Using a VA HISA grant to pay for a wheelchair ramp in Killeen

The VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations benefit, known as HISA, can pay toward a permanent ramp at a veteran's home. Here's what it covers, how much it pays, and how to apply from the Killeen and Fort Cavazos area.

Get a ramp quote for your VA paperwork

Or call (254) 276-5132

HISA at a glance

$6,800lifetime maximum when the need is service connected, or the veteran meets certain other VA criteria

$2,000lifetime maximum when the need is not service connected

Amounts as published by the VA's Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. Confirm current figures with the VA; Congress has considered raising the cap.

What HISA is

HISA is a VA health care benefit, not a housing loan. It pays for medically necessary changes to a veteran's primary residence, so a veteran can get in and out of the home and use its essential rooms safely. Because it's a health benefit, it starts with a VA doctor, not a contractor.

It's a lifetime benefit. If you use part of it for a ramp now, the rest stays available for a later project, such as a roll-in shower or lowered counters.

HISA is separate from the VA's larger housing grants, Specially Adapted Housing and Special Housing Adaptation. Those are for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities and are applied for through a different part of the VA. If you might qualify for one of those, ask the VA before using HISA on a ramp.

What HISA covers for ramps

The VA lists permanent ramping as an approved use, along with improving the path or driveway right around the home to reach it. In practice that means:

A permanent wood or concrete ramp to an entrance
Handrails that are part of the ramp
Walkway work needed to connect the ramp to the driveway
Permit and inspection fees the city requires

What HISA does not cover

The VA excludes removable equipment. For ramp projects, the exclusions that matter most are:

Portable ramps
Porch lifts and vertical platform lifts
Stair glides and stair lifts
Routine home repairs, such as roofs or air conditioning

Some of those items may be available through other VA programs. Ask your prosthetics office rather than assuming.

How to apply for HISA

See your VA primary care provider. Explain that you need a ramp to get in and out of your home. The provider writes a prescription describing the ramp and why it's medically necessary.
Get a written quote. A contractor measures your entrance and writes an itemized estimate. The VA typically wants to see the scope of work and cost.
Complete VA Form 10-0103, the veteran's application for home improvement and structural alterations.
Submit the package to the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service at your VA medical center. For most Killeen-area veterans that's the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.
Wait for approval before work starts. Once approved, the ramp can be scheduled.

The most common delay is a prescription that's too vague. Ask your provider to describe the entrance, the mobility need, and why a ramp is the right solution.

Planning a ramp that fits the HISA budget

A HISA grant may not cover the full cost of a long ramp. A few things help it go further:

Measure first. Use the ramp calculator to see how long your ramp needs to be. Every inch of height adds a foot of ramp.
Pick the easiest entrance. A back or side door with fewer steps can need a much shorter ramp than the front door.
Ask for a quote that separates HISA-eligible work. If you want extras the VA won't pay for, having them listed separately keeps the paperwork clean.
Know the other options. Some veterans combine HISA with Medicaid home modification benefits or local aging programs.

Questions veterans ask about HISA and ramps

How much does the VA HISA grant pay for a ramp?

HISA is a lifetime benefit. The VA lists a maximum of $6,800 for veterans whose need is related to a service-connected condition (or who meet certain other VA criteria), and $2,000 for veterans whose need is not service connected. Whatever you use on a ramp comes out of that lifetime total.

Does HISA cover aluminum or portable ramps?

HISA covers permanent ramping that improves access to the home. The VA specifically excludes portable ramps, porch lifts, and stair glides. Ask your VA prosthetics office how they'll treat a semi-permanent aluminum ramp before you choose one.

Can I use HISA if I rent my home?

HISA can be used at a veteran's primary residence, and veterans who rent can apply. The VA may ask for the property owner's written permission, so ask your prosthetics office what they need before work starts.

Who do I contact at the VA about HISA?

HISA is run by the VA's Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. In this area that's through the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, whose main medical center is in Temple. Start with your VA primary care provider, who writes the prescription.

Can I get the ramp built first and have the VA pay me back?

Don't count on it. HISA generally requires approval before work begins, and work done without approval may not be covered. Get the prescription and approval in place first, then schedule the install.

Request a free ramp estimate

Tell us a little about the entrance and who the ramp is for. A local installer will call you to set up a time to measure. There is no cost for the estimate and no obligation.

Prefer to talk it through? Call (254) 276-5132.

If you plan to use a VA HISA grant, check the box. The installer will know to write the quote in a form you can include with your VA paperwork.