Comparison Guide
Last updated: April 19, 2026
The VA runs three distinct home-modification benefits, each built for a different disability profile and project size. This side-by-side guide walks you through which one fits your situation and how the programs can be combined.
| Feature | SAH | SHA | HISA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum | $126,526 | $25,350 | $6,800 SC / $2,000 NSC |
| Eligibility | Severe mobility loss, 5/200 vision, major burns, severe TBI | Less severe vision loss, loss of hands, burns, respiratory | Medical need documented by VA provider |
| Administered by | VA regional office | VA regional office | VA medical center (prosthetics) |
| Form | 26-4555 | 26-4555 | 10-0103 |
| Typical timeline | 6–12 months | 3–6 months | 30–90 days |
| Ownership required | Yes (some family-home exceptions) | Yes (some family-home exceptions) | No — renters OK with landlord consent |
| Medical justification | Not explicitly required | Not explicitly required | Required |
Verify current amounts at VA.gov — caps adjust annually.
Use these questions in order. The first yes usually points to the right starting program.
Start with SAH. It's the largest grant and is built for whole-home accessibility. See the SAH guide.
SHA is likely your program. It targets bathroom, kitchen, and entry modifications. See the SHA guide.
HISAis the fit. It's the fastest program, covers renters, and is open to non-service-connected veterans. See the HISA guide.
Call your VA regional office or a VSO benefits counselor before applying. Borderline ratings often affect which program is the right first application.
Yes, within the VA's rules. SAH/SHA and HISA are administered separately and have separate lifetime caps, so combining them is routine:
A few ground rules: you can't double-bill the same modification across programs, and each program has its own paperwork. If you're stacking, tell your regional office and prosthetics coordinator so scopes don't overlap.
An example veteran with a spinal cord injury who uses a wheelchair and owns a two-story single-family home.
Likely best fit: SAH. The scope (residential elevator or stair lift, roll-in shower, widened halls, accessible kitchen) exceeds the SHA cap. SAH's $126,526 FY2026 limit leaves room for a comprehensive accessibility overhaul.
An example veteran with service-connected vision loss that qualifies for SHA but not SAH, living in a home they own.
Likely best fit: SHA. A $25,350 scope comfortably covers high-contrast and tactile switches, voice-activated controls, improved lighting, and bathroom safety upgrades. If an additional need appears later, HISA can supplement.
An example veteran who rents an apartment, has a service-connected mobility issue, and needs an exterior ramp and bathroom grab bars as soon as possible.
Likely best fit: HISA. SAH and SHA require ownership in most cases; HISA is available to renters with landlord consent, moves faster, and the $6,800 service-connected cap covers a ramp-plus-grab-bars scope with room to spare.
An example veteran enrolled in VA healthcare, with a non-service-connected mobility condition documented by their VA primary care provider.
Likely best fit: HISA non-service-connected tier. SAH and SHA require a qualifying service-connected rating, but HISA's $2,000 non-service-connected tier is available here. That's enough for basic accessibility items — grab bars, a threshold ramp, simple bathroom upgrades.
One practical reason to understand these three programs in parallel is that their paperwork and workflows are genuinely different. A plan that assumes they're interchangeable tends to stall.
For a full pre-application checklist covering SAH and SHA, see our application checklist. For HISA, the corresponding checklist comes from your medical center's prosthetics department.
Not true. SHA and HISA each have their own eligibility pools. Many veterans who don't meet SAH's strict standard still qualify for SHA, HISA, or both.
Not true. The non-service-connected tier is $2,000 lifetime — smaller than the service-connected tier but still useful, and often overlooked.
Not true for HISA. SAH and SHA do generally require ownership, but HISA works for renters with written landlord consent.
Not true. All three are grants. You don't repay them.
Our free calculator estimates a realistic contractor scope based on your location and disability profile, then shows which VA grant (or combination) is likely to cover it.
The Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant: A Complete Guide
Everything veterans need to know about the SHA grant — eligibility, approved modifications, how it differs from SAH, and application timeline.
grant guideThe HISA Grant: VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations
How the HISA grant works for veterans with service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities. Form 10-0103, the medical-center process, and what HISA covers.
grant guideVA Adaptive Housing Grants: Complete Guide to SAH, SHA & HISA
Everything veterans need to know about VA adaptive housing grants — SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and HISA up to $6,800. Eligibility, application, and covered modifications explained.
Ready to estimate your own project?
Run the Free CalculatorAdaptHome.vet is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Always verify current grant amounts, eligibility rules, and forms through official VA channels. Your VA regional office (SAH/SHA) or VA medical center prosthetics department (HISA) is the authoritative source for your specific application.
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