Applying for Benefits
| Benefits | How To Apply |
| Before leaving military service – pre-di ... | If you are a member of the armed forces ... |
| Veteran Readiness and Employment benefit ... | The best way to file for Veteran Readine ... |
| Disability compensation benefits for Vet ... | The best way to file for disability comp ... |
| VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation ... | If you’re the surviving spouse or child ... |
What benefits are you eligible for as a veteran?
You may be able to get VA disability benefits for conditions such as:
- Chronic (long-lasting) back pain resulting in a current diagnosed back disability
- Breathing problems resulting from a current lung condition or lung disease
- Severe hearing loss
- Scar tissue
- Loss of range of motion (problems moving your body)
- Ulcers
- Cancers caused by contact with toxic chemicals or other dangers
Who can apply for veterans benefits?
Who is Eligible for Veterans Benefits?
- Must meet definition of a veteran or considered as a veteran
- Must meet active duty requirements
- Must meet the period of active duty service requirements
- Service-connected disabilities cannot be a result of willful misconduct
- Pension is not available if discharge was due to willful misconduct
- Must have received an other than dishonorable discharge
What are the benefits of being a veteran?
They offer options for repayment assistance, which comes in various forms like:
- Repayment plans
- Loan forbearance
- Loan modification programs
How do I apply for VA benefits?
Apply for Benefits. Applying for your VA education benefits can be done in just a few steps: Apply online. Visit your nearest VA regional office to apply in person. Consult with the VA Certifying Official—who is usually in the Registrar’s or Financial Aid office—at the school of your choice. This official has application forms and can help you apply.
How do you qualify for military benefits?
Open to Veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve) If you served on active duty during wartime, are at least 65 years old or have a service-connected disability, and have limited or no income, find out if you qualify for Veterans Pension benefits.
How long do I have to be in the military to get benefits?
Generally, you must have 90 days or 24 months of active service (depending on when you served) to qualify. *You are also eligible if you previously completed 24 continuous months of active service prior to the date above, or received an early discharge under Section 1171 of Title 10.
Who is eligible for military medical benefits?
Normally, if you have an injury or disability caused by your military service you are eligible to be treated for that condition by the VA for free. If your disability or injury is severe enough for the VA to rate you at least 50% disabled for compensation benefits, all your medical care is free from the VA.
Do all Veterans qualify for VA benefits?
All enrolled Veterans receive the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) comprehensive Medical Benefits Package which includes preventive, primary and specialty care, diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient care services.
What benefits do you get after 4 years in the military?
Education and SalaryJob Training. Everyone in the Military is trained in a job specialty. ... Money for College. During and after your time in service, the Military encourages you to advance your education. ... Pay, Allowances and Promotions. ... Vacation. ... Retirement. ... VA Benefits. ... Other Lifestyle Benefits.
Are military benefits worth it?
Military Retirement Benefits are Worth Millions. Military members receive a lifetime pension based on the average of their highest three years of base pay. Military retirees who are in the High-3 Retirement System receive 2.5% of their base pay for each year of service.
Does the military give you free healthcare?
Active duty military members and their dependents receive free medical care, under the provision of TRICARE known as Tricare Prime. This works like an HMO. The member (and his/her dependents) are assigned to a primary care provider, which is usually (but not always) the base hospital.
Do veterans get free healthcare?
The VA will provide you free health care for conditions that are caused or made worse by your military service. If you have severe injuries or disabilities you may be eligible to receive all your medical care for free from the VA, not just that care related to your injuries.
Does the military give you healthcare for life?
There's a common misconception that one of the advantages of joining the armed forces is free health care for life. While the military does provide excellent health care benefits, it's not always free – and not all veterans get health insurance.
What is the VA 5 year rule?
The VA disability rating 5-year rule states that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cannot reduce a veteran's disability rating if it has been in place for five years or more unless the condition shows sustained improvement over time. In this situation, the veteran's rating is considered a stabilized rating.
What are the 4 types of veterans?
What is the difference between a combat, war, or peacetime veteran?Combat Veteran. Every service member who meets the active duty requirement is a veteran, but combat veterans and war veterans are entitled to additional VA benefits other veterans do not receive. ... War Veteran. ... Peacetime Veteran.
Do all veterans get a monthly check?
The Veterans Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net worth within certain limits.
What are the benefits of being a military member?
Military Benefits. Military members and veterans have access to valuable benefits. Some are for families too. Health Care - The Military Health System provides care for members, retirees, and dependents. Housing - As a member or veteran, you can apply for home loans and grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
What is military assistance?
Military Assistance Programs for Veterans, Service Members, and Families. If you're a service member, veteran, or spouse, you’re not alone. The military and federal agencies have resources to help you manage life. Use these tools to get help with finances, health care, jobs, moving, and other challenges.
How to contact military OneSource?
Find information and resources in areas such as: You can also call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit their contact page to learn how to call from outside the U.S. or from your computer.
Can I apply for a VA home loan?
Housing - As a member or veteran, you can apply for home loans and grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Education - You may qualify for education benefits through military and veterans programs. You might even be able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse or children.
Inside Veterans Benefits
We appreciate your patience as we continue to work with you during this time of crisis.
VA Outreach Events
Veterans benefits help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more. Join an event for conversation and information.
How long do you have to be in the military to join the army?
They receive training in a job specialty and do most of the hands-on work. Usually, you’ll sign up for four years of active duty and four years inactive.
How old do you have to be to join the military?
Age Limits for Enlisting. You must be at least 17 to enlist in any branch of the active military. The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is: Some branches have different age limits for their part-time Reserve and National Guard.
What is the Army Special Forces unit?
It handles major ground combat missions, especially operations that are ongoing. The Army Special Forces unit is known as the Green Berets for its headgear. Service members are known as soldiers.
What is the Navy?
The Navy is part of the DOD. It protects waterways (sea and ocean) outside of the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction. Navy warships provide the runways for aircraft to land and take off when at sea. Navy SEALs (sea, air, and land) are the special operations force for this branch. All service members are known as sailors.
What is the Marine Corps Special Operations Command?
embassies around the world and the classified documents in those buildings. Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) members are known as Raiders.
How long does it take to become an officer?
Officers make up a much smaller part of the workforce. To join as an officer, you typically must have a four-year college degree and complete an officer program.
How many branches of the military are there?
Requirements for Joining the Military. The U.S. military has six branches of service: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The requirements to join are similar for all six. The main differences are in age limits, test scores, and fitness levels.
You can still file a claim and apply for benefits during the coronavirus pandemic
Get the latest information about in-person services, claim exams, extensions, paperwork, decision reviews and appeals, and how best to contact us during this time. Go to our coronavirus FAQs
What evidence will I need to provide to support my claim?
You can help to support your VA disability claim by providing documents, such as:
Should I submit an intent to file form?
If you plan to file for disability compensation using a paper form, you may want to submit an intent to file form first. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date (also called an effective date).
What happens after I file my VA disability claim?
You don’t need to do anything while you’re waiting unless we send you a letter asking for more information. If we schedule exams for you, be sure not to miss them.
More information about filing disability claims
Learn about standard claims, supplemental claims, secondary claims, and more.
How to get military benefits?
To receive any military benefits, military family members must be registered in the military's personnel system, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), and receive a military ID card. To do that you need to be the service member's spouse or child.
What are the benefits of being in the military?
The military can be a difficult lifestyle for a family, but it does come with some excellent benefits. Some of those are in the form of cash, and some are in the form of discounts. In addition to the bi-monthly paycheck, military service members receive benefits like money for housing, subsidized groceries and healthcare.
What is BAH in military?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is given to every active-duty service member as part of their bi-weekly pay. How much you receive is usually based on where your service member is stationed. Even if you choose to live somewhere other than his duty station while he is home or deployed, you will still receive BAH based on duty station, not your residence.
Why is MWR more affordable than off base?
The programs MWR funds and manages on base are often much more affordable than their off-base counterparts because the government subsidizes their costs. MWR manages most recreation on every base, including gyms, pools, bowling alleys, horse stables, event centers, golf courses, discounted equipment rentals and more.
What do military members get?
Every military service member receives at least a base pay. Most also receive a variety of allowances, special pays and bonuses de pending on things like deployment, paygrade and military job. For most married service members, those allowances include Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) and Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
What is BAH insurance?
By law, BAH is meant to cover 95 percent of your housing costs, minus renters insurance. The BAH rates are recalculated every year. If the rates go down where you are living, you will be grandfathered into the older, higher rate. If the rates go up where you are living, you'll receive the new, higher amount.
What is military shopping?
Military Shopping Benefits. Known as "non-monetary compensation," military shopping benefits help military families save money on the things they want or need. Most bases worldwide are home to a military commissary operated by a government organization called the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).
How far in advance should you assemble your retirement documents?
Some decisions cannot be changed, so careful consideration of all options is crucial. You should begin to assemble your documents no later than six months in advance of your target separation date.
When do you receive a pre-retirement package?
One year prior to your retirement date , you will receive a pre-retirement package from your Branch of Service to help you prepare for retirement. At this time, you should attend any briefings offered by your command concerning the retirement system.
Manage Your Benefits and Records with milconnect
- If you're a military member or a veteran, you can manage many of your benefits and recordsin one place. MilConnect, a self-service portal, lets you: 1. Get copies of your Official Military Personnel File 1. Update your family members in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) 1. Transfer your GI Bill education benefits to family...
National Resource Directory For Service Members and Veterans
- The National Resource Directory connects the military and veterans with local support. Find military assistance resourcesfor: 1. Jobs 2. Health 3. Homelessness 4. Housing 5. Caregiver support
Financial Assistance For Service Members and Veterans
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) helps military families and veterans with financial issuesincluding: 1. Filing complaints 2. Avoiding scams targeting military and veterans 3. Improving money management skills
Military Onesource
- Military OneSource offers help with all aspects of military life. Counseling for service members and familiesis free and confidential. Find information and resources in areas such as: 1. Military financial and legal assistance 2. Job and education help for military spouses 3. Parenting and military child care assistance 4. Deployment help for military families 5. Moving assistance for …