VA SAH Grant 2026: Specially Adapted Housing Benefits for Disabled Veterans

The VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant is a benefit for veterans with specific service-connected disabilities that require permanent home modifications. The SAH grant is not a loan -- it is a direct grant that does not have to be repaid. For MLOs who work with veteran borrowers, understanding SAH eligibility and how the grant interacts with a purchase or refinance transaction can be meaningful for the right client.

SAH Grant Eligibility

The SAH grant is available to veterans who have a service-connected disability that includes the loss or loss of use of both legs, both arms, one leg and one arm, or blindness in both eyes (with 5/200 visual acuity or less). The veteran must own or intend to own the home being adapted. The disability must be service-connected and rated as such by the VA. The grant is also available to active duty service members with the same qualifying disabilities.

SAH Grant Limits and Usage

• ✦Grant maximum adjusts annually; in 2025 the limit was $109,986 for SAH
• ✦SHA (Special Housing Adaptation) grant is available for different disability types at a lower limit ($22,036 in 2025)
• ✦The grant can be used up to three times during the veteran's lifetime, not to exceed the maximum per type
• ✦Eligible uses: ramps, wider doorways, roll-in showers, lowered kitchen counters, elevator installation
• ✦Grant funds cannot be used for cosmetic upgrades -- all work must be medically necessary for the disability

How SAH Interacts With a Mortgage

The SAH grant does not eliminate the need for financing -- it offsets the cost of modifications. A veteran purchasing a home and receiving SAH funds can apply the grant toward the modification work after closing. The grant is not counted as a down payment by most lenders, but the increased value from modifications may be reflected in the appraisal. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) can assist with the SAH application process, which runs through the VA's regional loan center.