Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grants

Overview

In This Section

This section contains the following topics:

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1. Eligibility for SAH or SHA Grants

Introduction

This topic contains information about eligibility for SAH or SHA grants, including

• general information on SAH and SHA grants
• eligibility for SAH grants
• qualifying disabilities for SAH purposes
• eligibility for SHA grants
• SAH or SHA claims based on paired organs or extremities, and
• reduction of benefits due to tort judgment or settlement.

Change Date

January 22, 2025

XIII.i.2.B.1.a. General Information on SAH and SHA Grants

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers two types of grants to assist seriously disabled Veterans and service members in adapting housing to their special needs:

• specially adapted housing (SAH), and
• special home adaptation (SHA).

Refer to the table below for a general summary of the two benefits’ entitlement implications.

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Note: Under 38 U.S.C. 2101A, 38 CFR 3.809, and 38 CFR 3.809a, grants may be made to active duty members of the Armed Forces who meet the criteria for benefits based on disabilities incurred or aggravated in the line of duty (LOD).

XIII.i.2.B.1.b. Eligibility for SAH Grants

The table below provides the eligibility criteria for assistance in acquiring SAH.

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References: For more information on the criteria for

• SAH, see Kilpatrick v. Principi, 327 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2003), and
• compensation under 38 U.S.C. 11 51, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.B.1.a.

XIII.i.2.B.1.c. Qualifying Disabilities for SAH Purposes

The table below provides the qualifying disabilities as noted in 38 CFR 3.809 and 38 U.S.C. 2101(a) for the purpose of establishing eligibility to SAH.

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References: For more information on

• the regulatory definition of the phrase “preclude locomotion,” see 38 CFR 3.809(c), and
• evaluating ALS, see M21-1, Part V, Subpart iii, 12.C.2.

XIII.i.2.B.1.d. Eligibility for SHA Grants

Eligibility for assistance in acquiring SHA exists when a

• Veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 11 for a qualifying condition, as defined below, or
• service member on active duty has a qualifying condition, as defined below, incurred or aggravated in the LOD.

Qualifying conditions are P&T disability from

• L/LOU of both hands
• deep partial thickness burns that have resulted in contracture(s) with LOM of
• two or more extremities, or
• at least one extremity and the trunk
• full thickness or subdermal burns that have resulted in contracture(s) with LOM of
• one or more extremities, or
• the trunk, or
• residuals of an inhalation injury, including, but not limited to
• pulmonary fibrosis
• asthma, or
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Notes:

• Eligibility only exists for SHA if the claimant is not eligible for, and has not previously received, SAH.
• Compensation under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 11 includes compensation for SC disabilities and disabilities compensated as if SC under 38 U.S.C. 1151.
• Qualification for SHA based on a respiratory disorder requires more than a showing of P&T disability from a respiratory diagnosis such as pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, or COPD. The diagnosis must have resulted from an inhalational injury caused by breathing steam or toxic inhalants, such as fumes, gases, and mists present in a fire environment (including, but not limited to, acrolein, chlorine, phosgene, and nitrogen dioxide).

References: For more information on

• eligibility for SHA, see
• 38 U.S.C. 2101(b), and
• 38 CFR 3.809a, and
• the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.B.1.a.

XIII.i.2.B.1.e. SAH or SHA Claims Based on Paired Organs or Extremities

Even though compensation may be payable under 38 CFR 3.383, claimants do not qualify for SAH or SHA grants if they suffered a loss of paired SC and non-service-connected (NSC) organs or extremities.

Reference: For more information on entitlement to compensation for loss of paired SC and NSC organs and extremities, see

• 38 U.S.C. 1160, and
• M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 7.A.

XIII.i.2.B.1.f. Reduction of Benefits Due to Tort Judgment or Settlement

SAH or SHA benefits must be reduced by an “offset amount” in cases where a judgment or settlement of a tort claim against the United States is granted for disability established under 38 U.S.C. 1151, if the tort judgment or settlement

• becomes final
• on or after December 10, 2004, but
• before the date VA awards SAH benefits, and
• includes an amount specifically designated for housing.

Notes:

• Contact local Regional Counsel to determine whether a judgment or settlement qualifies for offset under 38 CFR 3.363.
• If the offset amount exceeds the amount of the SAH benefits awarded, the excess amount is offset against VA compensation.

Reference: For more information on the offset of disability compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 6.C.

2. Responsibility for Determinations in SAH or SHA Claims

Introduction

This topic contains information on the responsibility of different VA divisions for making determinations in SAH or SHA claims, including the responsibility for

• determining SAH/SHA eligibility and entitlement, and
• medical feasibility determinations in SAH/SHA claims.

Change Date

July 15, 2015

XIII.i.2.B.2.a. Responsibility for Determining SAH/SHA Eligibility and Entitlement

The table below lists the relative responsibilities of the Loan Guaranty Division’s Regional Loan Center (RLC) and the Veterans Service Center (VSC) in determining SAH/SHA eligibility and entitlement.

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Note: Each VSC must designate a point of contact for SAH/SHA claims who will

• maintain the SAH/SHA mailbox, and
• correspond with the RLC of jurisdiction when necessary.

References: For more information on

• Loan Guaranty assistance to eligible individuals in acquiring adapted housing, see 38 CFR 36.4400 – 36.4412, and
• each RLC’s area of jurisdiction, see the instructions for VA Form 26-1880, Request for a Certificate of Eligibility.

XIII.i.2.B.2.b. Responsibility for Medical Feasibility Determinations in SAH/SHA Claims

A determination of medical feasibility is needed when a Veteran is hospitalized or undergoing long-term care in a nursing home or other type of care facility.

This determination is made by a Veterans Health Administration physician at the request of Loan Guaranty, with no involvement from the VSC.

3. Processing Claims for SAH or SHA

Introduction

This topic contains information on processing claims for SAH or SHA, including

• when the VSC will make an SAH/SHA basic eligibility determination
• VA form requirement for SAH/SHA
• claims filed with the
• RLC on VA Form 26-4555, Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant, and
• VSC on
• VA Form 26-4555, and
• any other prescribed form
• subordinate issue of basic eligibility to SAH/SHA raised by the record
• VSC SAH/SHA basic eligibility determination process, and
• further processing by the RLC after a VSC basic eligibility determination.

Change Date

March 9, 2026

XIII.i.2.B.3.a. When the VSC Will Make an SAH/SHA Basic Eligibility Determination

The VSC will make an SAH/SHA basic eligibility determination when

• a VA Form 26-4555, Application in Acquiring Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant, is filed with an RLC and the RLC requests a determination, or
• a claim is filed with the VSC on
• VA Form 26-4555, or
• another valid VA form, or
• the VSC grants a benefit that results in a subordinate issue of eligibility to the ancillary benefit of SAH or SHA.

Exception: The VSC will not make a basic eligibility determination when basic eligibility has already been established.

References: For more information on

• claims for SAH/SHA filed with the
• RLC on VA Form 26-4555, see M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B.3.c
• VSC on VA Form 26-4555, see M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B.3.d, and
• VSC on another VA form, see M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B.3.e
• the subordinate issue of basic eligibility to the ancillary benefit SAH/SHA raised by the outcome of another claimed issue without a claim for SAH/SHA, see
• M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B.3.f, and
• M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, 3.A.2.a and b
• claims for disability benefits, see 38 CFR 3.151, and
• how to file a claim, see 38 CFR 3.155.

XIII.i.2.B.3.b. VA Form Requirement for SAH/SHA

A Veteran or service member seeking SAH or SHA must complete a VA Form 26-4555.

Important:

• VA Form 26-4555 is a prerequisite to the allowance of SAH/SHA by the RLC but is not a prerequisite to VSC action on the determination of basic eligibility.
• If basic eligibility to SAH/SHA has been previously denied by rating decision, VA Form 26-4555 must be accompanied by a qualifying request for decision review under 38 CFR 3.2500. Otherwise, treat the submission as a request for application in accordance with procedures found in M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.G.1.

XIII.i.2.B.3.c. Claims Filed With the RLC on VA Form 26-4555

When a claimant seeks to initiate a claim for SAH/SHA by submitting VA Form 26-4555 to an RLC, the following activities occur:

• for electronic submissions, the information from the VA Form 26-4555 is transferred into the SAHSHA system automatically
• for paper submissions, the RLC will manually enter the information from the application into the SAHSHA system
• the SAHSHA system automatically creates an end product (EP) 290 when the electronic VA Form 26-4555 is received or the information from the application is entered, and
• RLC staff will determine if a rating from the VSC has previously established basic eligibility.
• If so, the RLC will proceed with a determination on entitlement following its policies and procedures. Since EPs 290 are automatically generated, the VSC in these cases will subsequently review and clear the EP 290 once it is determined that eligibility has already been established.
• If not, the EP 290 will prompt an eligibility determination by the VSC as provided in M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B.3.g.

Notes:

• Loan Guaranty uses the SAHSHA system to process and track VA Forms 26-4555 electronically.
• SAH/SHA applications submitted electronically will not bear a wet signature or electronic signature indicator but remain valid submissions for claims-processing purposes. Claims processors must not improperly cancel EP controls associated with such submissions on the basis that valid signature requirements have not been satisfied.

Reference: For more information on signatures, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart i, 2.B.2.

XIII.i.2.B.3.d. Claims Filed With the VSC on VA Form 26-4555

When a claimant seeks to initiate a claim for SAH/SHA by submitting VA Form 26-4555 to the VSC,

• date stamp the VA Form 26-4555
• forward the application to the RLC of jurisdiction by
• mail to the applicable address indicated in the instructions for VA Form 26-1880, or
• encrypted e-mail to LGY.SAHNational@va.gov, and
• take any action required by the table below.

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Note: In the event a VA Form 26-4555 is inadvertently scanned into the Centralized Mail Portal, VSC personnel must utilize the download functionality within the portal to download the mail image. Once in portable document format (PDF), send the document, via encrypted e-mail, to LGY.SAHNational@va.gov.

XIII.i.2.B.3.e. Claims Filed With the VSC on Any Other Prescribed VA Form

When a claim is received by the VSC on a prescribed VA form other than VA Form 26-4555, take any action required by the table below.

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Reference: For more information on prescribed VA forms, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 1.A.1.a.

XIII.i.2.B.3.f. Subordinate Issue of Basic Eligibility to SAH/SHA Raised by the Record

When there is not a claim for SAH/SHA but the evidence and disposition of an issue demonstrates basic eligibility to SAH/SHA as provided in M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, 3.A.2, take action as required by the table below.

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XIII.i.2.B.3.g. VSC SAH/SHA Basic Eligibility Determination Process

The table below describes the stages of the SAH or SHA basic eligibility determination process when a VSC determination is necessary as provided in this topic.

Where basic eligibility to SAH/SHA arises as a subordinate issue raised by the disposition of a claimed issue, as discussed in M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B.3.f, the process starts with Stage 3.

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Note: It may be necessary to update the corporate record if a previous rating decision establishing eligibility to SAH or SHA does not appear in the system.

References: For more information on

• Section 5103 notice, see
• M21-1, Part I, Subpart i, 1.A, and
• M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 2.B
• when ancillary benefits are a subordinate issue, see M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, 3.A.2, and
• rating an ancillary issue, see the VBMS Rating User Guide.

XIII.i.2.B.3.h. Further Processing by the RLC After a VSC Basic Eligibility Determination

The table below describes the stages of processing after the RLC receives notice in the SAHSHA system of a VSC determination that there is basic eligibility to SAH/SHA.

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4. Handling Disagreements With Denials of Basic Eligibility for SAH/SHA

Change Date

March 8, 2019

XIII.i.2.B.4.a. Handling Disagreements With Denials of Basic Eligibility for SAH/SHA

If a claimant disagrees with a denial of basic eligibility for SAH/SHA, the VSC is responsible for handling the legacy notice of disagreement (NOD) or appeal, or request for decision review under 38 CFR 3.2500, in accordance with appropriate procedures.

If the claimant files a legacy appeal document or request for decision review on an SAH/SHA matter other than basic eligibility, forward the submission to the RLC of jurisdiction for disposition.

References: For more information on

• legacy NODs and appeals, see M21-5, Chapter 7
• higher-level reviews, see M21-5, Chapter 5
• Appeals Modernization Act control and other activities, see M21-5, Chapter 4, and
• supplemental claims, see M21-1, Part II, Subpart iii, 2.B.