New Ancillary Benefits

Posted on December 17, 2015

New Ancillary Benefit Rates

The Veterans Benefits Administration recently came out with the new rates for Ancillary Benefits; which became effective October 1, 2015 (FY 2016). Ancillary benefits are grants to certain Service members and Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to assist them with home adaption and a one-time auto grant.

The new Automobile Grant is $20,174.68; any automobile grants received on or after 10/1/2015 may be paid at the new rate. If an automobile request was received by the VA on or after 10/1/2015 and the old rate of $20,114.34 was paid; the veteran may be entitled to an additional payment of $60.34 which may be paid directly to the veteran. The VA will review the documentation received to determine the purchase price of the automobile.

The new Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) rates are $73,768; which is designed to help disabled veterans by providing a barrier-free living environment.

The new Special Home Adaptation (SHA) rate is $14,754; which is available to certain veterans and service members who are entitled to disability compensation due to:

Blindness in both eyes with 20/20 visual acuity or less in the better eye with the use of a standard correcting lens or

The anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands or extremities below the elbow or

A severe burn injury (per 38 CFR 3.809a)

The new Temporary Residence Assistance rate is $32,384; which is a temporary grant available to eligible veterans and service members who are entitled to specially adapted housing; but will be temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member. The new Temporary Residence Assistance rate for Veterans and service members eligible for SHA is $5,782. Per the 38 USC 2102, no veteran may utilize the specially adapted housing more than three times up to the current dollar amount.

For example; if an eligible veteran utilized $50,000 of the specially adapted housing grant in 2008; he/she could utilize the remainder of $23,768 to equal the current rate of $73,768.

If you have any questions, please contact Patti Matysiak, Secretary III in Las Vegas, NV at 702-791-9000 ext. 14458.