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While the focus for many veterans is on the potential for disability compensation through the VA, there are many other types of benefits to be aware of. Whether you are disabled or not, you have earned a range of other benefits that could have a positive impact on your life.
These are benefits you earned thanks to your service, and it is important to understand everything that is available to you. While a VA disability lawyer could assist you with a claim for an injury or illness, you are eligible for other benefits related to buying a home, getting an education, or receiving medical care.
Education and Training
The VA offers benefits to eligible veterans who are pursuing approved education or training programs. In total, there are four distinct programs available to both active duty servicemembers and veterans. They include:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty
- Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve
- Reserve Educational Assistance Program
The GI Bill offers substantial monetary support for veterans furthering their education. It can pay for things like tuition, fees, books, and supplies. The GI Bill also includes a monthly housing allowance. In some situations, it is possible to transfer unused benefits to a spouse or child.
Medical Care
One of the major benefits provided to veterans by the VA relates to their medical care. Many veterans use care provided at VA hospitals as their primary form of medical treatment. This includes everything from hospital visits, outpatient procedures, dental care, and pharmacy services.
The VA offers many other benefits that are available to qualifying veterans. Some examples include the following:
- Treatment related to military sexual trauma
- Specialized women’s healthcare
- Homeless veteran programs
- Alcohol and drug treatment
- Nursing home and community-based care
- Readjustment counseling
These benefits will remain in place for the rest of a veteran’s life. You might also qualify for caregivers in certain situations, and there are Vet Centers that provide an array of services.
Home Loans
Another benefit that comes with serving is access to affordable home loans. Everyone from veterans to those on active duty, reserve, or National Guard may qualify for the VA home loan program. There are three distinct programs designed to provide housing options to those who served:
- Guaranteed Loans. The VA can guarantee portions of loans offered by private lenders. This means in the case of default, the government will pay for a portion of the deficiency. These loans can be used for single-family homes, condominiums, or manufactured homes. Because they are guaranteed, finding a lender becomes easier.
- Refinancing. In addition to getting a new loan, the VA could help you finance an existing one. This is true whether or not the original loan was backed by the VA.
- Specially Adapted Housing Grants. Some disabled veterans may be eligible for financial support to adapt or purchase a home suitable for their needs. This might include things like widened aisles or ramps to accommodate a mobility device.
Burial Expenses
Veterans also qualify for certain burial and memorial services in some cases. The VA will provide an inscribed headstone or marker at any cemetery, or affix a medallion to an existing headstone. The families of certain veterans might also be eligible for a burial allowance to pay for final expenses like burials or funerals.
Veterans and their dependents are allowed to be buried at the VA national cemetery, and all veterans are provided with an American flag to drape over their casket. Surviving relatives may also request a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Life Insurance
As a veteran, you are eligible for a number of life insurance programs that could cover yourself, your spouse, or a dependent child. There are different options to choose from depending on your circumstances. There are group life insurance policies for active servicemembers, veterans, and the family of those who served. The VA also offers policies for traumatic injury protection, which provide you with short-term support while recovering from a serious injury.
There are additional coverage options you might qualify for. A veteran with a service-connected disability could be eligible for Veteran’s Mortgage Life Insurance, which is a form of mortgage protection coverage.
Support for Dependents and Survivors
The dependents and survivors of veterans might also be entitled to an array of benefits and support programs. For example, relatives might be entitled to a survivors’ pension, which is a monthly payment intended for low-income surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans who have had wartime experience.
One of the most important programs is known as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). This program offers monthly payments to surviving spouses, and the amount increases when there are dependent children. DIC benefits are available to spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty service or from a service-connected disability. The family of veterans who were rated as totally disabled at the time of their death also qualify. In some cases, parents facing financial needs might also be eligible. Many surviving spouses are unaware of this benefit and it is important to speak to one of our VA disability attorneys to see if you are eligible.
Surviving spouses and children who are eligible for DIC benefits may also qualify for other programs, like the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). CHAMPVA pays for reimbursements for medical care. There is also the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, which can help family members seek education and training.
Let a VA Disability Lawyer at Gang & Associates Help With Your Disability Claim
As a veteran, you might also be entitled to disability benefits through the VA. If you are living with a condition that is linked to your military service, the available benefits could provide for your basic living expenses.
The process of securing benefits can be challenging, and denials are common. At Gang & Associates, our VA disability lawyer can help you appeal a denial and pursue the benefits you deserve. Contact us today to learn how we can help.