U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Benefits and Services

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VABenefits

andServices


Veterans Affairs• Veterans Benefits Administration

– All VA benefits - Compensation, Education, Home Loan Guaranty, etc.

– Administered by VA Regional Offices

• Veterans Health Administration– All VA health care services– Administered by VA Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care & Community Based Outpatient Clinics, etc.

• National Cemetery Administration– National and State Veterans Cemeteries– Headstones & Markers– Presidential Memorial Certificates


Compensation Benefits


• Disabilities are rated from 0% to 100%

• VA rating is independent of any military rating

• Payments begin with 10% ratings

• Additional allowance for dependents with 30% or higher rating

Compensation


Pre-Discharge Program• Purpose: A cooperative separation

process between DoD and VA to provide complete transition assistance to all service members

• May include all phases of disability claims processing from receipt of claim through examination and the rating process

• Claims are accepted from service members within 180 days of separation or retirement


Pre-Discharge Program

Types of Pre-Discharge Claims

• Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD)

• Quick Start• Disability Evaluation System (DES)

• Very Seriously Injured/Seriously Injured (VSI/SI) and Special Category (SPC)


Pension Benefits


• At least 90 days of active military service (generally, 24 months for enlistments after September 7, 1980)

• At least one day of wartime service (combat service not required)

• Totally & permanently disabled, or attained age 65

• Within income limits to qualify for this benefit

Pension


• Complete a VA Form 21-526 (Veteran’s Application for Compensation and/or Pension)

• Provide other supporting records – VA can help obtain them

• Submit all documents to appropriate VA Regional Office


Health Care Benefits


• VA provides care at about 1,300 facilities: 158 hospitals 858 ambulatory care and

community-based outpatient clinics

232 Vet Centers 133 nursing homes 42 residential

rehabilitation treatment programs


• Primary Care• Specialty and Inpatient Care

• Preventive Health Care• Pharmacy Benefits• Emergency Care• Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Health and Substance Abuse


• Surgical Care and Organ Transplantation

• Rehabilitation • Nursing Home Care• Home Health Care• Respite and Hospice Care• Readjustment Counseling• Blind Rehabilitation Services• Dental Care


Eligibility• Veterans who served in the active

military, naval or air service and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable

• Former Reservists who served full-time and for operational or support (excludes training purposes)

• Former National Guard members if mobilized by a Federal order


A service-connected condition is not necessary to receive VA health care


Veterans of Operations Enduring

& Iraqi FreedomVA provides free health care forveterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, for any illness possibly related to their

service in that theater


Veterans of Operations Enduring

& Iraqi FreedomTime Limits:

• FIVE years from date of discharge from active duty, if you were discharged from active duty on or

after January 28, 2003.

• Until January 27, 2011, if you were discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, and were not enrolled as of January 28, 2008.


EnrollmentTo receive VA health care, a veteranmust enroll in the VA health care

system unless:

veteran has a 50% or more service-connected VA disability rating

less than one year has passed since veteran was discharged from the military for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty but VA has not yet rated

the veteran is seeking care for a service-connected disability


Application• Identify VA health care facility for

primary care

• Complete VA Form 10-10EZ and submit in person, in writing, or on-line to facility of choice

Call 1-877-222-VETS(1-877-222-8387)

Visit www.va.gov


Vet Centers


Vet Centers Provide

• Readjustment counseling services to veterans and their families

• Community-based care

• Bereavement counseling for families who lose an active duty service member

• Veteran-focused services

• Supportive and completely confidential services


Vet Centers – Special Services

• Individual Counseling• Group Counseling• Marital & Family Counseling• Alcohol & Drug Assessment• Spouse/Significant Other Counseling

• Employment Counseling & Guidance


Vet Centers - Special Services

• Bereavement Counseling• Sexual Trauma Counseling• Referral to Community Agencies

• Community Education• Liaison with VA Facilities• Benefits Assistance & Referral


Education Benefits


• Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30

• VEAP – Chapter 32

• Post-9/11 GI Bill – Chapter 33– Yellow Ribbon Program

• Montgomery GI Bill, Selected Reserve – Chapter 1606

• Reserve Educational Assistance Program – Chapter 1607


• Apply on-line at www.gibill.va.gov under Electronic Application Form

• Mail in application


VocationalRehabilitation

&Employment


• To assist veterans re-enter the world of work

• Application program

• VA disability rating of at least 20%

• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

• Various programs to assist veterans and employers


LifeInsuranc

e


Life Insurance Products

• Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance – SGLI

• Traumatic Group Life Insurance – TSGLI

• Veterans’ Group Life Insurance – VGLI

• Service Disabled Veterans Insurance – SDVI

• Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance - VMLI


Home LoanGuaranty


Features of a VA Loan• No down payment• Limitations on closing costs

• The right to prepay without penalty

• Funding Fee• Negotiated interest rates

• Special assistance for veterans experiencing difficulty in making loan payments


Loan Purposes

• Buy a home• Build a home• Refinance existing loan • Repair, alter, or improve a home• Use only for property located in the

US, its territories or possessions• Must occupy the property as your

home within a reasonable period of time


Loan Amounts

• Maximum VA guaranty varies by county based on local housing costs

• Maximum loan – generally, lenders limit the maximum VA loan to 4 times the VA guaranty amount. Currently, this results in amounts ranging from $417,000 to $729,750– These amounts can change yearly

• Loans more than the maximum allowed may require a down payment


Funding Fee• Law requires funding fee to be

paid on VA loans

• Fee ranges from .5% to 3.35%, depending on loan type and if first time or subsequent user

• Fee can be included in loan

• Fee is waived for vets entitled to VA disability compensation


Native AmericanDirect Loans

• VA makes direct loans to Native Americans living on Trust Land (reservations, homelands, etc.)

• Maximum loan amount is the same as the amount allowed for VA guaranteed loans

• Vets must still meet credit qualifications


More Information?

Visit Loan Guarantyon the Internet at:www.homeloans.va.gov


Burial Benefits


Burial Benefits

• National Cemeteries

• State Veterans Cemeteries

• Headstone or Marker

• Burial Flag

• Presidential Memorial

Certificates

• Burial Cost Reimbursement


QUESTIONS?

Documents

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Benefits and Services