Grants for Disabled Veterans with PTSD

No matter your branch of service or whether you serve in peacetime or during a war or conflict, service in the military carries the risk of injury that can alter the course of your life. If you are a veteran or service member dealing with the aftermath of a severe injury, illness or condition, you may qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs housing grants designed to better accommodate your housing to your day-to-day needs and medical condition. The money provided can, in some cases, help disabled veterans purchase a home or allow you to make changes to a house that will allow you to live more independently, including installing ramps and widening doorways.

Specially Adapted Housing Grant for Disabled Veterans

The first type of housing grant available from the VA for veterans and service members with service-connected disabilities is the Specially Adapted Housing grant, or SAH grant. An SAH grant allows veterans and service members to use money to buy, build or alter a permanent home (a home you plan to live in for an extended time). Of course, being awarded a SAH grant can greatly improve the livability and expand housing options for military veterans and service members struggling with the aftermath of a service-related injury or condition. If you qualify for an SAH grant, you could get up to $101,754 for Fiscal Year 2022, which is the current total maximum amount allowed for SAH grants.

Who is Eligible for a SAH Grant Because of a Service-Related Injury?

To qualify for the Specially Adapted Housing grant, you must own (or plan to own) a home and have a qualifying service-connected disability. According to the VA, these qualifying service-connected disabilities include:

• The loss, or loss of use, of more than one limb.
• The loss or loss of use of a lower leg along with residual effects of an organic (natural) disease or injury.
• Blindness in both eyes (20/200 visual acuity or less).
• Certain severe burns.
• The loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity (a foot or leg) after Sept. 11, 2001. The injury should make it so you cannot balance or walk without use of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair.

Only 120 veterans and/or service members can qualify for a Specially Adapted Housing grant each fiscal year based on the loss of one extremity after Sept. 11, 2001, as set by Congress. If you apply but don’t qualify for a SAH grant in a fiscal year because the cap has been reached, you can still apply in future years.

Another Option: Special Home Adaptation Grants for Disabled Veterans

Another type of housing grant available from the VA for veterans and service members with service-connected disabilities is the Special Home Adaptation grant, or SHA grant. SHA grants award money to assist eligible veterans and service members to buy, build or alter a permanent home (a home you plan to live in for an extended time). Qualifying for an SHA grant means you could earn up to $20,387 for Fiscal Year 2022, which is the current total maximum amount allowed for SHA grants.

Who is Eligible for a SHA Grant Because of a Service-Related Injury?

To qualify for a Special Home Adaptation grant, you or a family member must own (or will own) the home and have a qualifying service-connected disability. According to the VA, these qualifying service-connected disabilities for an SHA grant include:

• The loss or loss of use of both hands.
• Certain severe burns.
• Certain respiratory or breathing injuries.

How to Apply for the Specially Adapted Housing Grant or a Special Home Adaptation Grant

To apply for either the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant or the Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant, you will need to fill out VA Form 26-4555, and then mail the completed application to your nearest regional loan center. After the VA receives your application, your claim will be processed and you will receive a letter with a decision of whether you have been selected to receive a grant. You can monitor the status of your claim by logging into VA.gov.

Additional Housing Options for Veterans

If you are a veteran or service member with a service-related injury and happen to live in a family member’s home, you could still qualify for a grant to improve the home’s livability. A Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant may be an option if you qualify for an SAH or SHA grant and you are living temporarily in a family member’s home that needs changes to meet your needs. To qualify for and use a TRA grant, you need not own the house.

If you qualify for an SAH grant, you could get up to $40,983 through the TRA grant program (for Fiscal Year 2022). If you qualify for an SHA grant, you could receive up to $7,318 through the TRA grant program (for Fiscal Year 2022). To apply for a TRA grant, you will need to fill out VA Form 26-4555, and then mail the completed application to your nearest regional loan center. After the VA receives your application, your claim will be processed and you will receive a letter with a decision of whether you have been selected to receive a grant. You can monitor the status of your claim by logging into VA.gov.

If you don’t qualify for any of the grants listed above, there’s still help for owning your own home. Like most veterans, purchasing a home with a VA mortgage loan could also be an option.

Other Benefits for Disabled Veterans With PTSD

Military personnel and veterans who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder would not qualify for the VA’s disability housing grants based solely upon those injuries (see the qualifying injuries listed above). However, you may be entitled to disability pay if you suffer from PTSD. After undergoing an official evaluation and receiving a rating for your PTSD from the VA using the General Rating for Mental Disorders, you could receive disability compensation. You can learn more about PTSD symptoms and how to obtain a diagnosis on the VA’s website.