Get a Free Mobility Scooter from VA (Step by Step Veteran Benefits)
Do you want to get a free mobility scooter from VA?
Use this guide if you:
- Are a veteran
- Find it hard to walk or move around
- Want VA to help you get a scooter
- Need to start the process
- Want to know what to do next
Veterans facing mobility challenges have a valuable resource through the VA’s mobility scooter program. This comprehensive guide walks through the process of obtaining a VA-provided mobility scooter, with each step explained in practical terms.
This step-by-step process applies to veterans who meet specific criteria. You’ll benefit from this guide if you’re currently serving or have served in the military and experience difficulty with daily movement. The guide specifically helps veterans who:
- Face ongoing challenges with walking or moving around
- Want to navigate the VA system effectively to obtain mobility assistance
- Need clear direction on starting the application process
- Seek to understand what happens at each stage
VA experts guide applicants through mobility scooter evaluation, selection, and provision. The process involves several key questions that help determine eligibility and need. These questions cover:
- Your current VA healthcare enrollment status
- Your relationship with a primary care physician
- The location of your nearest VA facility
- The specific mobility challenges you face
- Any mobility aids you currently use
- Daily tasks that have become difficult or impossible
Each section of this guide addresses these elements in detail, providing clear steps to move forward with your mobility scooter request through the VA system.
Learn how to get your mobility scooter through the Veterans Admnistration (VA). Follow these steps to start. Let VA experts guide you through each part.
Can You Get a Free Mobility Scooter from the Veterans Administration?
You can get a free mobility scooter from the Veterans Administration.
Use the quick guide immediately after the or read the article for each step.
This guide will help you answer the questions that will come during the mobility scooter application process.
Quick Guide: Getting a VA Mobility Scooter
Follow these steps to request a mobility scooter through the VA.
Get Accredited/Experienced Help
Rather than doing this alone, you can get a VA representative to help you with this process. The Veterans Service Organization (VSO) provdes free help from representatives, claims agents, and attorneys.
The representatives can help you gather the documentation, fill out forms and make claims.
Get a VSO assistance on their page.
The VSO is accredited by VA. Other organizations that can help you with the claims process:
- Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
- Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
- American Legion
Verify VA Healthcare Status
- Already enrolled: Proceed to Gather Initial Documents
- Not enrolled: Call 1-877-222-8387 to enroll
Gather Initial Documents
- Fill out the VA health Intent to File a Claim form 21-0966 PDF or online.
- Fill out the Application for Benefits
- Obtain your DD-214
Contact VA
- Option A: Schedule appointment with VA primary care doctor.
- Option B: Call local VA and ask for Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS)
Service Related Disability?
The VA provides free healthcare for service related disabilities. If your mobility scooter request is not service related, they will determine your cost based on your income. Learn about the income limitations.
Document Your Needs
- Track mobility challenges for 3 days
- List current mobility aids used
- Note daily activities you can’t complete
Attend Evaluations
- Complete medical assessment
- Participate in mobility evaluation
- Meet with mobility device specialists
Receive Your Mobility Scooter
- VA selects appropriate scooter
- Delivery and setup at your location
- Training on operation and maintenance
Key Phone Numbers
- VA Healthcare Benefits: 1-877-222-8387
- VA Caregiver Support: 855-260-3274
1: Check Your VA Healthcare Status
Start by making sure you can get VA healthcare.
Take ONE of these actions:
- Already have VA healthcare? Move to step 2
- Not sure? Call the VA healthcare benefits hotline at 1-877-222-8387 to check
- Need to sign up? Visit your VA clinic or call the number above (VA Clinic Locator)
How to Check Your VA Healthcare Status
Getting a mobility scooter through the VA starts with verifying your healthcare enrollment. Veterans have three straightforward paths to confirm their status with the VA healthcare system.
If you’re already enrolled in VA healthcare, you can move directly to requesting mobility assistance. For those unsure about their status, the VA healthcare benefits hotline at 1-877-222-8387 provides quick verification of enrollment status and benefits.
Veterans not yet enrolled in VA healthcare can initiate the process through two routes. The first option involves visiting a local VA clinic in person, where staff can assist with enrollment paperwork. The second route uses the same benefits hotline number (1-877-222-8387) to complete enrollment by phone.
The VA Clinic Locator tool on the VA website helps veterans find their nearest facility for in-person enrollment. Each VA clinic maintains staff specifically trained to assist with healthcare enrollment and can start the mobility scooter request process once enrollment is complete.
Before moving forward with a mobility scooter request, having active VA healthcare enrollment status prevents delays and ensures access to the full range of mobility assessment services. This verification step creates a foundation for all further mobility assistance requests through the VA system.
2. How to Ask for Mobility Scooter Assistance
Wheeled Mobility Devices Handbook (On the index page, scroll down to 1173.06 Wheeled Mobility Devices, 12RPS – Rehabilitation & Prosthetic Services:
“If a Veteran has a long-term medical need for a wheeled mobility device, then VA may provide customized or complex manual and powered wheelchairs and scooters.”
“Power scooters are prescribed to Veterans with adequate sitting balance who cannot ambulate over long distances, but do not require manual wheelchairs for most mobility needs and are able to safely transfer on and off of the device.
However, Veterans who are issued a power scooter by VA are not precluded from being provided other wheeled mobility aids, based on need. Power scooters are generally not considered spare power wheelchairs.”
Choose ONE way to start:
1. Talk to Your Primary VA Doctor
- Schedule a primary care appointment (call your local VA or use a MyHealthEVet Premium program to schedule online)
- Tell them you struggle to move around
- Ask them to help you get a mobility scooter
OR
2. Call VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service Direct:
- Find your VA facility number
- Ask for the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS)
- Tell them you struggle to move around and would like help getting a mobility scooter
Get Help From Your Local VA
Veterans have two primary routes to initiate a mobility scooter request through the VA system. Both paths lead to professional evaluation of your mobility needs.
The first approach works through your VA primary care physician. Schedule a primary care appointment using either the phone system or your MyHealtheVet Premium account’s online scheduling tool.
During your appointment, explain your mobility challenges to your doctor. Primary care physicians can directly submit referrals to mobility specialists and initiate the scooter evaluation process.
The second route bypasses primary care by contacting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) directly. Start by calling your VA facility’s main number and request transfer to the PSAS department. When connected, explain your mobility limitations and request assistance with obtaining a mobility scooter. PSAS staff specialize in mobility equipment and can begin the evaluation process immediately.
Some veterans find the PSAS direct route moves more quickly, while others prefer discussing mobility challenges with their familiar primary care doctor first. Both paths ultimately connect you with mobility device specialists who determine the most appropriate equipment for your needs.
Keep a record of who you speak with and when you make contact, as this information helps track your request through the VA system. The VA staff member you connect with will explain the next steps in the evaluation process.
3. Prepare for Your Mobility Assessment
Documenting your mobility challenges before your VA assessment helps create a clear picture of your daily needs. A detailed record of movement difficulties provides evaluators with crucial information for determining appropriate mobility solutions.
Document Your Challenges
Track specific instances when mobility impacts your daily life. Note when you need to stop and rest while walking, moments of unsteadiness, and times when fatigue prevents activity completion. Include situations where you’ve stopped participating in activities or avoided leaving home due to mobility concerns.
Document Your Current Mobility Aids
Your current methods of maintaining mobility tell an important part of your story. Record your use of mobility aids like canes or walkers. Note if you’re using furniture for support while moving through your home, requiring help from others to move safely, or using a wheelchair for certain activities.
Document the Impact On Your Daily Activities
Create a list of essential tasks affected by mobility limitations. Common examples include missing medical appointments, difficulty obtaining groceries or medications, reduced family visits, and limited participation in community events. Include challenges with home-based activities and personal care tasks that have become difficult or impossible.
Create a Three-Day Mobility Journal
A three-day detailed record provides powerful documentation for your assessment. For each mobility challenge, record:
- The location where difficulties occurred
- Specific obstacles or limitations encountered
- How these challenges affected your planned activities
Keep this documentation factual and specific. List actual dates, times, and situations rather than general statements. This detailed record helps VA mobility specialists understand exactly how a mobility scooter would improve your daily functioning.
Summary of Steps
Track Your Movement Problems
Write down when you:
- Stop to rest while walking
- Feel unsteady on your feet
- Avoid going places due to mobility issues
- Get too tired to finish tasks
- Skip activities you used to do
List Your Walking Aids
Document what you use now:
- Do you use a cane?
- Push a walker?
- Sit in a wheelchair?
- Hold onto furniture?
- Lean on others for help?
Write Down Daily Tasks You Can’t Do
Document examples of how your mobility issues affect your life:
- Miss doctor appointments
- Struggle to buy groceries
- Can’t pick up medicine
- Skip family visits
- Miss community events
- Have trouble at home
- Need help with personal care
Do This Now
Keep a 3-day list of when you can’t move safely or easily.
Write down:
- Where it happens
- What stops you
- How it affects your day
Bring this list to your appointment.
3. Help the VA to Help You
Work with the VA System
Maintaining clear communication with the VA ensures smooth progression through the mobility scooter evaluation process. Understanding your role in the process helps avoid unnecessary delays.
Follow VA Procedures
Your participation in the process directly affects its success. Attend every scheduled appointment on time. VA staff often attempt contact by phone for scheduling or additional information – responding promptly to these calls keeps your case moving forward. When you receive VA correspondence, open and review it immediately to identify any required actions.
Maintain Current Contact Information
The VA relies on accurate contact information to coordinate your mobility scooter provision. Update your phone number with VA staff if it changes. If circumstances require rescheduling an appointment, contact the VA office immediately to arrange a new time. This prevents your case from being delayed or closed due to missed appointments.
Manage Documents
Create a simple system to track your VA interactions. Save copies of any documents you sign or receive. Write down the names of VA staff members you speak with, along with dates and key points from your conversations. This information becomes valuable if questions arise about your case status.
VA staff handle thousands of mobility assistance requests – your organized participation makes their job easier and your process smoother. Clear communication and prompt responses demonstrate your commitment to working within the VA system to obtain your mobility scooter.
Follow VA’s Lead
Take these simple actions:
- Show up for appointments
- Answer VA phone calls
- Read VA letters right away
- Ask questions if confused
Keep the VA Updated
Make sure to:
- Tell VA if your phone number changes
- Call if you must miss an appointment
- Save copies of any papers you sign
- Write down who you talk to
4. Get Your Mobility Scooter
The final phase of obtaining your VA mobility scooter runs smoothly because VA handles all technical aspects. Their mobility specialists select the appropriate scooter based on your evaluation results, removing the burden of technical decisions from your shoulders.
VA Delivery and Setup
VA coordinates complete delivery service for your mobility scooter. A qualified technician brings the scooter to your location, whether home or a VA facility. During delivery, the technician performs a full setup of your scooter, adjusting it to your specific needs. They provide hands-on training to ensure you understand all operating features and safety procedures.
What Veterans Don’t Need to Handle
The VA mobility scooter program eliminates common hurdles by managing all technical aspects:
- Scooter selection and specifications
- Body measurements and fitting
- Paperwork for ordering and delivery
- Transportation logistics
- Equipment maintenance scheduling
The VA maintains responsibility for your scooter’s maintenance and repairs. Their system tracks when your scooter needs service and coordinates necessary repairs or adjustments through their service network.
Post-Delivery Support
Your relationship with VA mobility services continues after receiving your scooter. The VA provides ongoing support for:
- Operating questions
- Maintenance needs
- Repair requests
- Usage training
- Equipment updates
This comprehensive support ensures your mobility scooter remains a reliable aid for your daily activities.
The VA Will Perform These Tasks
- Measure your living space
- Deliver the mobility scooter
- Set up your mobility scooter
- Show you how to use it
5. VA Mobility Scooter Program Key Points
The VA mobility scooter program operates as a comprehensive support system rather than a simple equipment distribution process. This structure provides veterans with expert guidance throughout their mobility journey.
Start the Process
Your first contact with the VA mobility program sets everything in motion. Whether through your primary care physician or direct contact with PSAS, this initial step activates VA’s mobility assistance resources. The system works best when veterans initiate contact rather than waiting for mobility issues to worsen.
Professional Guidance
VA mobility specialists possess extensive experience in matching veterans with appropriate mobility solutions. They understand both medical requirements and practical considerations for daily scooter use. These experts guide each case through evaluation, selection, and implementation phases.
Communication Channels
The VA maintains multiple ways to stay connected throughout the process. The main VA healthcare benefits hotline (1-877-222-8387) provides a central point of contact. Local VA facilities offer direct access to mobility specialists. The VA caregiver support line (855-260-3274) assists family members helping veterans with mobility needs.
Online Resources
The VA’s online presence at va.gov/find-locations helps veterans locate nearby facilities for in-person assistance. This tool identifies which locations offer mobility services and provides contact information for each facility.
The VA designed this program to remove obstacles between veterans and mobility solutions. By following the system’s structured approach, veterans receive appropriate mobility assistance tailored to their specific needs.
- Call VA
- Let experts guide you
- Show up when scheduled
- Answer when VA calls
- Ask if you don’t understand
Required Medical Documentation
The VA ensures proper mobility scooter provision through specific medical requirements and documentation standards. Understanding these requirements helps prevent delays in the approval process.
Medical Necessity Requirements
VA guidelines require clear documentation of medical need for mobility assistance. Qualifying conditions often include:
- Chronic conditions limiting mobility
- Service-connected disabilities affecting movement
- Medical conditions causing severe fatigue
- Balance disorders affecting safe walking
- Respiratory conditions limiting walking distance
Documentation Sources
The VA accepts medical documentation from several sources:
- VA primary care physicians
- VA specialists
- Physical therapy evaluations
- Occupational therapy assessments
- VA mobility clinic reports
Independent Living Considerations
Beyond medical necessity, the VA considers how a mobility scooter supports independent living. Documentation should show how the scooter would:
- Enable access to medical care
- Support basic daily activities
- Maintain independence at home
- Allow community participation
- Prevent falls or injuries
Equipment Specifications
Medical documentation must support specific mobility device recommendations. VA prosthetics staff use this information to determine:
- Appropriate scooter type
- Required safety features
- Necessary accessories
- Weight capacity needs
- Operating range requirements
Proper medical documentation forms the foundation for mobility scooter approval through the VA system. This documentation ensures veterans receive equipment that matches their medical needs and daily living requirements.
VA Mobility Scooter Program Benefits
The VA’s mobility scooter program extends beyond basic equipment provision to create a complete mobility solution. This comprehensive approach includes multiple support elements that ensure long-term success with your mobility device.
Equipment Coverage
The VA’s mobility scooter benefit includes:
- Full cost coverage of prescribed scooters
- Essential accessories and modifications
- Batteries and charging equipment
- Necessary safety features
- Custom adaptations for specific needs
Maintenance Support
The program provides ongoing equipment maintenance:
- Regular service checks
- Battery replacements
- Tire maintenance
- Parts replacement
- Emergency repairs
Training Services
Recipients gain access to complete training resources:
- Initial operation instruction
- Safe driving techniques
- Battery management education
- Basic maintenance procedures
- Storage and transport guidance
Additional Support Services
The program includes supplementary assistance:
- Home assessment for scooter use
- Ramp installation evaluation
- Storage solution recommendations
- Transport option guidance
- Family member training
Replacement Provisions
The VA maintains support throughout the equipment lifecycle:
- Regular evaluation of equipment condition
- Assessment for replacement needs
- Upgrade considerations as needs change
- Temporary equipment during repairs
- Emergency replacement services
This comprehensive approach ensures veterans maintain reliable mobility assistance for their daily activities.
Special VR&E Eligibility Circumstances
Beyond standard VA healthcare enrollment, certain situations create additional pathways for mobility scooter access. Understanding these special circumstances helps veterans explore all available options.
The VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program provides mobility devices through independent living plans when:
- Standard VA healthcare channels cannot meet the need
- The device supports vocational goals
- A physician prescribes the equipment
- Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) cannot provide timely assistance
- The request meets specific mobility aid definitions
The Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program‘s guidelines say:
“VR&E may provide mobility devices, such as wheelchairs or mobility scooters, as part of an IL [independent living] plan of services when arrangements cannot be made to provide these services through VHA.
A wheelchair or mobility scooter is defined as a mobility device designed to accommodate a disability and must be prescribed by a physician.
Consultation between VR&E staff and VHA [Veteran’s Health Administration] prosthetics staff may be necessary to determine what type of mobility device a Veteran needs and to decide whether it can be provided by VHA.
VR&E’s authority to provide mobility services does not extend to the purchase or rental of automobiles, trucks, boats, or similar conveyances, such as golf carts or All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV). A tractor or mower must never be approved as a mobility aid.”
Dream Foundation Support
Veterans with limited life expectancy may qualify for additional assistance from Dream Foundation, a non-government organization.
Dream Foundation:
- Grants are available to veterans with 12 months or less life expectancy
- Provides mobility equipment as a “final dream” request
- Requires demonstration of financial need
- Offers expedited processing
- Coordinates with VA services
Dream Foundation “Final Dreams”:
“Dreams for Veterans recipients are U.S. military Veterans 18 years or older with a life expectancy of 12 months or less, and who lack the means to manifest his or her dream unassisted.
Final dreams range from basic needs items such as a mobility scooter, lift chair, working appliance or laptop, to bedside reunions, final vacations with family, meeting a personal hero, or reconnecting with aspects of former military service.”
Multiple Sclerosis And Other Disorders Services
The VA’s Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence provide specialized mobility support:
- Evaluations specific to MS-related mobility issues
- Power mobility options for fatigue management
- Coordination with wheelchair clinics
- Integration with therapy services
- Energy conservation strategy development
VA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence:
“Does the VA have a program for providing service-connected Veterans with help in either acquiring or financing motorized or non-motorized wheelchairs?”
“Service-connected Veterans with MS or other disorders that result in mobility issues necessitating a wheelchair are issued one that meets their needs.
The VA provides medically necessary equipment like motorized wheelchairs, scooters, and other aids to help with mobility for eligible Veterans with MS.
In some cases, fatigue may be a severe enough impairment to warrant power mobility (scooters or motorized wheelchairs).
A Veteran who would like to be evaluated for scooters or other power mobility equipment should have their VA primary care provider send a consult to their facility’s wheelchair clinic or physical or occupational therapy units to consider the best mobility device for their life needs.
In addition to medical equipment, the physical therapist and/or occupational therapist can also help you develop strategies that will help you conserve your energy.”
Complex Medical Needs
Veterans with multiple medical conditions receive specialized consideration:
- Combined impact assessment of various conditions
- Coordination between medical specialists
- Integration of multiple medical recommendations
- Comprehensive mobility solutions
- Adaptive equipment combinations
These special circumstances expand access to mobility assistance beyond standard pathways, ensuring veterans with unique situations receive appropriate support.
These are the guidelines your doctors use to determine your mobility scooter assistance eligibility:
CLINICAL PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOTORIZED WHEELED MOBILITY DEVICES: SCOOTERS, PUSHRIM-ACTIVATED POWER-ASSIST WHEELCHAIRS, POWER WHEELCHAIRS, AND POWER WHEELCHAIRS WITH ENHANCED FUNCTION found on https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/Docs/Motorized_Wheeled_Mobility_Devices.pdf
The VA follows established clinical practice recommendations for:
- Motorized wheeled mobility devices
- Scooter prescriptions
- Power-assist wheelchairs
- Enhanced function power chairs
- Mobility device combinations
Veterans seeking mobility assistance through the VA system find a structured program designed to provide appropriate equipment based on individual needs. Each step builds on the previous one, creating a clear path to improved mobility and independence.
Take Action Today
The VA mobility scooter program operates through straightforward steps designed to get needed equipment to veterans efficiently. Each part of the process moves you closer to improved mobility.
Starting Points
The most effective first actions include:
- Calling your VA primary care physician to schedule an evaluation
- Contacting PSAS directly through your local VA facility
- Gathering documentation of your mobility challenges
- Starting your three-day mobility journal
- Updating your VA contact information
Available Resources
Key contact information for immediate assistance:
- VA healthcare benefits hotline: 1-877-222-8387
- VA caregiver support line: 855-260-3274
- VA location finder: va.gov/find-locations
- The Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS)
Common Questions and Answers
How to get mobility scooter from VA?
To get a mobility scooter from the VA, ensure you are enrolled in VA healthcare, bring your DD-214 and mobility issue journal to your VA primary care physician You can jump-start the process by filling out a VA Health Intent to File a Claim form 21-0966 PDF or online. See above for all details and steps.
Who is entitled to a free mobility scooter?
A veteran with service-related injuries who meets the physical examination criteria for mobility issues is entitled to a free mobility scooter.
What equipment will the VA pay for?
The VA pays for service-related injury mobility scooters, wheelchairs, canes and physical mobility aids.
Does the VA pay for adaptive equipment?
The VA pays for adaptive equipment for veterans with service-related injuries.
Does VA have electric scooters?
The VA supplies electric scooters (electric mobility scooters) to veterans, the process starts with a visit to the VA primary care physician.
Will the VA give me a scooter?
The VA will give you a scooter (electric mobility scooter) if you have a service-related injury and mobility issues. Bring your DD214 to your VA primary physician.
Do my VA benefits entitle me to a wheelchair?
The same rules detailed for mobility scooters in this article apply to wheelchairs. The VA gives wheelchairs to veterans.
How do I contact the VA?
- VA healthcare benefits hotline: 1-877-222-8387
- VA caregiver support line: 855-260-3274
- VA location finder: va.gov/find-locations
- The Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS)