Help paying for home modifications
The programs most likely to help, with amounts checked against each program's own pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and amounts change, and many programs have waiting lists, so confirm before you sign a contract. Get approval first where a program requires it.
VA HISA grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations)
- $6,800 Service-connected, or 50%+ rated
- $2,000 Other enrolled veterans
- Who
- Veterans and service members enrolled in VA health care whose VA provider prescribes the change as medically necessary.
- What
- Lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 for a service-connected disability (or any disability if rated 50% or more service-connected), and up to $2,000 for other veterans. Pays for changes that allow entry and exit, use of the bathroom (for example roll-in showers), reaching sinks and counters, permanent ramping of entrance paths, and plumbing or electrical work needed for home medical equipment. It excludes decking, hot tubs, removable equipment such as portable ramps, porch lifts and stair glides, and routine repairs.
- How
- Ask your VA primary care team for a HISA prescription, then apply through the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service at your VA medical center. Get approval before work starts.
- Note
- A bill to raise HISA limits (Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act) has been introduced in past Congresses but was not law as of 2026-10-17.
- Checked
- February 12, 2025. VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service: HISA
VA SAH and SHA housing grants
- $126,526 SAH maximum, FY 2026
- $25,350 SHA maximum, FY 2026
- $50,961 TRA, SAH-eligible
- $9,100 TRA, SHA-eligible
- Who
- Veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities (for example loss of use of legs, blindness in both eyes, certain severe burns).
- What
- For fiscal year 2026: Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) up to $126,526; Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) up to $25,350. Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) for a family member's home: up to $50,961 (SAH-eligible) or $9,100 (SHA-eligible). The grant can be used up to 6 times over a lifetime.
- How
- Apply online at VA.gov or with VA Form 26-4555. VA adjusts the maximums each fiscal year from Oct 1; the FY 2026 figures were published on Nov 18, 2025, and FY 2027 figures had not been published when we checked.
- Checked
- November 18, 2025. VA: Disability housing grants for veterans ; Federal Register: Specially Adapted Housing assistive technology and cost index, FY 2026
USDA Section 504 Home Repair loans and grants
- $40,000 Loan maximum (1%, 20 years)
- $10,000 Grant maximum, age 62+
- $50,000 Combined maximum
- Who
- Very-low-income homeowners (household income below 50% of the county median) in eligible rural areas who live in the home and cannot get affordable credit elsewhere. Grants need the homeowner to be 62 or older.
- What
- Loans up to $40,000 at a fixed 1% for 20 years. Grants up to $10,000 (a lifetime limit) to remove health and safety hazards. Loan and grant can be combined up to $50,000. A grant must be repaid if the home is sold within 3 years.
- How
- Check the address on the USDA eligibility map, then apply through your local USDA Rural Development office; applications are taken year-round as funds allow.
- Note
- Some disaster-declared areas have higher grant limits ($15,000).
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. USDA Rural Development: Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants ; USDA Rural Development: Section 504 fact sheet
Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers
- Who
- People who qualify for Medicaid and need a nursing-home level of care, in states whose waiver includes home modifications.
- What
- Many state 1915(c) waivers cover 'environmental accessibility adaptations' such as ramps, grab bars, widened doorways and bathroom changes. What is covered, caps and waiting lists vary by state and by waiver.
- How
- Ask your state Medicaid agency or Area Agency on Aging which waivers in your state cover home modifications and whether there is a waiting list.
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. Medicaid.gov: Home & Community-Based Services 1915(c) ; eCFR: 42 CFR 440.180, home or community-based services
Area Agency on Aging (via the Eldercare Locator)
- Who
- Anyone 60 or older and their families.
- What
- Local agencies run or point to home-repair, minor home-modification and fall-prevention programs, often free or low-cost, and know the state's waiver and repair programs.
- How
- Call or text the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, or search by ZIP code at eldercare.acl.gov, and ask for home-modification or home-repair help.
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. Eldercare Locator (Administration for Community Living) ; NIA: Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room
Rebuilding Together: Safe at Home
- Who
- Low-income homeowners, especially older adults and people with disabilities, where a local affiliate operates.
- What
- Volunteer and contractor-delivered home modifications to improve accessibility, reduce falls and help people age in place, generally at no cost to the homeowner.
- How
- Find your local affiliate on the Rebuilding Together site; each sets its own eligibility and application windows.
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. Rebuilding Together: Safe at Home
Medical expense deduction for accessibility changes (IRS Publication 502)
- Who
- Taxpayers who itemize deductions.
- What
- Changes made to accommodate a home to a disability, such as ramps, widened doorways, handrails, grab bars anywhere, lowered cabinets, moved outlets, porch lifts and modified stairways, usually do not raise the home's value and can be counted in full as medical expenses. Only total medical expenses above 7.5% of adjusted gross income are deductible. Elevators generally add value, so only the cost above the value increase counts.
- How
- Keep invoices and a note from a doctor or therapist on why the change is needed. Ask a tax professional before relying on the deduction.
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. IRS Publication 502 (2025), Medical and Dental Expenses
Medicare
- Who
- People with Medicare.
- What
- Original Medicare generally does not pay for home modifications or bathroom safety items such as grab bars, raised toilet seats or bath seats. Part B covers some medical equipment for home use when a doctor prescribes it (for example walkers, commode chairs and hospital beds). Some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited home-safety benefits; check the plan's Evidence of Coverage.
- How
- If a doctor orders occupational therapy after a fall or hospital stay, ask whether a home safety visit can be part of it.
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. Medicare.gov: Durable medical equipment coverage ; AARP: Does Medicare cover home safety equipment?
Proposed: Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act of 2026 (not law)
- Who
- Would apply to taxpayers 60 and older if passed.
- What
- Bills introduced in 2026 (S. 5216 in the Senate on Aug 3, 2026; H.R. 9554 in the House on June 30, 2026) propose a nonrefundable credit of up to $10,000 a year for accessibility work such as ramps, handrails, doorway widening and tub cuts, for tax years after 2026. As of 2026-10-17 both were in committee. Do not plan around it.
- How
- Track the bills on congress.gov.
- Checked
- October 17, 2026. Congress.gov: S. 5216 (119th Congress) ; Congress.gov: H.R. 9554 (119th Congress) ; LeadingAge: Senators introduce older adult home modification tax credit bill
Frequently asked questions
Are there grants for home modifications for seniors?
Yes, but most are targeted. USDA Section 504 offers grants of up to $10,000 to very-low-income rural homeowners aged 62 or older; veterans can get VA HISA grants of up to $6,800; and many state Medicaid waivers and local Area Agency on Aging programs pay for changes like grab bars and ramps.
How do I find local help with home modifications?
Call or text the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, or search eldercare.acl.gov by ZIP code, and ask your Area Agency on Aging about home-modification, home-repair and fall-prevention programs.
Is there a federal tax credit for aging-in-place modifications?
Not as of October 17, 2026. Bills proposing a credit of up to $10,000 a year (S. 5216 and H.R. 9554) were introduced in 2026 but had not passed. Today the main federal tax relief is the medical expense deduction in IRS Publication 502.
This page points to programs; it is not legal, tax or benefits advice. Eligibility is decided by each program.