Veterans Administration
Veterans of the United States Armed Forces may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits are legislated in Title 38 of the United States Code. This booklet contains a summary of these benefits effective Jan. 1, 2006. For additional information, visit the VA Web page at http://www.va.gov/.
General Eligibility
Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Generally, men and women veterans with similar service may be entitled to the same VA benefits.
Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees must contact a VA regional office to determine eligibility. VA benefits will not be provided to any veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Direct community involvement always has been and will continue to be a VFW priority.
The benevolence of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliaries extends well beyond the realm of veterans helping veterans.
Annually, VFW and Auxiliaries donate more than 13 million volunteer hours of community service. VFW members are mentoring youth groups, helping in community food kitchens, volunteering in blood drives and visiting hospitalized veterans. Others are helping veterans file compensation claims or are "voicing their vote" with elected officials.
VFW's Community Service programs are designed to encourage community service and increase civic pride, which ultimately enhances education, improves the environment and ensures the availability of health services for our nations veterans.
VFW's Citizenship Education program is designed to stimulate interest in America's history and traditions and to promote citizenship, civic responsibility and patriotism.
VFW's Youth Scholarship programs provide more than $3.5 million in scholarships
to our nation's youth. They include Voice of Democracy, Patriot's Pen
youth essay contest and Boy Scouts of America. For more information on
VFW programs and services visit their website at: www.vfw.org
American Legion
Help for Your Family
The American Legion’s Family Support Network stands ready to assist
you and your family as you serve our country. You have enough on your
mind. Your thoughts shouldn’t include worrying about daily chores
and the problems that sometimes arise around the house. With nearly 15,000
American Legion Posts across the nation, chances are there’s a local
Legion family member willing to lend a hand.
What kind of help can be available? Grocery shopping, childcare, lawn care, fixing the family car and countless other challenges to a military spouse.
Family members simply call toll-free: 1-800-504-4098. Provide details of the need and then let Legion family volunteers take over. An American Legion post in the vicinity of your family will be called and asked to help. Members will contact your family to determine if and how assistance can be provided.
Legionnaires and their families have been in your shoes. We understand the problems and stresses that go with separation of loved ones during war. We stand behind you all the way and are anxious to help when you need it…no charge. Just our deepest “thanks.” Legionnaires strongly believe we shall not fail those with whom we serve…no matter what war era. To request assistance, call 1-800-504-4098, complete the electronic request form or e-mail familysupport@legion.org
Life & Traumatic Injury Insurance
Why VA is in the Insurance Business:
The VA insurance programs were developed to provide insurance benefits
for veterans and servicemembers who may not be able to get insurance from
private companies because of the extra risks involved To find out more
information visit them here.
Note: Most insurance companies if not all exclude acts of war and acts
of terrorism.
Many civilians do not realize that the death gratuity amount that a family received when a service member lost his or her life in active duty was $12,400. Congress has enacted a change in the death gratuity amount as well as the amount of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI).
The history of SGLI can be found here.
Just last year, Congress enacted a change in the bill that now provides a death gratutity of $100,000 and legislation provides for a maximum life insurance amount of $400,000. 00. that now costs $26.00 per month regardless of the age of the service member. The former amount provided by the government was $50,000.
These important increases in benefits are retroactive to October 7, 2001.
What is the average age of our active service members? The average age is 25-29 years of age, many with very young children and many more who had started their families and never met their first-born child. Many who chose not to pay the additional premium for increased life insurance as their budget would not allow the additional expense. How long will $200,000 or $400,000 last?
It may not last long and it won't last at all for the young families whose spouse and/or parent enlisted in the service at a young age, married several years later, neglected or forgot to change the beneficiary listed on the life insurance policy, was killed in action and whose young family was left with $0. Not $50,000, $200,000 or anywhere in between $400,000. This may seem surprising, but it happens more often than you would think.
These increases are helpful, however, you still cannot put a price on the lives of those that have secured our Freedom and the freedom of others, they are our heroes and we encourage those that visit our site to continue to pray and support our troops and their families.
Other benefits include:
DIC:
DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of a
Military service member who died while on active duty, OR
Veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease,
OR
Veteran whose death resulted from a non service-related injury or disease,
and who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for
service-connected disability that was rated as totally disabling
for at least 10 years immediately before death, OR
since the veteran’s release from active duty and for at least five
years immediately preceding death, OR
for at least one year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner
of war who died after September 30, 1999.
Who is Eligible?
The surviving spouse if he or she:
validly married the veteran before January 1, 1957, OR
was married to a service member who died on active duty, OR
married the veteran within 15 years of discharge from the period of military
service in which the disease or injury that caused the veteran’s
death began or was aggravated, OR
was married to the veteran for at least one year, OR
had a child with the veteran, AND
cohabited with the veteran continuously until the veteran’s death
or, if separated, was not at fault for the separation, AND
is not currently remarried.*
*Note: A surviving spouse who remarries on or after December 16, 2003,
and on or after attaining age 57, is entitled to continue to receive DIC.
The surviving child(ren), if he/she is:
not included on the surviving spouse’s DIC
unmarried AND
under age 18, or between the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school.
(Note: Certain helpless adult children are entitled to DIC. Call the toll-free
number below for the eligibility requirements for those survivors.)
The surviving parent(s) may be eligible for an income-based benefit. See
our fact sheet, Parents’ DIC, or call the toll-free number below
for more information.
How Much Does VA Pay?
The basic monthly rate of DIC is $1,033 for an eligible surviving spouse.
The rate is increased for each dependent child, and also if the surviving
spouse is housebound or in need of aid and attendance. VA also adds a
transitional benefit of $250 to the surviving spouse’s monthly DIC
if there are children under age 18. The amount is based on a family unit,
not individual children. It is paid for two years from the date that entitlement
to DIC commences, but is discontinued earlier when there is no child under
age 18 or no child on the surviving spouse’s DIC for any reason.
Benefit rate tables, including those for children alone and parents, can
be found on the Internet at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates, or call
the toll-free number below.
How Should a Claimant Apply?
Claimants should complete VA Form 21-534 (Application for Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving
Spouse or Child), and submit it to the VA regional office serving the
claimant’s area. Call the toll-free number below for information
about supporting materials that VA may need to process a DIC claim.
What are Some Related Benefits?
Health Care (CHAMPVA) Federal Employment Preference
Home Loan Guaranty Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance
For More Information, Call Toll-Free 1-800-827-1000
or Visit VA’s Web Site at www.va.gov
Compensation and Pension Service – December 2005
Death Pension Benefits:
Death Pension is a benefit paid to eligible dependents of deceased wartime veterans.
Who Is Eligible ?
You may be eligible if:
the deceased veteran was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND
he or she served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. However, 38 CFR 3.12a requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80 generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (and still not ended by Congress to this day), veterans can now serve after 9/7/80 during a period of wartime. When they do, they generally now must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefits. But note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d), AND
you are the surviving spouse or unmarried child of the deceased veteran, AND
your countable income is below a yearly
limit set by law
Disabled Veterans:
VA Disability Compensation:
Disability Compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care. The benefits are tax-free.
Who Is Eligible ?
You may be eligible for Disability Compensation if you have a service-related
disability and you were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
How Much Does VA Pay ?
The amount of basic benefit paid ranges from $112 to $2,393 per month,
depending on how disabled you are.
Note: You may be paid additional amounts, in certain instances, if:
you have very severe disabilities or loss of limb(s)
you have a spouse, child(ren), or dependent parent(s)
you have a seriously disabled spouse
How Can You Apply ?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for
Compensation Or Pension. If you have any of the following material, attach
it to your application:
Dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates)
Medical evidence (doctor & hospital reports)
You can also apply on line through our website at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp.
Related Benefits
Priority Medical Care Vocational Rehabilitation
Clothing Allowance Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance
Grants for Specially Adapted Housing Automobile Grant & Adaptive Equipment
Federal Employment Preference State/Local Veterans Benefits
Military Exchange & Commissary Privileges
For More Information Call Toll-Free 1-800-827-1000
Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance:
(TSGLI) is new, it provides traumatic injury protection rider under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) that provides for payment to any member of the uniformed services covered by SGLI who sustains a traumatic injury that results in certain severe losses.
TSGLI coverage will pay a benefit of between $25,000 and $100,000 depending on the loss directly resulting from the traumatic injury.The premium cost is $1.00 per month and is added to the monthly insurance premium paid in for SGLI. Every member who has SGLI also has TSGLI effective December 1, 2005.
TSGLI Schedule of Payments for Traumatic Losses
This page is under construction
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact us at grants@cfsrf.org.
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