Federal VA Benefits

 
Disability Compensation
 

A monthly payment made to a veteran who has incurred a service-connected disability rated at 10% or more while in the military or who has aggravated a pre-existing condition rated at 10% or more. The VA also assists in adapting homes and/or automobiles for veterans who are totally and permanently service-connected disabled.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Disability
  2. Active Military Service (other than Dishonorable):
  • Active Duty; and
  • Any period of active duty for training during which the individual concerned was disabled; or
  • Died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty; or
  • Any period of inactive duty for training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from an injury or aggravated in line of duty.

 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

A monthly payment made to surviving spouses (who have not remarried – see Eligibility Requirement 3), unmarried minor children (under 18), helpless children, children between 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school and also to low-income parents of deceased service members or veterans.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. The deceased service member must have died from:
  • A disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training;
  • An injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while on inactive duty training; or by
  • A disability compensable by the VA
  1.  Death cannot be due to willful misconduct.
  2. When a spouse remarries, eligibility may be restored if the marriage is later terminated by divorce or death.

Pension
A monthly payment to a veteran for a non-service connected disability or payment to a spouse after the death of a veteran (Death Pension). A veteran must have had 90 days or more active military service, one day of which was served during a period of war and was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. A veteran must also be permanently and totally disabled. Un-reimbursed medical expenses may be used to reduce an applicant’s income to meet the guidelines.

Nursing Homes
Veterans or their spouses may be eligible for Pension with Aid and Attendance, or at the housebound rate, upon entering a nursing home, in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, or who is permanently housebound.

Home Loan Guaranties
Loan guaranties made to service members, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes, condominiums and manufactured homes and for refinancing loans.


Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange (Viet Nam), Radiation, or Illnesses Stemming From the Gulf War
Benefits granted for only a specified list of conditions determined to be associated with exposure to Agent Orange, ionizing radiation, or chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses. This list may be expanded upon in the future and all veterans are urged to make application for benefits even for conditions not on the specified list since there is a possibility for retroactive benefits if the condition is later added to the list.


Burial Benefits
Veterans are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery if they were in the military for the required period of time and were discharged under conditions other than Dishonorable. Benefits include gravesite, a headstone or marker, opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care.