VA Home Modification Grants Explained: HISA vs SAH vs SHA (2026)
By Simon Peter Lokomo, MPH — Public Health · Last reviewed: June 2026
The VA offers three home modification grants for veterans: HISA, SAH, and SHA. HISA (up to $6,800) is the most widely available. It covers medically necessary changes for both service-connected and non-service-connected conditions, so most older veterans qualify. SAH (up to $126,526) and SHA (up to $25,350) are far larger but limited to specific, severe service-connected disabilities. For most aging-in-place needs, HISA is the grant to start with.
If you’re a veteran or helping a parent who served, the three acronyms are genuinely confusing, and the VA’s own pages don’t make it easy to tell which one fits. This guide lays them side by side, shows who qualifies for each, and walks through how to apply.
What’s the difference between HISA, SAH, and SHA?
All three help pay to modify a home so a veteran can live in it safely, but they’re built for very different situations. The biggest practical divide: HISA is open to almost any veteran with a medically necessary need; SAH and SHA require severe, specific service-connected disabilities.
| HISA | SAH | SHA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 maximum | $6,800 (service-connected) / $2,000 (non-SC) | Up to $126,526 | Up to $25,350 |
| Type of benefit | VA health-care benefit | Housing grant | Housing grant |
| Who qualifies | Service-connected OR non-service-connected | Severe service-connected (e.g. loss/loss of use of both legs, certain blindness combinations, severe burns) | Service-connected blindness in both eyes, loss of use of both hands, severe burns, or certain respiratory injuries |
| Typical use | Roll-in shower, widened doorways, ramps, accessible sinks, plumbing/electrical for medical equipment | Build, buy, or substantially adapt a barrier-free home | Smaller-scale accessibility adaptations |
| Application form | VA Form 10-0103 (via Prosthetics) | VA Form 26-4555 | VA Form 26-4555 |
| Best fit | Most older veterans aging in place | Wheelchair-level mobility needs | Vision, hand, burn, or respiratory needs |
Source: VA.gov, FY2026 disability housing grant figures.
Which VA home modification grant are you eligible for?
Start with the honest filter: for most veterans aging in place, the answer is HISA. SAH and SHA exist for catastrophic, service-connected disabilities, the kind that typically involve losing the use of limbs, vision, or both. Age-related decline alone needing a ramp, a safer bathroom, a walk-in shower usually points to HISA, not the bigger grants.
- You likely qualify for HISA if: a doctor says a home modification is medically necessary. HISA is available for both service-connected and non-service-connected conditions. The lifetime maximum is $6,800 if your qualifying condition is service-connected (or non-service-connected when you have a 50%+ service-connected rating), and $2,000 if it’s non-service-connected only.
- You may qualify for SAH if: you have a severe service-connected disability such as the loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, certain combinations involving blindness, or severe burns. This is the grant for building or substantially adapting a wheelchair-accessible home.
- You may qualify for SHA if: you have service-connected blindness in both eyes, loss of use of both hands, severe burns, or certain severe respiratory injuries.
A common point of confusion: HISA covers non-service-connected disabilities, which surprises many older veterans who assume VA benefits only apply to combat injuries. If a modification is medically necessary, it’s worth applying even if the condition has nothing to do with service.
How much can each grant pay in 2026?
The dollar amounts differ enormously, which is why getting the right grant matters:
- HISA: $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime (above). These caps are set by law and don’t change year to year.
- SAH: up to $126,526 for FY2026. This is the VA’s largest home grant, for the most significant adaptations.
- SHA: up to $25,350 for FY2026.
- TRA (Temporary Residence Adaptation): if you’re SAH- or SHA-eligible but living temporarily in a family member’s home, you can adapt their home up to $50,961 (SAH-eligible) or $9,100 (SHA-eligible).
Note that SAH, SHA, and TRA amounts adjust each VA fiscal year (which begins October 1) based on construction costs, so verify the current figure on VA.gov before you budget.
How do you apply for a VA home modification grant?
The process differs depending on which grant you’re after, because HISA is administered separately from SAH/SHA. Here’s the path:
- Check your disability rating and eligibility. Your VA medical records determine which grant (if any) you qualify for. If you’re unsure, call 1-800-827-1000.
- Get the medical documentation. HISA specifically requires a prescription from a VA physician describing the medically necessary modifications.
- File the right form. For SAH or SHA: complete VA Form 26-4555, online at va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/, by mail, or in person. A VA Specially Adapted Housing agent is assigned to guide you. For HISA: file VA Form 10-0103 through your VA medical center’s Prosthetics service.
- Use a VA-registered contractor (SAH/SHA). These grants require a contractor with a valid VA Builder ID who understands VA accessibility standards.
- Plan for the timeline. Approval typically takes 60–120 days, so apply before the need becomes urgent.
For what to actually build with the money which modifications reduce fall risk and what they cost — see our guides on bathroom safety modifications for seniors and home safety modification costs in 2026.
Can you use more than one grant?
Yes, in two ways. SAH and SHA aren’t “one and done” you can use your entitlement across up to six separate projects over your lifetime, so you can adapt the bathroom now and save the rest for a ramp or kitchen later as needs change. And because HISA is a separate health-care benefit, some veterans use HISA and an SAH/SHA grant for different parts of a project. A VA agent can help you sequence them.
Frequently asked questions
Can elderly veterans qualify for these grants?
Most older veterans qualify for HISA, which covers medically necessary modifications for both service-connected and non-service-connected conditions. SAH and SHA are limited to severe service-connected disabilities, so age-related needs alone usually don’t qualify for those two.
Does HISA cover non-service-connected disabilities?
Yes. HISA is available even when the qualifying condition isn’t service-connected up to $2,000 lifetime (or $6,800 if you have a 50%+ service-connected rating). The modification must be medically necessary.
Which VA form do I file?
File VA Form 26-4555 for SAH or SHA, and VA Form 10-0103 for HISA (through your VA medical center’s Prosthetics service).
How long does approval take?
Typically 60–120 days, depending on the grant and your VA regional office. Apply before the need is urgent.
Can I use a VA grant to modify a family member’s home?
Yes, if you’re SAH- or SHA-eligible and living there temporarily through the TRA grant (up to $50,961 for SAH-eligible, $9,100 for SHA-eligible in FY2026).
Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov) — Disability Housing Grants (SAH, SHA, TRA), FY2026 maximums; VA HISA benefit (Prosthetics); VA Forms 26-4555 and 10-0103.
