VA Automobile Grant 2024: The federal government offers financial assistance to Veterans with service-connected disabilities that affect their driving ability or require them to change their vehicle to a special vehicle through the Vehicle Automobile grant under the Disability Benefits special claims.
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the benefits and the Veteran Benefits Administration oversees the special claims and processes the grant. From October 2024, new rates have been effective, Veterans wondering about the current rates and other details of the grant can check the details here.
VA Automobile Grant 2024
The Veteran Automobile grant comes under the special claims of VA disability compensation to meet the other requirements of the people whose current disability is related to their military services. The government understands some people might have difficulty driving and need to make efficient changes in their vehicles or buy a new vehicle.
The government intends to offer a sense of independence to retired military personnel with a disability that often carves for and boosts their confidence. With financial support in purchasing the vehicle, changing the vehicle, or getting adaptive equipment to ensure all your driving needs are met.
The new rates have been effective from 01 Oct 2024, eligible veterans can receive financial assistance up to $26,417.20. The VA automobile grant will be made directly to the dealer or seller not to the Veterans.
What makes you eligible for the VA Automobile Grant 2024?
The Veterans whose disability is related to their services can apply for the VA automobile grant or adaptive equipment benefits when they meet any of the following conditions:
- You have lost or permanently lost the use of one or both feet,
- You have lasting decreased vision or visual defect in both eyes related to services; 20/200 vision in your better eye of eyes with glasses, or vision with a defect that lowered the peripheral vision to 20 degrees or less,
- When you have lost one or both hands or not able to use them permanently,
- When you are suffering from amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- When you have suffered a severe burn injury that limits your driving,
- You qualify for only adaptive equipment assistance when you are suffering from ankylosis in one or both knees or your hips
Veterans who wish to take advantage of this benefit should remember they have conditions related to services under 38 USC 1151 Veterans claims. Veterans who receive Disability compensation can request the special claim only.
How does the VA Automobile Grant 2024 work?
Under the Veterans Automobile Grant, Veterans receive a one-time payment to purchase a specially equipped vehicle for disabled people, such as a seat lifter to easily get in and out of the car, or other equipment that makes driving easier for the disabled veterans.
With automobile grants, veterans may also qualify for adaptive equipment grants or only adaptive equipment grants to make the vehicle disabled-friendly for the veterans, such as seats, power steering, lift equipment, windows, etc. You can make the VA automobile grant anytime.
Veterans should understand they should make the automobile grant claim before they purchase the vehicle. The administration only processes your grant claim when the seller sends the itemized voice, or claim form to the authority. This way the Veterans don’t have to bear the price and they have to pay minimal price for the vehicle.
How to claim the VA Automobile Grant 2024?
Veterans who meet the eligibility condition and wish to claim a VA automobile grant first need to submit the claim form for Disability compensation if they did not receive the disability benefits before applying for the special claims.
The VA automobile grant claim and adaptive equipment claim form is VA Form 21-4502, you can download the form online at https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-21-4502-are.pdf and mail it to the following address after carefully entering all the required details in Section I and II:
- Department of Veteran Affairs
- Evidence Intake Center
- PO Box 4444,
- Janesville, WI
- 53547 4444
Now, veterans who only qualify for the adaptive equipment grant can submit the claim request through the VA Form 10-1394. You can download the form online at https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-1394/ and bring the form to a local VA medical center prosthetic representative.
What happens after you apply for the VA Automobile Grant 2024?
After you submit the VA Automobile Claim with completed details in Section and Section II, the VA will assess your eligibility for the claim. If the administration finds you eligible for the claim, the authority will send the form back to you.
Now, you can buy the vehicle or adaptive equipment prescribed by the VHA advisor and bring the original form copy to the seller when you go to receive the vehicle. Once you receive the vehicle, sign the original form with the date of receiving the vehicle and give the form to the seller.
From here on, it’s the seller’s responsibility to send the itemized invoice or adaptive equipment invoice while completing Section VI of the form to the authority. The invoices include the full name of the veteran, the VA file number, and the cost of adaptive equipment (if any) with installation charges.
After reviewing the seller’s information and the cost of the vehicle or VHA-approved adaptive equipment, the Veteran Affairs Benefit Administration will process the applicable payment to the seller in a few days after submitting the form.
The federal government’s special claims under the VA disability compensation fulfills the driving or special vehicle need for Veterans, so if you have a disability connected to your services, you must immediately apply for the disability compensation, followed by the automobile grants.
