Information on Your VA Benefits
The Department of Veteran's Affairs works diligently to keep veterans informed about the benefits offered to them. One of the many ways the VA keeps veterans informed is through regular news circulars that they publish on their website at www.va.gov These circulars let veterans know about up-to-date information regarding changes in benefits or procedures in applying for or administering veteran's benefits.
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On June 15, 2006 a large change in Specially Adapted Housing for disabled veterans came about when President Bush signed The Veterans Housing Opportunity and Benefits Act of 2006. According to the VA circular dated June 22, 2006 the changes that have an impact on the VA Home Loan Guarantee Program are as follows:
- The VA can now provide assistance for disabled veterans to adapt their housing to the specific needs of their disability in a home that is owned by a family member that they are staying with temporarily. This assistance is only for non-active veterans who are allowed to use a certain amount of their Specially Adapted Housing grant money to adapt their temporary residence to their needs. If the disabled veteran has received a 2101(a) grant then they can use up to $14,000 of this grant to adapt their temporary dwelling. If the veteran has received a 2101(b) grant then they can use up to $2,000 to adapt their temporary dwelling. This aids disabled veterans who do not own their own home or need help from relatives to adjust to their new disability, especially if the veteran has recently been discharged from active duty and has to rely on the help of family members to get readjusted to civilization.
- The VA will only give Specially Adapted Housing Grant assistance for a temporary dwelling until June 15, 2011. This assistance will be offered for 5 years and then expire and veterans will again be required to only adapt homes that they are planning to permanently live in.
- Veterans can now apply for and receive Specially Adapted Housing Grants up to three times. The VA used to allow a disabled veteran to only receive a SAH grant one time, but now disabled veterans can receive grants up to three times as long as they do not exceed the maximum grant amount. For instance, a disabled veteran applies for a grant to adapt their home by putting a bathroom and bedroom on the first floor of their home because they are in a wheelchair and need first floor access to this type of living space. If the VA gives this veteran a Specially Adapted Housing Grant in the amount of $30,000 to make the necessary adaptations to their home, this same veteran can eventually apply for up to two more Specially Adapted Housing Grants for any needs that may arise later in the future as long as they do not apply for more than $20,000 because the maximum SAH grant is $50,000. This is extremely helpful to veterans who have applied for SAH grants in the past for specific adaptations to their homes, and then realized later that there were more changes that needed to be made, however they were only allowed to apply for the SAH grant one time therefore they no longer have access to grant money to make the changes that would help them lead a more independent lifestyle that would improve their quality of life.
- The VA can now offer Specially Adapted Housing Grants to veterans who are on active duty and awaiting discharge for their disability. This does not include grants for a temporary dwelling. A veteran can wait for some time while the VA establishes their permanent disability and discharges them from active duty. By offering the SAH grants to those veterans who are waiting to be discharged the VA allows them to live more comfortably and adjust to their new way of life with their new disability.
The Veterans Housing Opportunity and Benefits Act of 2006 is helping to improve benefits for disabled veterans in order to let them live a more independent and higher quality life.
See a related article: VA Benefits Continue to Improve
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