|
In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
|
Grants for special needs vets increased
Question: I recently heard the Department of Veterans Affairs has established new rules for specially adapted housing grants. Can you elaborate?
Answer: In the past, eligible veterans and servicemembers could receive special adaptive housing grants of $10,000 or $50,000 from VA only once. Now they may use the benefit up to three times, as long as the total grants stay within specified limits outlined in the law.
Eligible for the benefit are those with specific service-connected disabilities entitling them to VA compensation for a "permanent and total disability." There are three types of grants. The Specially Adapted Housing Grant, currently limited to $50,000, is generally used to create a wheelchair-accessible home. The Special Housing Adaptations grant, currently limited to $10,000, is generally used to assist veterans with mobility throughout their homes due to blindness, or the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands or extremities below the elbow. The third type, established by the new law, the Temporary Residence Adaptations grant, is available to eligible veterans and seriously injured active-duty servicemembers who are temporarily living or intend to temporarily live in a home owned by a family member. Contact the VA in Honolulu at (800) 827-1000 for additional information.
Q: What are the criteria for eye treatment at the VA?
A: Eye-care services are available at the VA Medical Center. The following veterans are eligible to receive eye care and eyeglasses from VA: veterans rated 10 percent or more service-connected for any condition; veterans rated service-connected for an eye condition that requires corrective lenses; former prisoners of war; veterans enrolled in a VA-approved Vocational Rehabilitation Training Program; and veterans in receipt of increased VA nonservice-connected pension based on need of regular aid. For more information on VA eye care, call the VA Medical Center at 433-0600.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.