The "Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act" increases the financial assistance available to disabled veterans for home improvements necessary for home health services.
Don Bacon
Representative
NE-2
The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act increases the financial assistance上限 for disabled veterans to make necessary home improvements for home health services, raising the maximum benefit under 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(1)(A)(ii) from $6,800 to $10,000 and under 38 U.S.C. 1717(a)(1)(B)(ii) from $2,000 to $5,000. These adjustments apply to first-time applicants on or after the enactment date, with the Secretary required to make annual inflation adjustments to these amounts.
Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act Proposes Raising Home Modification Grants to $10K and $5K, Adds Inflation Adjustment
The "Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act" aims to boost the financial help veterans receive for making their homes suitable for home health services. It proposes increasing the maximum lifetime grants available under title 38, United States Code, section 1717 for specific home improvements and structural alterations.
More Green for Home Mods
So, what's changing on the ground? The bill significantly raises the caps on these grants. For veterans needing modifications related to a service-connected disability, the maximum lifetime benefit would jump from $6,800 to $10,000. For those needing modifications for a non-service-connected condition, the cap increases from $2,000 to $5,000. This extra cash could make a real difference, helping cover costs for things like installing ramps, widening doorways for wheelchair access, or modifying bathrooms – changes often essential for veterans to receive care safely in their own homes rather than needing institutional care.
Who Gets the Boost?
It's important to know who qualifies for these higher amounts. According to Section 2, the increased benefits apply specifically to veterans who submit their first application for these grants after the date the Act becomes law. If a veteran has already received the maximum benefit allowed under the old limits ($6,800 or $2,000) before this Act passes, they won't be eligible for additional funds under these new, higher caps. It’s a boost for future applicants, not a retroactive top-up.
Keeping Pace with Costs
Recognizing that construction and modification costs don't stand still, Section 3 introduces an annual inflation adjustment. Starting the fiscal year after enactment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would be required to increase the grant maximums ($10,000 and $5,000) each year based on the Consumer Price Index (specifically, the CPI for all urban consumers). If inflation is flat or negative, the amounts stay the same. This aims to ensure the grants maintain their real-world value over time, helping veterans cover the actual costs of necessary home alterations year after year.