The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act: Explained

Overview: Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act is a proposal to change how income is counted for certain housing and community programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill says VA service-connected disability pay must be excluded from income when determining whether someone meets low- or moderate-income definitions.

That change can make it easier for disabled veterans to qualify for HUD-funded programs that are tied to low- or moderate-income rules. Many programs start with that income status, so how income is counted can affect whether you can access support.

A companion bill exists in the other chamber: S. 1714. Note that bills often change on their way to becoming law, so this page will update as new details emerge. For real-time updates, subscribe to our newsletter.

What Is the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act?

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act directs that VA service-connected disability pay is not treated as income for the purpose of determining low- or moderate-income status in HUD-funded housing and community programs.

This exclusion applies when a state, local government, or tribe is making the eligibility determination for a HUD-funded program. The goal is to make sure disabled veterans are evaluated using income rules that do not count VA service-connected disability pay against them.

Who Qualifies Under the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act?

The bill is written around program eligibility rules, not a single application process. You may benefit when both of these are true:

• You receive VA service-connected disability pay
• You are applying for a HUD-funded housing or community program that uses low- or moderate-income status, and eligibility is determined by a state, local government, or tribe

The bill does not list a separate age requirement, service era, or homeownership requirement. The key factor is whether the program uses HUD low- or moderate-income definitions and who is doing the eligibility calculation.

How The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act Works

The main rule is straightforward: VA service-connected disability pay must be excluded from income when low- or moderate-income status is calculated for HUD-funded programs administered by states, local governments, or tribes.

In practice, that can affect programs where your income status determines whether you can participate, how much help you can receive, or what terms apply. With the exclusion, your qualifying income for those rules may be lower than it would be when VA disability pay is counted.

GAO Report And Follow-Through

The bill also assigns a review role to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Within one year, GAO must report to Congress on how HUD programs treat VA service-connected disability pay and whether the exclusion is being applied.

GAO must also identify any HUD programs that are not following the exclusion and recommend fixes aimed at serving veterans more consistently across programs.

Who Sponsors the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act?

The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act has been introduced in both the House and the Senate as H.R. 224 and S. 1714. Sponsor and cosponsor information can change as the bill moves through Congress. For the latest legislative updates and cosponsors, see the Bill Tracker above.