Automobiles and Adaptive Equipment for Certain Disabled Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces
To provide adaptive equipment only for certain other disabled veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs strives for excellence in patient care and veteran's benefits for its constituents through high quality, prompt and seamless service to United States veterans.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2007, 1,371 vehicles were purchased; estimate for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 is 1,371 vehicles each year.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Assistance toward purchase of an automobile or other conveyance is a one-time payment only.
Necessary adaptive equipment may be furnished, repaired, replaced, or reinstalled on a conveyance which may be purchased with assistance or any other conveyance subsequently or previously acquired.
Adaptive equipment will be provided for no more than two conveyances during any four-year period unless one of those two vehicles becomes unavailable to the veteran.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Veterans with honorable service and servicepersons on active duty having a service-connected disability due to loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, one or both hands, or a permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a prescribed degree.
For adaptive equipment only, eligibility also exists if there is service-connected ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips.
Servicepersons on active duty also qualify under the same criteria as veterans.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Disabled servicepersons and veterans.
Credentials/Documentation
DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty".
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
An application (VA Form 21-4502) may be obtained from any VA Office or Regional Office (see Appendix IV of the Catalog) and submitted to the Regional Office. Applications are also available on-line at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
Award Procedures
Awards are authorized at the Regional Office.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
38 U.S.C. 39.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not available.
Appeals
Available. In the event of a denial, claimants are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not applicable.
Audits
Not applicable.
Records
Not applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
36-0137-0-1-702.
Obigations
(Direct Payments) FY 07 $53,443,000; FY 08 est $57,300,000; and FY 09 est $61,600,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No statutory maximum for adaptive equipment; $11,000 maximum for automobiles and other conveyances.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
38 CFR 3.808. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-0-01, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is 051-000-00233-4.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.
Headquarters Office
Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 461-9700.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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