Veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities may be eligible for financial assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase, build or modify a home to better meet their accessibility needs.
Two important programs are the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant and the Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant.
Unlike a VA home loan, these are grants rather than mortgages. Eligible veterans and service members may use grant funds for qualifying home adaptations, and in some circumstances the benefits can be used when purchasing or building an adapted home.
If you're a veteran or service member considering an accessible home in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County or elsewhere in Maryland, understanding how these programs work can help you identify resources that may be available.
What Are VA Disability Housing Grants?
VA disability housing grants are designed to help eligible veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities live more independently.
Depending on the program and individual circumstances, grant funds may help an eligible veteran or service member:
- Build a specially adapted home
- Modify an existing home
- Purchase a home that will be adapted
- Purchase a home that has already been adapted
- Adapt a family member's home in certain temporary living situations
Eligibility and permitted uses vary between programs, so veterans should confirm their individual eligibility directly with VA.
What Is a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant?
The Specially Adapted Housing grant, commonly called an SAH grant, is available to certain veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities.
The program can help eligible recipients buy, build or modify a permanent home to accommodate their disability and support greater independence.
VA maintains specific disability requirements for SAH eligibility. Qualifying disabilities can include certain loss or loss of use of extremities, blindness, severe burns and other conditions identified by VA.
Because the eligibility criteria are detailed, veterans shouldn't assume that a particular disability automatically qualifies. VA makes the eligibility determination.
How Much Is the SAH Grant in 2026?
For fiscal year 2026, an eligible veteran or service member may receive up to $126,526 through the SAH program.
This is the current maximum amount established by VA for FY 2026.
VA may adjust the maximum grant amount in future years based on construction costs, so borrowers should always check the current VA benefit amount rather than relying on an older figure.
What Is a Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant?
The Special Home Adaptation grant, or SHA grant, is another VA disability housing benefit.
It is available to certain veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities who need assistance buying, building or modifying a permanent home.
Qualifying disabilities for SHA can include certain loss or loss of use of both hands, certain severe burns and certain respiratory or breathing injuries.
An important difference from SAH is that, under the SHA program, the eligible veteran or service member or a family member may own or plan to own the home.
VA determines whether the applicant meets the program's disability and other eligibility requirements.
How Much Is the SHA Grant in 2026?
For fiscal year 2026, the maximum SHA grant is $25,350.
As with the SAH program, this amount can change. VA adjusts maximum grant amounts periodically, so current VA information should be reviewed when considering an application.
Can SAH and SHA Grants Be Used More Than Once?
Yes.
Eligible veterans and service members don't necessarily have to use the entire grant at one time.
VA currently allows eligible recipients to use SAH or SHA grant money up to six different times over their lifetime, subject to the applicable maximum benefit.
This can provide flexibility when accessibility needs change or additional adaptations become necessary.
VA also notes that if the full available amount isn't used initially, additional grant funds may potentially be used in future years.
What Is a Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant?
The Temporary Residence Adaptation grant, or TRA grant, can help certain veterans and service members who qualify for SAH or SHA but are temporarily living in a family member's home.
The veteran or service member doesn't have to own the family member's home.
For FY 2026, VA lists maximum TRA amounts of:
- $50,961 for someone who qualifies under SAH
- $9,100 for someone who qualifies under SHA
The home must be the family member's home where the eligible veteran or service member is temporarily living, and other VA requirements apply.
What Types of Home Adaptations May Be Considered?
The adaptations needed by one veteran can be very different from those needed by another.
Depending on the veteran's disability, the property and the applicable VA program, home modifications may involve accessibility improvements such as:
- Ramps or accessible entrances
- Wider doorways or hallways
- Accessible bathrooms
- Modified kitchens, sinks or counters
- Changes that improve wheelchair mobility
- Other structural adaptations that support independent living
The specific project and proposed adaptations should be reviewed through the appropriate VA program rather than assuming that a particular improvement will qualify for grant funding.
Can a VA Housing Grant Be Used When Buying a Home?
Potentially, yes.
SAH and SHA benefits aren't limited to modifying a home someone already owns.
Depending on the program and individual eligibility, grant funds may be used in connection with purchasing, building or adapting a permanent home.
This creates an important distinction between the housing grant and the mortgage used to finance the property.
The VA grant can help with qualifying adaptations, while the home itself may require separate financing.
An eligible veteran considering both a VA housing grant and mortgage financing should evaluate the two pieces together before entering into a purchase or construction contract.
Is a VA Housing Grant the Same as a VA Home Loan?
No.
A VA disability housing grant and a VA-backed mortgage are separate benefits.
A VA home loan is mortgage financing provided by a private lender and backed in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
An SAH or SHA grant provides financial assistance through VA to eligible veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities for qualifying housing adaptations.
A veteran may potentially be dealing with both programs during the same home purchase or construction project, but eligibility and requirements for each program are separate.
What Is the HISA Benefit?
Veterans may also encounter the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) benefit.
HISA is different from the SAH and SHA housing grant programs. It is administered through the Veterans Health Administration and provides assistance for certain medically necessary improvements or structural alterations to a veteran's or service member's primary residence.
Examples can include modifications that provide access to the home, essential bathroom facilities, kitchen or bathroom sinks and counters, permanent entrance ramps, or plumbing and electrical changes needed for certain medical equipment.
HISA has its own eligibility requirements, application process and benefit limits.
Veterans interested in HISA should work with their VA health care team and local Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to determine eligibility and applicable requirements.
How Do You Apply for an SAH or SHA Grant?
VA currently allows eligible veterans and service members to apply for an adapted housing grant online through VA.gov.
Applicants can also apply by mail or in person using VA Form 26-4555, Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant.
VA states that applicants should have their Social Security number and VA file or claim number, if they have one, available when applying.
After an application is submitted, VA processes the claim and sends the applicant its decision.
Apply for an adapted housing grant through VA
Should You Apply for the Grant Before Buying or Modifying a Home?
If you believe you may qualify for an SAH or SHA grant, it can be helpful to understand your eligibility and the VA process before committing to a major purchase, construction project or home modification.
The grant program has specific eligibility and property requirements, and the amount of assistance available can affect how a larger housing project is structured.
For veterans who also need mortgage financing, understanding both the grant and financing pieces early can make it easier to evaluate the overall housing plan.
Explore Your VA Home Financing Options
VA disability housing grants can provide valuable assistance to eligible veterans and service members who need an accessible home.
The Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for SAH, SHA and other VA housing benefits.
When a home purchase, construction project or mortgage is also part of the plan, Redwood Mortgage Services can help eligible veterans and military families explore their VA home financing options and understand how the mortgage side of the transaction may be structured.
For a broader overview of VA purchase loans, eligibility, entitlement and refinancing, visit the VA Home Loans in Annapolis, MD page.
All loans subject to approval. Equal Housing Lender.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an SAH grant and an SHA grant?
Both programs can help eligible veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities adapt a home. The programs have different disability eligibility requirements, maximum grant amounts and rules concerning ownership of the home. VA determines which program, if any, an applicant qualifies for.
How much is the SAH grant in 2026?
For fiscal year 2026, the maximum Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant is $126,526. VA may adjust the maximum amount in future fiscal years.
How much is the SHA grant in 2026?
For fiscal year 2026, the maximum Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant is $25,350. Current benefit amounts should be verified with VA because maximum grant amounts can change.
Can you use a VA housing grant to buy a home?
Depending on the program and individual eligibility, SAH or SHA grant funds may be used in connection with buying, building or adapting a permanent home. The grant and any mortgage financing used to purchase the property are separate.
Can you use an SAH or SHA grant more than once?
Yes. VA currently allows eligible recipients to use SAH or SHA grant money up to six times over their lifetime, subject to the applicable maximum benefit and VA requirements.
Can you use a VA home loan with an SAH or SHA grant?
Potentially. A VA disability housing grant and a VA-backed mortgage are separate benefits. An eligible veteran may potentially use grant assistance for qualifying adaptations while separately financing the purchase or construction of the home.
Related Reading
How to Qualify for a VA Loan in 2026: Eligibility, Requirements & Pre-Approval
Learn how VA home loan eligibility, Certificates of Eligibility, entitlement, credit, income and pre-approval work when preparing to finance a home.
VA Loan Occupancy Requirements: What Veterans Need to Know
Learn how VA occupancy requirements work when purchasing a home, including move-in timing, deployment considerations and certain multi-unit properties.
The VA Loan Benefit Most Veterans Don't Know About
Learn how VA entitlement works and why eligible veterans may be able to use their VA home loan benefit more than once.
Written by Charles Stuart Kiehne, President of Redwood Mortgage Services.
Stuart has helped homebuyers and homeowners with mortgage financing solutions since 1999 and is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, North Carolina, and Florida.
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