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.
64.100 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.
64.100 APPLICATION & AWARD PROCESS:
Preapplication Coordination: None.
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.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects: Not applicable.
Range & Average of Financial Assistance: No statutory maximum for adaptive equipment; $5,500 maximum for automobile or other conveyance.
64.100 RELATED PROGRAMS:
64.100 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 1995, 1,141 vehicles were
purchased. Estimates for fiscal years 1996 and 1997 are 1,141.
64.100 FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:
Federal Agency:
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS
Type of Assistance:
Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Obligations:
(Direct Payments) FY 95 $27,204,000; FY 96 est
$22,048,000; and FY 97 est $18,121,000.
Budget Account Number:
36-0137-0-1-702.
Authorization:
38 U.S.C. 39.
Regulations, Guidelines, & Literature:
38 CFR 3.808 "Federal
Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-96-1, $3.25,
available from Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20202-9325.
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. Phone: (202) 273-7218.
64.100 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula & Matching Requirements:
Not applicable.
Length & Time Phasing of Assistance:
Not applicable.
Uses & 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.
64.100 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Not applicable.
Audits:
Not applicable.
Records:
Not applicable.
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