The VA announced today that veterans and active-duty military personnel with service-connected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, are now presumed medically eligible for grants up to almost $68,000 to adapt their homes.
“The VA is committed to eliminating barriers that keep veterans and service members from the benefits they have earned,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This change will make it easier for some of our most severely impaired veterans to receive speedy assistance adapting their homes to their unique needs.”
Under the change, veterans and service members with service-connected ALS will be determined medically eligible for the maximum grant. The program provides grants to eligible service-connected disabled veterans and service members to construct or modify a home to meet their unique housing needs. Grants are also available to help eligible individuals purchase adapted homes or pay down mortgages on homes that are already adapted. VA estimates this change will save approximately 12 months in the overall process of a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant.
“This change automates and shortens our SAH grant delivery process for veterans and service members living with ALS,’ said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. Specially Adapted Housing grants are “an important benefit giving beneficiaries the ability to adapt their homes and create a barrier­-free living environment — expanding their independence in their own homes.”
Contact the Rowan County Veteran Services Office at 704-216-8138 for more details if you feel you may quality.