FEDERAL AGENCY:

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

AUTHORIZATION:

38 U.S.C. 39.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide financial assistance to certain disabled servicepersons and veterans toward the purchase price of an automobile or other conveyance and an additional amount for adaptive equipment deemed necessary to insure the eligible person will be able to operate or make use of the automobile or other conveyance. To provide adaptive equipment only for certain other disabled veterans.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

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 4-year period unless one of those two vehicles becomes unavailable to the veteran.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Veterans with honorable service and servicepersons on 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. Personnel on active duty also qualify under the same criteria as veterans.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Disabled service members and veterans.

Credentials/Documentation:   Military discharge certificate.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   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.

Award Procedure:   Awards are authorized at the Regional Office.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not available.

Appeals:   Available through special board. 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.

Obligations:   (Direct Payments) FY 01 $35,061,000; FY 02 est $35,447,000; and FY 03 est $35,447,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   No statutory maximum for adaptive equipment; $11,000 maximum for automobiles and other conveyances.

In fiscal year 2001, 987 vehicles were purchased; estimate for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 is 1,000 vehicles each year.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

38 CFR 3.808. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is 051-000-00220-2.

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.

Web Site Address:  
https://www.va.gov/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.

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