Bill Overview
Title: Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act
Description: This bill increases the maximum amount authorized under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant program to $10,000 for veterans with a service-connected disability and $5,000 for those with disabilities that are not service-connected. The HISA grant program provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to veterans' (or service members') primary residence for specified purposes (e.g., allowing for entrance to their home). The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the dollar amount of the grant in accordance with inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index.
Sponsors: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: People who are veterans in need of home improvements for disabilities
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The bill directly affects veterans, specifically those with disabilities. This includes both service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities.
- The total number of veterans in the United States is approximately 19 million, as of recent estimates.
- A significant portion of these veterans live with some form of disability; the VA reports that millions of veterans have a service-connected disability.
- The bill also impacts those veterans living abroad although they are hard to count.
- Funding adjustments based on inflation will also influence the distribution and impact of the grants.
Reasoning
- The population affected includes veterans who have disabilities, both service-connected and non-service-connected.
- With approximately 4.7 million veterans receiving disability compensation, this gives us a possible pool of people who may use this program.
- Not all eligible veterans will apply due to awareness and administrative barriers, leading to an effective user base closer to 750,000.
- The policy includes provisions to adjust grant amounts for inflation, which can improve its reach and effectiveness over time.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (North Dakota)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I need modifications to my house to improve accessibility.
- This grant will be really helpful since it's hard to afford these changes on my own.
- The policy feels like a recognition of our sacrifices and needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Software Developer (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I recently moved into a new home, and the layout isn’t accessible.
- This grant can help me settle into my new life post-discharge.
- Glad to see non-service-connected vets are included too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Texas)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living in the country, it's hard to get around with my walker.
- Getting financial support to modify my home would be a great relief.
- I'm concerned about how quickly the assistance can be delivered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Factory Worker (Illinois)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might make my day-to-day life easier with home modifications.
- Wider doorways would help tremendously in navigating my home.
- Funds acknowledging inflation is a necessary and smart move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Student (New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy will help me with modifications for my parents' home where I live temporarily.
- Balancing studies and healthcare can be overwhelming; this support is vital.
- Keeping track of inflation makes future grants sustainable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
School Teacher (Florida)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Modifications to create a quiet therapy space would be incredibly beneficial for my mental health.
- The grant's eligibility criteria are inclusive, which is encouraging.
- This initiative seems long overdue for veterans like us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired Nurse (Pennsylvania)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Due to my age and mobility issues, a stairlift is becoming crucial.
- The policy provides much-needed relief for older veterans.
- Inflation adjustments will ensure continued relevance of the grants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Farmer (Washington)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rural living makes it hard to access services for home improvements.
- Aiding with home modifications is beneficial for veterans in underserved areas.
- Hope it streamlines the application process for better flexibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Therapist (Virginia)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Creating a workspace with modifications for mental health is key for my wellbeing.
- These grants affirm the system cares about all types of disabilities.
- Ensuring inflation coverage keeps the policy future-proof.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Arizona)
Age: 73 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel left behind in many ways, so any help would be welcome.
- It's about time policies cater to the older veterans still living independently.
- Grateful, but unsure how quickly funds will reach us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1250000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1500000000)
Year 2: $1275000000 (Low: $1025000000, High: $1537500000)
Year 3: $1300500000 (Low: $1050500000, High: $1574500000)
Year 5: $1352500000 (Low: $1102500000, High: $1637500000)
Year 10: $1470000000 (Low: $1195000000, High: $1785000000)
Year 100: $2500000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $3000000000)
Key Considerations
- The number of veterans applying for these grants will fluctuate based on awareness and ease of access.
- Inflation adjustments in grants will increase annual costs over time.
- Estimates are sensitive to actual increase patterns in usage and inflation indexing.