualified, with thresholds set by each county based on local median household income. Check with your county assessor for the limit where you live; no single statewide figure applies. An income-qualified deferral program also exists. Beginning with taxes due in 2027, the rating threshold drops from 80 percent to 40 percent, widening who qualifies.
How to apply in Washington#
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 Washington with VA Builder ID Verified status →
For the federal VA grants, WDVA's Veterans Service Offices give free, VA-accredited claims assistance, including help with VA Form 26-4555, and can represent you before the VA. Reach WDVA at 1-800-562-2308 or benefits@dva.wa.gov. All 39 Washington counties also maintain a local veterans assistance fund. For the sales tax refund, file with DOR; for the property tax exemption or deferral, file with your county assessor, not WDVA.
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. Washington's sales tax refund adds real money on top of an SAH or SHA project, and with the annual pool unclaimed recently, it is worth the paperwork. The exemption does not fund a project, but it can lower ongoing costs once the 2027 threshold change takes effect.
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 dva.wa.gov and dor.wa.gov in July 2026.
FAQ#
Does Washington State have a program that pays for veteran home repairs or modifications?#
No. Washington's contribution is a sales tax refund and a property tax exemption, alongside the four federal VA grants that pay for construction.
Can Washington veterans get sales tax back on an adapted housing project?#
Yes. Under RCW 82.08.0207, a veteran with a VA adaptive-housing grant such as SAH or SHA can recover up to $2,500 in state sales and use tax per project by applying to the Department of Revenue.
Do disabled veterans pay property taxes in Washington?#
Veterans rated at least 80 percent disabled, or paid at the 100 percent compensation rate, can qualify for an income-qualified exemption. Income limits vary by county.
Who helps Washington veterans apply for VA housing grants for free?#
WDVA Veterans Service Offices give free, VA-accredited claims help with VA Form 26-4555. Reach WDVA at 1-800-562-2308.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers in Washington 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.