The VA offers many benefits for disabled veterans including grants to help make their homes and cars more accessible.
The Department of Veteran Affairs supports disabled veterans that were injured or have fallen ill as a result of their time in the service. The VA programs help veterans, as well as disabled active-duty servicemen, pay for housing and medical expenses. If you return from your service-disabled or are still active, yet disabled, consider the disabled veteran benefits you may have at your disposal.
What are the Benefits?
The VA offers a variety of disabled veteran benefits including:
Special Adapted Housing Grant and Special Housing Adaption Grant
Both grants help with renovating or buying an accessible home. The SHA Grant is more common and provides up to $77,307 in benefits, but the SAH is a valid option as well, offering up to $15,462 in benefits.
Tricare Medical Care
The VA has more than 1,400 medical facilities specifically for veterans and special medical care programs for those with service-related disabilities.
Disability compensation
Veterans with a service-related disability may be eligible for tax-free compensation from the VA. The amount you receive is based on the level of disability and the number of dependents you have.
Car adaption help
Disabled veterans may receive financial assistance to make their car more accessible.
Who Qualifies for Disability Grants?
Veterans that receive financial compensation as a result of their service-related disability may qualify for some or all of the above disabled veteran benefits. In other words, you must have served on active duty and received a disability rating from the VA for the disability.
In order for this to be true, you must meet one of the following:
- You became sick or injured while serving and medical professionals can link the illness or injury to your time in the service
- You had a preexisting injury or illness that serving in the military worsened
- You have an injury or illness that didn’t present itself until after you were discharged but it can be tied to your time in service
Lastly, you must have any discharge but dishonorable. If you have a dishonorable discharge, it renders you ineligible for any of the above benefits.
How to Apply for VA Disability Benefits
The VA offers several ways for veterans to apply for disability benefits:
- Online through the VA portal, completing the Veterans Online Application
- By mail by completing the Application for Veterans Compensation and Pension
- By phone; call 1-800-827-1000
- Visit your local VA office
The faster you apply, the easier it will be to prove your disability. As soon as you are aware of it, gather the necessary medical documentation including your medical records and complete the appropriate forms. It can take quite a while; even years to approve your application, so the sooner you apply, the faster you’ll have benefits.
The VA takes care of honorably discharged veterans with disability. Do your due diligence and contact your local VA office if you need assistance in getting your benefits.