VA SAH, SHA & HISA Grants: Which Grant Do You Qualify For?

The VA has three housing grants, and they are not interchangeable. A veteran who qualifies for Specially Adapted Housing can receive far more than the HISA grant most people have heard of. Apply for the wrong one and you can wait months and still come up short.

A lot of DMV veterans never hear about the larger grants until an occupational therapist mentions them. The sections below match the disability, the dollar cap, and the paperwork.

Three VA Grants — Not One

Most people have heard of the VA HISA grant. Fewer realize that two larger grants also exist. Understanding the distinction matters because the application process, award amounts, and qualifying conditions are very different.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant — Up to $126,526

The SAH grant is for veterans with the most severe service-connected disabilities. It's designed to help veterans live independently in a home that accommodates their condition.

Who qualifies: You own or will own the home, and you have a qualifying service-connected disability, such as:

• Loss, or loss of use, of more than one limb
• Loss, or loss of use, of a lower leg along with the residuals of an organic disease or injury
• Blindness in both eyes (20/200 visual acuity or less)
• Certain severe burns
• Loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity after September 11, 2001, so that you can't balance or walk without braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair (limited to 120 veterans per fiscal year)

What it covers:

SAH grants cover major structural changes: building an accessible home, remodeling an existing home, or even applying the grant to pay down an existing mortgage on an already-accessible home. Unlike HISA, SAH funds can go toward new construction or purchasing an adapted home.

How much: For FY 2026, the maximum SAH grant is $126,526 (VA). You can draw on it up to six times over your lifetime, but the total across all uses can't exceed the current maximum.

Reality check: The SAH grant is not quick. The VA requires architectural plans, specifications, and formal estimates. Most SAH projects take 6–18 months from application to completion. But for severe disabilities, it is the single largest financial resource available.

Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant — Up to $25,350

The SHA grant is for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands, who don't meet SAH criteria.

Who qualifies: You or a family member own or will own the home, and you have a qualifying service-connected disability, such as:

• Loss, or loss of use, of both hands
• Certain severe burns
• Certain respiratory or breathing injuries

What it covers:

Adapting an existing home — installing ramps, widening doorways, modifying kitchens and bathrooms, adding handrails, or installing slopes or walkways around the home.

How much: For FY 2026, the maximum SHA grant is $25,350 (VA). Like SAH, it can be used up to six times, but the total across all uses is capped at the current maximum, not six times it.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant — Up to $6,800

HISA is the grant most people know about — and it's the one most commonly used in the DMV area. Unlike SAH and SHA, HISA is not restricted to service-connected disabilities. (For a deep dive on HISA specifically, see our VA HISA Grant guide for Maryland and Virginia.)

Who qualifies:

• Up to $6,800 (lifetime) for a service-connected disability, or for a non-service-connected disability if you also have a single service-connected disability rated at least 50% (combined ratings don't count)
• Up to $2,000 (lifetime) for any other disability
• Source: VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service

What it covers:

Medically necessary improvements to your primary residence: permanent ramps and entrance access, accessible bathroom conversions such as roll-in showers, lowered sinks and counters, and plumbing or electrical work needed for home medical equipment. VA excludes porch lifts, stair glides, portable ramps, home security systems, decks, hot tubs, new construction and routine repairs.

Key difference from SAH/SHA: HISA requires a VA physician's prescription specifying diagnosis and medical justification. SAH and SHA require a formal VA determination of eligibility based on specific disability ratings and conditions.

Which Grant Should You Apply For?

If you have a severe service-connected disability listed in the SAH qualifying conditions, start with SAH. You can stack SAH with HISA for modifications not fully covered by SAH.

If you have a severe disability that meets SHA criteria but not SAH, apply for SHA. Then add HISA for items that fall outside SHA's scope.

If your disability is less severe, HISA is likely your primary resource. Don't discount it — $6,800 covers a significant portion of most aging-in-place modification projects, especially when combined with other state or local programs.

The Application Process in the DMV

For SAH and SHA, the process starts with your VA disability rating. Contact the VA's Loan Guaranty Service — not your local VA medical center. These grants are administered through the VA's housing benefit office, not Prosthetics and Sensory Aids.

You'll need:

• Your VA disability rating letter
• Detailed contractor estimates with specifications
• Architectural drawings for major modifications
• A determination of eligibility from the VA

For HISA, start with your VA physician. Get a prescription that documents the diagnosis, the functional limitations, and the specific modifications needed. Then complete VA Form 10-0103 and submit it with contractor estimates to the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at your local VA medical center.

VA medical centers in the DMV that process HISA applications:

• Baltimore VA Medical Center (serves most of Maryland)
• Washington DC VA Medical Center (serves DC and Northern Virginia)
• Richmond VA Medical Center (serves central Virginia)

Common Mistakes That Delay Approval

The most frequent reason HISA applications get kicked back is vague contractor estimates. The VA wants itemized line items — labor, materials, permits — with photos of the areas being modified. A quote that says "install ramp, $3,500" will be rejected. A quote that specifies "32-foot modular aluminum ramp with ADA-compliant handrails, installation on concrete footings, permit included — labor $1,800, materials $1,700" will move through faster.

For SAH and SHA, the most common delay is incomplete architectural plans. If you're doing a major remodel, hire an architect or a CAPS-certified contractor who understands the VA's documentation requirements before submitting anything.

Stacking VA Grants with DMV Programs

This is where the DMV area stands out. A veteran in Washington DC, for example, can potentially combine:

• VA HISA: up to $6,800
• DC Safe at Home: fall-prevention modifications (income up to $99,600 for one person)
• DC SFRRP: structural rehabilitation grants up to $75,000

In Maryland:

• VA HISA: up to $6,800
• Maryland Accessible Homes for Seniors: deferred loans; grants up to $15,000 for income under 50% AMI (updated Oct 2026)
• Montgomery County Design for Life: property tax credit up to $10,000 (Level II Liveable home; updated Oct 2026)

In Virginia:

• VA HISA: up to $6,800
• Virginia independent living programs through DARS
• Local Area Agencies on Aging for county-level assistance

The VA doesn't reduce HISA because you got a county grant, but some local programs reduce their own benefit by other help for the same work (Montgomery's Design for Life credit does). The strategy is to use the most restrictive grant first (usually HISA, which requires VA physician oversight), then use other programs to cover remaining costs.

Finding Contractors Who Understand VA Grants

Not all contractors know how to work with the VA. Some have never heard of HISA. Others will take your money upfront and leave you to navigate the reimbursement process alone — which doesn't work, since HISA typically pays the contractor directly.

Look for contractors who:

• Have completed VA grant projects before
• Can provide the detailed, itemized estimates the VA requires
• Understand that payment usually comes from the VA, not the veteran
• Are familiar with permit requirements in Maryland, DC, or Virginia

The contractor you choose matters almost as much as the grant itself. A contractor who understands VA documentation can be the difference between a 4-week approval and a 4-month delay.

What Happens After Approval

Once your grant is approved, the VA either pays the contractor directly or reimburses you if you've already paid. For SAH and SHA, payments are typically made in installments tied to construction milestones. For HISA, the full amount is usually paid upon completion, though advance payments can be requested on the application.

Keep every receipt, invoice, and permit record. The VA audits a percentage of grant files, and clean documentation protects the veteran from future repayment demands.

Worth the Effort

The paperwork isn't fun. The wait isn't short. But the payoff is real: a home that works for your body, paid for by benefits you've already earned. Mike's stairlift and roll-in shower didn't just make his home accessible — they made it feel like his home again, not a place where he couldn't fully take care of himself.

If you or your parent is a veteran in Maryland, DC, or Virginia, and you're facing the cost of aging-in-place modifications, the VA grants are worth exploring. Start with your local VA medical center or the VA's housing benefit office. The conversation costs nothing — and the benefits are substantial.

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