Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To help certain severely disabled veterans acquire a home which is suitably adapted to meet the special needs of their disabilities.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
a. The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program provides 50 percent of the cost to the veteran of the adapted house, land and allowable expenses, not to exceed a maximum grant of $48,000. The money may be used to help (1) construct a suitable home on suitable land either already owned or to be acquired by the veteran, or (2) remodel an existing home if it can be suitable adapted, or (3) reduce the outstanding mortgage on a suitably adapted home already owned by the veteran. In computing the amount of the grant, the costs may include incidental expenses such as connections to public facilities and customary fees for the services of an attorney, architect, loan closing, etc. There are restrictions on the use of a grant: If a loan is necessary to supplement the grant, monthly loan payments and the cost of maintaining the property must bear a proper relation to the veteran's present and anticipated income. The housing unit must be suitable for the veteran's special needs. The veteran must acquire acceptable title to the property. b. The Special Housing Adaptions (SHA) program provides the actual cost to the veteran of certain adaptions and/or equipment, not to exceed a maximum grant of $9,250. The home to be adapted must be owned by the veteran or by a member of the veteran's family, and the veteran must intend to contine residing there.
Who is eligible to apply...
For an SAH grant, veterans with permanent, total, and service-connected disabilities due to: (1) loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, canes, crutches, or a wheelchair; (2) which includes (a) blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, plus (b) loss or loss of use of one lower extremity; or (3) loss or loss of use of one lower extremity, together with (a) residuals of organic disease or injury, or (b) the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. It must be medically feasible for the veteran to reside in the particular home involved. For an SHA grant, veterans are eligible who have a permanent and total service-connected disability which (1) is due to blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or (2) includes the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Initial application for determination of basic eligibility may be made on VA Form 26-4555 to the VA regional office holding the veteran's claim folder. After eligibility is determined, a VA employee will personally assist the veteran throughout subsequent processing, including advice on a suitable house plan and lot, adaptative features, location of a qualified architect and builder, and submission of the documents necessary for final grant approval.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
The VA Regional Office disburses the grant proceeds after conditions of the contract and grant approval are fulfilled.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
None.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 30 to 60 days for determination of basic eligibility and medical feasibility; 30 to 60 days after receipt of supplemental application with supporting papers.
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
Denial of eligibility is appealable through the Board of Veterans' Appeals. In the event of a denial, claimants are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
Not applicable.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Permanently and totally disabled veterans.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Direct Payments for Specified Use
Financial assistance from the Federal government provided directly to individuals, private firms, and other private institutions to encourage or subsidize a particular activity by conditioning the receipt of the assistance on a particular performance by the recipient. This does not include solicited contracts for the procurement of goods and services for the Federal government.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
SAH: For the housing unit, land, fixtures, and allowable expenses, up to $43,000. SHA: For adaptations to the veteran's residence, up to $8,250.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Direct Payments) FY 03 $24,805,000; FY 04 est $25,200,000; and FY 05 est $25,200,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
36-0137-0-1-702.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
None.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2002, 678 grants were made to disabled veterans. Outputs for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 are expected to be at least 650 each year.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
None.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Usually if veteran already owns a suitable house, grant is disbursed in lump sum. In remodeling and construction cases, grant is disbursed by specified construction completion phases approved by VA.
Formula and Matching Requirements
For an SAH grant, VA provides 50 percent of the cost to the veteran of the housing unit, land, fixtures and allowable expenses, not to exceed a maximum grant of $48,000. For an SHA grant, VA provides lesser of (1) actual cost of adaptations or (2) $9,250.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
None.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
None.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
None.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Public Laws 80-702, 96-385 and 105-178, 38 U.S.C. 2101-2106.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
38 CFR 3.809 36.4400- 36.4411 and title 38, United State Code, chapter 21; "Questions and Answers on Specially Adapted Housing for Veterans," VA Pamphlet 26-69-1, no charge; "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is 051-000-00220-2. "Handbook for Design, Specially Adapted Housing," VA Pamphlet 26-13, available to eligible veterans.