VA Benefits & Disabilites

The U.S. Department of Veterans Administration provides numerous programs to assist veterans with medical, financial, education and housing issues. Many veterans also are entitled to pensions, disability benefits, survivor and burial benefits, job training and other help. These benefits are in addition to those accrued through working in the private and public sectors, including Social Security benefits and Medicare.

Pensions

• Wartime veterans who have limited incomes may qualify for either a veterans' disability pension or, if 65 or older, for the Veterans Pensions. You must meet numerous eligibility requirements, including not having been dishonorably discharged and having served a minimum of 90 days active duty with at least one day served during wartime. Income limits exist. For example, if you're a veteran with no dependents, your annual income cannot exceed $11,830. Income limits increase for differing situations, such as a veteran who needs "aid and attendance" (A/A) and has one dependent ($23,396). Additional dependents increase any category income limit by $2,020 per child. Yearly income totals are deducted from the established limit to determine a pension amount. For instance, is your VA income limit is $11,830 and you make $5,000 a year, your VA pension would be $6,830 annually, or about $570 per month.

Disability Compensation

• If you weren't dishonorably discharged and suffered a service-related injury or other disability, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Basic monthly benefit amounts range from $123 to $3,100, although additional benefits may be available if you have a spouse or dependents, have a disabled spouse, or you have a severe disability or the loss of one or more limbs. Aside from disability benefits, you can be reimbursed for travel expenses, both for VA-related business and for general transportation. Your disability must be assessed by a physician and assigned a disability rating by a VA doctor, at which point your spouse/dependent status will be factored into the equation and a benefit amount established.

Health Care

• Like any VA program, you must be enrolled in the VA health system to receive medical care. Criteria for eligibility include not having been dishonorably discharged, length of service, service-related disabilities and income level. If you believe that you qualify for VA health-care services, contact the VA and apply immediately. Applicants are assigned a priority rating (1 through 8) based on their medical conditions, with top priority (Priority 1) given to veterans with a service-related, VA-rated disability of 50 percent or more and to veterans who are deemed unemployable due to service-related disabilities. Medical care services include preventive care, outpatient services, mental health and substance abuse treatment, inpatient care, prescription-drug services and long-term care.

Education

• The VA's GI Bill is available to eligible active duty, selected reserve and National Guard Armed Forces veterans and their family members. The VA administers several programs. President Bush signed the Post-9/11 GI Bill in July 2008, and President Obama signed legislation (the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010) expanding education benefits. The new benefits take effect in August 2011.

Other Benefits

• Many other VA programs are available for qualified veterans, including housing assistance, job training, survivor benefits and burial programs, business start-up help and help for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Information is available for veterans who have questions about how their VA benefits co-exist and interact with other benefits, such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.