If you are Veteran, you may either already utilize the VA benefits and services, or at least heard of them. When I learned about the VA benefits and services that are available for Veterans, I was amazed. There are so many great programs!

But I wondered, why does it seem like the Veterans I work with don’t know about all of these programs?

Some of my patients at the hospitals I worked at were Veterans, and I wondered by they came to a non-VA hospital instead of the VA. I learned that many Veterans had no idea that they could have access to the VA and their programs. I also knew several Veterans who “didn’t want to take resources that other Veterans may need more of”.

I have spent a lot of time with Veterans and learning about the VA benefits and services offered. I’m hoping to break down my knowledge to you, in hopes that you or your loved one will be able to take advantage of these programs. It may be exactly what you need.

And guess what? You most definitely are not taking any resources away from other Veterans. These programs were designed for ALL Veterans.

I’m going to do a brief overview of the different programs that are offered within the VA system. In future posts I’ll get into more details.

Health Care

The VA offers basic healthcare to ALL Veterans. It does not matter how long you served, unless you were dishonorably discharged from the military. If you were dishonorably discharged, you are not eligible for any VA services.

Disability Attorneys Hill & Ponton have a great article about the types of discharges someone receives and if they are eligible for VA services. Check it out HERE.

Basic Health care includes regular doctor check-ups and exams, preventative care, and inpatient and outpatient treatment.

If you are interested in receiving basic medical care through the VA, you just need to apply for health care benefits using the VA Form 10-10 EZ. Or you can call 1-877-222-8387 (press 1).

The VA also provides specialty healthcare, mental health care, crisis support and long term care options as well. Check out www.va.gov for more information.

Check out this post for nursing home and long term care options for Veterans: 3 Long Term Care Options for Veterans

Financial

You can receive monthly disability compensation with the VA. This is a tax free benefit paid to Veterans who have a disability, chronic illness or injury that is associated with time served in the military. These can also be disabilities or illnesses that occur later on after military service but have developed later as a result of time in the military.

There is also Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) which is a tax-free benefit that is paid to surviving spouse, children or parents of service members who died while on active duty, training or inactive duty training. It can also include Veterans who have died from their military related disabilities.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or Aid & Attendance is a tax-free benefit paid to Veterans or a surviving spouse that is used to help pay for care in the home or care at a facility, like Assisted Living Facilities. The beneficiary must need help with activities of daily living, you are home bound or you require nursing home level of care.

You essentially get a monthly tax-free stipend that is supposed to be used to pay for your care. Many people use it to help pay for assisted living because they make too much income for Long Term Care Medicaid but not enough to pay for Assisted Living care.

The VA also offers different life insurance programs for Veterans, service members and their families. There are various plans. You can check out “About VA insurance options and eligibility” on the VA website.

Housing

Everyone has heard about VA home loans. But many people have a misconception of what they are and how they work. Many people assume they can instantly get a VA home loan without a credit check for any amount they want. They also assume that the VA is the one that gives them the loan to buy the house.

I’m going to give you the real information. All of that is false. A VA home loan is a loan that is provided by a private lender, bank or mortgage company. The VA just guarantees a portion of that loan to be paid to the lender, at no additional cost to you. In fact, with a VA home loan, usually a down payment is not required.

With the VA as a guarantor of your home loan, it also give you access to lower interest rates, limited closing costs and no need for private mortgage insurance. The VA essentially backs your loan. However, you still need to pay your loan. Check out more of VA Home Loans on the VA website.

The VA also has a homeless program and housing assistance program. I’ll be talking about these programs in later posts. So stay tuned!

Employment

There are employment and career assistance programs within the VA. Veterans can utilize the Personalized Career Planning and Guidance program to help them determine what career the want to explore, provide counseling and assist with resumes.

Additionally there is assistance with working for yourself, owning a business. This is called the VR &E Self-employment track. Check out the VA’s website for Support and Services Tracks for more information.

VA Vocational Rehabilitation Services are offered to help Veterans with mental illness or physical impairments gain employment and promote independence. For this service you do have to be eligible to receive VA healthcare and Mental health benefits. You also must work with your provider and actively participate in your treatment. Check out the VA Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program.

Education

If you were awarded the GI bill and benefits post 9/11, you can utilize whatever is left from those GI bill benefits for any further education. If you did not use your GI bill yet, and are a post 9/11 Veteran, check out the About GI Bill Benefits page on the VA website.

Memorialization

The VA provides a unique benefit that is offered. If eligible, it can include a gravesite in any of the national cemeteries that have availability. Additionally it includes a Government headstone marker, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial certificate. This is all at no cost to the family.

If a Veteran is not eligible for that benefit, there is also a Burial Allowance benefit that helps provide monetary assistance for a burial that is not in the national gravesite. I’ll go over this in more detail in a future post. But you can also check out the VA’s website on VA Burial Benefits.

This is just a brief overview of some of the main programs available within the VA system.

Make sure you read future posts for this month of November. November is the month we celebrate Veteran’s Day (11/11/2021). If you want to be notified about future posts, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter below!