VA Home Modification Grants 2026: Amounts, Eligibility, and How to Apply
If a service-connected disability means your home no longer works the way you need it to, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can help pay to change it. The VA runs four separate programs for this. In fiscal year 2026 (FY2026) they range from smaller medically necessary changes up to a maximum of $126,526 for a full home adaptation (verified July 2026). Which program fits you depends on your disability, who owns the home, and whether your stay there is permanent or temporary. This guide compares all four so you or your family member can see which one to pursue.
The four programs at a glance#
Three of the programs are housing grants, and one is a health benefit. They travel through different parts of the VA, so it helps to know the difference before you apply.
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) is the largest grant. It is meant for veterans with the most severe service-connected disabilities who need major changes to live independently, such as a wheelchair-accessible home. The FY2026 maximum is $126,526 (verified July 2026). You apply with VA Form 26-4555.
Special Home Adaptation (SHA) is a smaller housing grant for a different set of service-connected disabilities. The FY2026 maximum is $25,350 (verified July 2026). It uses the same application form, VA Form 26-4555.
Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) helps a veteran who is living temporarily in a family member's home that needs changes. You must first qualify for SAH or SHA. In FY2026, TRA pays up to $50,961 if you qualify through the SAH path, or up to $9,100 if you qualify through the SHA path (verified July 2026). It also uses VA Form 26-4555.
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) is not a housing grant at all. It is a VA health benefit, so it goes through VA health care rather than the housing grant process. HISA pays a lifetime amount of $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected condition (verified July 2026). The same $6,800 applies to a non-service-connected condition if the veteran has a service-connected disability rating of at least 50%. For other eligible veterans, the lifetime amount is $2,000 (verified July 2026). You apply with VA Form 10-0103.
Which program fits which situation#
The published criteria below decide which programs you can apply for. The VA makes the final eligibility decision on every application, so treat this as a map, not a guarantee.
You own (or will own) your home and have a severe mobility or vision loss. This points to SAH. Several service-connected disabilities qualify. One is the loss or loss of use of more than one limb. Another is the loss or loss of use of a lower leg along with the lasting effects of a disease or injury. Blindness in both eyes, meaning 20/200 visual acuity or less, also qualifies, as do certain severe burns. One more category qualifies too: the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity after September 11, 2001, that prevents balance or walking without an assistive device. That last category is capped at 120 grants per fiscal year. For SAH, the veteran must own, or will own, the home. Read the full SAH grant guide for the detail.
You (or a family member) own the home and the disability involves the hands, burns, or breathing. This points to SHA. The qualifying service-connected disabilities are the loss or loss of use of both hands, certain severe burns, or certain respiratory or breathing injuries. Blindness is not an SHA criterion; it sits under SAH. SHA also has a more flexible ownership rule than SAH: the veteran or a family member may own or will own the home. See the SHA grant guide.
You are staying temporarily in a family member's home. This points to TRA. There is no ownership requirement, but you must qualify for SAH or SHA first. TRA is built for exactly this situation, when the home you are living in for now is not yours and needs changes to work for your disability. See the TRA grant guide.
You need smaller, medically necessary changes, or you rent. This points to HISA. Because HISA is a health benefit, it is available to renters as well as owners, and it covers a defined list of medically necessary changes. See the HISA grant guide.
What each program covers, and what it excludes#
Knowing the exclusions matters as much as knowing the amounts, because an ineligible item can stall an application.
SAH, SHA, and TRA are grants, not loans. There is no repayment. They fund the adaptation work that makes a home usable for the qualifying disability.
HISA has the most specific list, so it is worth spelling out. HISA can cover changes such as entrance and exit modifications, roll-in showers and other essential sanitary facilities, and lowered counters and sinks. It can also cover permanent driveway ramping and the plumbing or electrical work needed for home medical equipment. HISA does not cover exterior decking, spas or hot tubs, removable or portable equipment such as portable ramps, routine maintenance, new construction, or walkways to exterior buildings. If a change is portable or is general upkeep rather than a permanent medical adaptation, HISA is unlikely to pay for it.
How to apply#
There are two application tracks, because the housing grants and the health benefit go to different offices.
Track A: SAH, SHA, or TRA (VA Form 26-4555).
- Complete VA Form 26-4555. You can apply online, by mail, or with help from a Veterans Service Organization (VSO).
- Submit the form. The VA reviews the application and, for these housing grants, assigns a VA staff member to work with you through the process.
- Work with your assigned staff member on the adaptation plan and the contractor arrangements.
Track B: HISA (VA Form 10-0103).
- Get a prescription from your VA provider. Because HISA is a health benefit, it starts with a diagnosis and medical justification from a VA provider.
- Gather your supporting documents: an itemized cost estimate from your contractor, and a color photo of the area of the home before any changes are made. If you rent, you also need a signed, notarized authorization from the property owner.
- Submit VA Form 10-0103 with those documents to the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at your VA medical center.
Timeline, and what happens after approval#
For the SAH, SHA, and TRA grants, the VA reviews your application and assigns a staff member to guide you once you are approved. That way you are not left to manage the construction alone. Two rules are worth planning around.
First, SAH and SHA can be used up to six times over a lifetime, and unused grant money can carry forward. That means you do not have to spend the full amount in one project.
Second, the SAH, SHA, and TRA maximums reset every federal fiscal year on October 1. The VA sets the new figures using a residential construction cost index published in the Federal Register. Any amount you read, including the ones in this guide, is an FY2026 figure. Always confirm the current maximum before you plan a budget.
Finding a provider who knows this program: Not every contractor has handled VA grant paperwork, and SAH and SHA construction has a specific requirement: the builder must register with the VA and hold a VA Builder ID number before the VA will release funds. Registration is typically issued within five business days, and it is a registration step, not a VA endorsement of the builder. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' VA Builder ID Verified status and grant experience, so you can filter for professionals who have done this before. You can also filter for HISA Experienced providers for HISA projects. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers with VA Builder ID Verified →
How the programs combine#
The programs are designed to work together, but there are rules about how they stack.
TRA draws down the same pool of money as the grant you qualify through. TRA may be used only once, it counts as one of your six lifetime SAH or SHA uses, and the TRA dollars reduce your SAH or SHA aggregate maximum. In other words, TRA is not extra money on top of SAH or SHA; it is an early draw from the same lifetime total, meant for a temporary living situation.
HISA sits in VA health care rather than the housing grant program, so it can be used alongside the housing grants for medically necessary changes that fall within its list.
Timing matters for TRA specifically. Its authority currently runs through September 30, 2026 (set by Public Law 119-37, signed November 12, 2025), and Congress tends to extend it in short increments. If TRA fits your situation, it is worth acting rather than waiting, and confirming the current authority date before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the VA grant for home modifications?#
There is no single grant. The VA runs four programs that pay for home modifications: Specially Adapted Housing (SAH), Special Home Adaptation (SHA), Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA), and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA). SAH, SHA, and TRA are housing grants applied for with VA Form 26-4555. HISA is a health benefit applied for with VA Form 10-0103 through your VA medical center.
How much money does the VA give for home modifications?#
For FY2026, the maximums are $126,526 for SAH, $25,350 for SHA, and for TRA either $50,961 (SAH path) or $9,100 (SHA path). HISA pays a lifetime $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected condition (or a non-service-connected condition with a service-connected rating of at least 50%), and $2,000 for other eligible veterans. All figures were verified July 2026. The SAH, SHA, and TRA maximums reset each October 1; the HISA amounts are lifetime totals.
What is the difference between the SAH and SHA grants?#
Both are housing grants for service-connected disabilities, but they cover different disabilities and different amounts. SAH is larger ($126,526 in FY2026). It covers conditions such as the loss or loss of use of more than one limb or blindness in both eyes at 20/200 or less. SHA is smaller ($25,350 in FY2026) and covers conditions such as the loss or loss of use of both hands or certain respiratory injuries. SHA also lets a family member own the home, while SAH requires the veteran to own, or will own, it.
Can I get a VA home modification grant if I rent my home?#
Yes, through HISA. Because HISA is a VA health benefit rather than a housing grant, renters are eligible. You will need a signed, notarized authorization from the property owner as part of your application. The SAH, SHA, and TRA housing grants involve home ownership rules, though TRA is built for a temporary stay in a family member's home.
Do VA housing grants have to be paid back?#
No. SAH, SHA, and TRA are grants, not loans. There is no repayment.
Can I use more than one VA housing grant?#
SAH and SHA can be used up to six times over a lifetime, and unused amounts can carry forward. TRA may be used only once and counts as one of those six uses, drawing down your SAH or SHA total rather than adding to it. HISA sits in VA health care and can be used alongside the housing grants for medically necessary changes.
Find a provider who has done this before#
The grant is only half the job; the other half is a contractor who understands VA requirements and accessible construction. Adapta Home USA lists verified Home Modifications & Remodeling providers, including those with VA Builder ID Verified status and HISA experience. That means you can find someone in your state who has handled these projects before. Start with the Home Modifications & Remodeling category on adaptahomeusa.com and filter for the badge that matches your program.
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.