Reader TTS

QUESTION 1: HOW CAN I GET HELP TO BUY, BUILD OR MODIFY A HOME? EXAMPLE: “_Right after 9/11/2001, I enlisted in the Army and served in several Middle East countries until … my vehicle was hit

by an IED [improvised explosive device]. After being evacuated, I lost both of my legs above the knee. At Walter Reed [medical center], I received two prosthetic legs and went through

extensive rehab. I was eventually fairly mobile, but recently the stairs to my home have become very difficult to navigate and my balance seems to be worsening. I’m told I now need a

single-story house with a ramp to the front door, modifications to the bathroom and kitchen, and a way to use my wheelchair to move around when I’m fatigued and have balance issues._” NEXT

STEPS: Take a look at VA programs that can offer help. This veteran can reach out to the VA for its largest grant for home modification — the Specially Adapted Housing grant. In fiscal year

2024 (Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024), veterans may be eligible to receive up to $117,014 to buy, build or modify a home that is either owned by or will be owned by the veteran. Eligibility can

be complicated, but the good news is that you can get no-cost help from those who are trained to aid veterans (see some of the options below). Here are examples of qualifying

service-connected requirements: * The loss or loss of use of more than one limb * Blindness in both eyes (with 20/200 visual acuity or less) * Certain severe burns * The loss or loss of use

of one lower extremity (foot or leg) after Sept. 11, 2001, so you can’t balance or walk without the help of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair If you are unsure whether you qualify for

an SAH grant, or you simply want more information, you should contact: Once a veteran qualifies for a grant, a dedicated VA agent is assigned to assist them throughout the process of making

home modifications. This personalized support ensures smoother flow of grant funds and helps the veteran and/or their family address all necessary details effectively. Getty Images (2)

QUESTION 2: HOW CAN I UPDATE OUR FAMILY-OWNED HOME WITH RAMPS AND BATHROOM OR KITCHEN ACCOMMODATIONS? WHERE DO I START? EXAMPLE: “_I believe my dad has been increasingly dealing with the

effects of his Navy service in Vietnam. Recently I noticed increased weakness and numbness in his arms and legs, he’s had trouble breathing, and he is just no longer able to get around

without help. I heard that in the past year, there were new opportunities for him to qualify for VA benefits. I want to find a way that he can get help to modify his bathroom with grab rails

and change the tub to a shower and seat, so he can remain more independent_.” NEXT STEPS: In this instance, the veteran’s daughter wants to determine how the VA can help with needed changes

to the family’s home. This is a good case for the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant because it is not as restrictive as the larger SAH grant, requires less severe disabilities and can

be used in a family-owned home. In 2024, regulations allow the SHA grant to be awarded to eligible veterans, providing up to $23,444 for home modifications. This funding can cover various

changes, such as ramps, bathroom or kitchen accommodations, up to the full amount of the grant. Among the “new opportunities” the veteran’s daughter mentioned is the PACT (Promise to Address

Comprehensive Toxics) Act of 2022, which was one of the largest expansions of benefits in VA history. Learn more here.* You may be eligible for an SHA grant if the grant money would be used

to buy, build or change your permanent home (a home you plan to live in for a long time) and you meet these requirements: * You or a family member owns or will own the home. * You have a

qualifying service-connected disability. THE VA INDICATES THAT QUALIFYING SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES INCLUDE: * The loss or loss of use of both hands * Certain severe burns * Certain

respiratory or breathing injuries As with the larger SAH grant described earlier, veterans can directly reach out to the VA to get information from the grant office at [email protected]

or by calling 877-827-3702. As under the SAH grant, once someone qualifies for a home modification grant, a VA agent is assigned to help move the application forward.  Getty Images QUESTION

3: CAN WE MODIFY OR CHANGE A FAMILY HOME WHERE A VETERAN IS LIVING TEMPORARILY? EXAMPLE: _“My mom came back from military service in Afghanistan with severe respiratory issues and serious

burns on her hands and arms. While she seemed to recover OK and held a job for many years, she now falls often and seems to be getting worse. I believe she needs help getting around safely

and with using her hands in the kitchen, etc. She says she wants to live with me for a while until she can manage again independently. Is there any help I could get to modify some things,

specifically in the bathroom and kitchen, to help her manage? She says she thinks the VA can help her adapt her home once she stabilizes and gets her feet under her again.”_ NEXT STEPS: A

veteran needs help modifying a home for a fairly short period. A Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant can help update a family member’s home and is authorized up to the following

amounts for 2024: * If you qualify for an SAH grant, you can get up to $47,130 through the TRA program. * If you qualify for an SHA grant, you can get up to $8,415 through the TRA program.

You may receive a TRA grant if you meet certain requirements, but both must be true: * You qualify for an SAH or SHA grant. * You’re living temporarily in a family member’s home that needs

modifications to meet your needs. (To use a TRA grant, you don’t have to own the house, but your relatives do.) Veterans can directly reach out to the VA to receive more information from the

SAH office.*