Putting Veterans First

Veterans Benefits Administration pledges to:

• Treat you with courtesy, compassion and respect at all times.
• Communicate with you accurately, completely and clearly
• Provide timely service to you
• Make our services accessible to you
• Fully answer your questions, concerns, and complaints

About VA

We are the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "VA" for short.  We offer a wide range of benefits to our Nation's veterans, service members, and their families.

What We Offer

VA benefits and services fall into these categories:

• Disability Benefits
• Education Benefits
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Home Loans
• Burial Benefits
• Dependants' and Survivors' Benefits
• Health Care
• Life Insurance

Who is Eligible for VA Benefits

You may be eligible for VA benefits if you are:

• a veteran
• a veteran's dependant
• a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran
• a member of the Reserves or National Guard
• an active duty service member

Disability Benefits

We administer two disability programs.  Both pay monthly benefits to disabled veterans.

• Disability Compensation - We can pay you compensation if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service
• Disability Pension - We can pay you a pension if you are a wartime veteran with limited income and you are no longer able to work.

Time Limits - There is no deadline for applying for disability benefits.

Education and Training

We pay benefits to eligible veterans, dependants, reservists, and service members while they are in an approved training program.  Our major programs are:

• Montgomery GI Bill - Persons who first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, are generally eligible.  Some Vietnam Era veterans and certain veterans separated under special programs are also eligible.

The bill also includes a program for certain reservists and National Guard members.

• Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) - This program is for veterans who entered active duty for the first time after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985, and contributed to a training fund.
• Survivors & Dependent's Educational Assistance - Some family members of disabled or deceased veterans are eligible for education benefits.

Time Limits - Generally, veterans have 10 years for the date they were last released from active duty to use their education benefits.  Spouses generally have 10 years from the date we first find them eligible.  Children are generally eligible from age 18 until age 26.  These time limits can sometimes be extended.

Vocational Rehabilitation

We can help certain service-disabled veterans to get and keep suitable employment.  Some of the services we provide are:

• payment of training costs
• monthly payments to help with living expenses
• vocational and personal counseling
• medical and dental treatment, if needed

Time Limits - You generally have 12 years from the date we notify you of your eligibility.  You may have longer if certain conditions prevent you from training, or if you have a serious employment handicap.

Home Loans

We offer a number of home loan services to eligible veterans and military personnel, and certain spouses.

Guaranteed Loans - We can guarantee part of a loan from a private lender to help you buy a home, a manufactured home, a lot, or certain types of condominiums.  We also guarantee loans for building, repairing, and improving homes.

Refinancing Loans - If you have a mortgage, we may be able to help you refinance your loan at a lower rate.

Special Grants - Certain disabled veterans can receive grants to have their homes specially adapted to their needs.

Time Limits - There is no time limit for a VA home loan, except for eligible reservists.  Their eligibility expires October 28, 1999.

Burial Benefits

We offer certain benefits and services to honor our Nation's deceased veterans.

• Headstones and Markers - We can furnish a monument to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran.
• Burial Flag - We can provide an American flag to drape an eligible veteran's casket.
• Reimbursement of Burial Expenses - Generally, we can pay a burial allowance of $1,500 for veterans who die of service-related causes.  For certain other veterans, we can pay $300 for burial and funeral expenses and $150 for a plot.
• Burial in a VA National Cemetery - Most veterans and some dependants can be buried in a VA national cemetery.

Time Limit - There is no time limit for claiming reimbursement of burial expenses for a service-related death.  In other cases, claims must be filed within 2 years of the veteran's burial.

Dependants' and Survivor's Benefits

Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is payable to survivors of:

• service members who die on active duty
• veterans who died from service-related disabilities
• certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at time of death

Death Pension is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans.  The benefit is based on financial need.

VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) shares the cost of medical service of eligible dependants and survivors of certain veterans.

Time Limits - There is no time limit for applying for the benefits described above.

Health Care

We provide a number of health care services.

• Hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy, and prosthetic services.
• Domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care.
• Sexual trauma counseling.
• Specialized health care for women veterans.
• Health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans.
• Readjustment counseling.
• Alcohol and drug dependency treatment.
• Medical treatment for exposure to Agent Orange, radiation, or environmental hazards.

Life Insurance

Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is low-cost term life insurance for service members and reservists.  Generally, coverage begins when you enter the service.  It is available in amounts up to $200,000.  Generally, it expires 120 days after you get out of the service.

Veterans Group Life insurance (VGLI) is renewable five-year term life insurance for veterans.  It is available in amounts up to $200,000.  You may apply any time within 1 year from the date your SGLI expires.

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, also called "RH" Insurance, is life insurance for service-disabled veterans.  The basic coverage is $10,000.  If your premium payments for the basic policy are waived, you may be eligible for a supplemental policy of up to $20,000.  Generally, you have 2 years after being notified of your service-connected disability to apply for basic coverage.

Toll-Free Service Benefits Information and Assistance

Each VA benefit has its own eligibility requirements.  For more information about specific benefits, you may visit the nearest VA office or call

1-800-827-1000

Special Tool-Free Numbers

VA-Online

VA-Online is an electronic bulletin board system.  It contains more information about the benefits described in this pamphlet.  It is available to PC users who have modems and communications software.

800-871-8387

 

 

RESCISSION: VA Pamphlet 27-82-2,

dated March 1991