If a service-connected disability makes it hard to get in and out of your own home, or to use your bathroom or kitchen safely, the VA has a benefit that may help pay for the changes you need. It’s called the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations grant — HISA for short. It doesn’t have to be paid back, and it’s available whether you own your home or rent it.
Here’s what HISA covers, who qualifies, and how to apply.
What Is the HISA Grant?
HISA is a VA benefit that pays for medically necessary improvements and structural changes to a veteran’s primary residence. It’s meant to help you get into your home, move around it, and use essential facilities like the bathroom and kitchen safely.
Improvements HISA can pay for include:
- Building permanent ramps to improve entrance paths or driveways so you can get into your home
- Installing a roll-in shower or other changes to make your bathroom accessible
- Lowering kitchen or bathroom counters and sinks so you can reach them
- Upgrading plumbing or electrical systems when the change is needed because of home medical equipment you rely on
HISA is a once in a lifetime benefit, not something you can apply for year after year. Once you’ve used up your available amount, you can’t get more — so it’s worth planning your project carefully and making sure it addresses your real needs before you apply.
It’s also important to keep the limits in mind. HISA is specifically for medically necessary changes tied to a disability. It does not cover new construction, walkways to buildings other than your home (like a detached garage or shed), exterior decking, security systems, removable items like porch lifts or protalbe ramps, or something like a spa, hot tub, or Jacuzzi-type tub. It also does not provide routine home maintenance, such as replacing a roof, furnace, or air conditioner.
Who Is Eligible & How Much Can I Get?
How much you can receive depends on your disability status. This is a lifetime cap, meaning it doesn’t reset each year.
Up to $6,800 is available if:
- You have a service-connected disability; OR
- You have a compensable disability that’s treated “as if” it were service-connected (for example, a disability caused by VA medical treatment or vocational rehabilitation); OR
- You have a single service-connected disability rated at 50% or higher
Up to $2,000 is available if you have a disability that doesn’t fall into any of the categories above.
In every case, the project has to be medically justified — meaning a VA physician needs to confirm that the specific modification is clinically necessary for your disability, not just something you’d like to have.
Because this is a lifetime benefit with a hard dollar cap, your local Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service is the best place to confirm exactly how much you have left, especially if you’ve used HISA funds before.
How Do I Apply?
A complete HISA application package needs several pieces. Gathering these ahead of time will make the process much smoother:
- A prescription from a VA physician. This needs to include your name, address, and phone number; a description of the project (what area of the home will be changed, what type of modification is needed, and any alternatives considered); and the medical diagnosis and justification explaining why the change is clinically necessary.
- VA Form 10-0103 (Veterans Application for Assistance in Acquiring Home Improvement and Structural Alterations), completed and signed. If you want an advance payment rather than reimbursement after the work is done, you’ll need to request that on the application itself.
- A notarized statement from your landlord, if you rent. This needs to authorize the improvement or structural alteration to the property.
- A written, itemized cost estimate covering labor, materials, permits, and inspections.
- A color photograph of the area of your home before any changes are made.
Keep in mind the VA may also want to inspect the site in person before approving your project.
Once your application is in, contact your local VA medical center’s Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service — they manage HISA applications directly and can walk you through eligibility, your remaining lifetime benefit amount, and next steps for your specific situation.
Relief Recap
The HISA grant can pay up to $6,800 or $2,000 (depending on your disability status) toward medically necessary changes to your home, like ramps, roll-in showers, or lowered counters, whether you own or rent your home. It’s a one-time lifetime benefit, so the amount matters and the paperwork matters too — a VA physician’s prescription, the completed VA Form 10-0103, an itemized cost estimate, and a photo of the area needing work are all required before the VA will approve your project. If accessibility at home has become a daily struggle, contacting your local VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service is the right first step to find out what you qualify for.
