If you or a relative served in any branch of the U.S. military, you may be
eligible for certain financial, medical and educational benefits. Obtaining
these veterans' benefits requires some research and paperwork.
The Department of Veterans Affairs breaks down the
entitlements into several categories:
- Health Benefits and Services
The 1996
Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act
allowed for uniform payment of
"needed" inpatient and outpatient healthcare. Find out if you're
eligible, then apply with the
10-10EZ. Find the VA Medical Center
nearest you with the
Facilities Directory.
- Home Loan Guaranty Services
This program can help
eligible
veterans and active-duty military personnel purchase a home, with loans up
to $203,000. To find out more,
read their pamphlet, browse the
frequently asked questions or locate your
regional loan center.
- Education Benefits
There is a wide range of
educational benefits available to service
persons, their families and their dependents. The Montgomery GI Bill
provides compensation for coursework to active duty and reserve members. The
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program grants up to 45
months of education benefits. Find out how to qualify for this program by
reading the Frequently Asked Questions.
- Vocational Rehab and Employment Services
For the past 80 years, this division has provided job placement and
independent living assistance for disabled veterans. Find out if you are eligible and
apply online for benefits.
- Compensation and Pension Benefits
If you suffered a disability or injury during your service, you may be
eligible for service-connected compensation. A non-service connected pension
is available for those who meet eligibility and demonstrate need. View the
fact sheets for more
information.
- Burial and Memorial Benefits
The National Cemetery Administration operates more than 100
national cemeteries. There are also
state cemeteries, which generally have residency
requirements. If you are
eligible, you
are entitled to a no-cost burial site in one of these cemeteries, a
government
headstone or marker and a
Presidential Memorial Certificate. Read the
Frequently Asked Questions to learn how to
request a burial flag and prepare for burial.
The Internet has made it easier to apply for veterans' benefits. Last July,
the Department of Veterans Affairs launched
VONAPP (Veterans On Line
Applications), which allows you to
access applications for compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation and
employment benefits. "The application for Education Benefits should be
available by next month, and the VA plans to add many more forms during this
fiscal year," says Bonnie J. Miranda, of the product development division of
the VA. You can call the
VA facility nearest you to get
applications for all the programs.
--- M. Magnarelli
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