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BROWN AND LYNCH POST 9

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VA BEFEFITS IN BRIEF and WHERE TO APPLY


 

DISABILITY BENEFITS

Compensation: VA can pay you monthly compensation if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service.

Pension: VA can pay you a pension if you are a wartime Veteran with limited income and you are permanently and totally disabled or are 65 or older

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-827-1000 or Visit www.va.gov


 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-899-442-4551 or Visit www.gibill.va.gov


 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION & EMPLOYMENT

The Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service provides outreach, motivation evaluation, counseling, training, employment, and other rehabilitation services to service-connected disabled Veterans. Vocational and educational counseling, as well as the evaluation of abilities, aptitudes, and interests are provided to Veterans and service-persons. Counseling, assessment, education programs and in some cases, rehabilitation services are available to the spouse and children of totally and permanently disabled Veterans as well as to the surviving spouse and children of certain Veterans.

 

Vocational training and rehabilitation services are available to children with spina bifida having one or both parents who served in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, or served in certain military units in or near the demilitarized zone in Korea, between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971,

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-827-1000 or Visit www.va.gov


 

HOME LOAN GUARANTY

VA guarantees loans to eligible service-members, Veterans, reservists, and certain surviving spouses to purchase a home, condominium or manufactured home, and for refinancing purposes. The loans are actually made by private lenders but the VA guaranty generally means the lender will not require any down payment.

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-827-1000 or Visit www.va.gov


 

DEPENDENTS’ AND SURVIVORS; BEFEFITS

Death Pension is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime Veterans. The benefit is based on financial need.


 

VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) shares the cost of medical services for eligible dependents and survivors of certain Veterans.

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-827-1000 or Visit www.va.gov


 

MEDICAL TREATMENT

VA provides free health care for Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, for illness possibly related to their service in that theater

Time Limits -

You have five years from the date of discharge from active duty, if you were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003. You have until January 27, 2011, if you were discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, and were not enrolled as of January 28, 2008.


 

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Medical Facility or Call 1-877-222-8387 or Visit www.va.gov


 

LIFE INSURANCE

Service-members’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), is low-cost life insurance for service-members (active duty and reservists). It is available in $50,000 increments up to a maximum of $400,000. SGLI coverage begins when you enter service or change duty status and expires 120 days after you get out of the service. Totally disabled members can apply for up to two years of free SGLI coverage following discharge.

Traumatic Injury Protection under Service-members’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) is a traumatic injury protection rider under Service-members 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 severe losses. TSGLI is retroactive for members who sustain a traumatic loss as a direct result of injuries incurred on or after October 7, 2001, through November 30, 2005, in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi freedom, regardless of whether they had SGLI insurance coverage. TSGLI pays a benefit of between $25,000 and $100,000 depending on the loss directly resulting from the traumatic injury. In order for a Veteran to qualify for a TSGLI payment, they must have incurred a qualifying loss as a result or a traumatic event that occurred while they were in service.

Veteran’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is lifetime renewable term life insurance for Veterans. It is available in $10,000 increments up to $400,000 but not for more than the amount of SGLI coverage you had in force at the time of your separation from service. Premiums are age based and if you apply within 120 days following separation, no health questions are asked. Thereafter, you have one year to apply but must be in good health. Those on the two-year disability extension are automatically converted to VGLI at the end of the two-year period.

Family Service-members’ Group Life Insurance (FGLI) is life insurance that automatically covers the spouse and children of service-members insured under SGLI. Spousal coverage is available up to a maximum of $100,000, but may not exceed the service-members’ coverage amount. Dependent children are covered for $10,000 for which there is no cost.

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-419-1473 or Visit www.va.gov


 

SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS INSURANCE

Also called “RH” insurance, is life insurance for Veterans who receive a service-connected disability rating of 0% or more from the Department of Veterans Affairs. D-DVI provides a maximum of $10,000 of basic coverage. If your premium payments for the basic policy are waived due to total disability, then you may be eligible for a supplemental policy of up to $20,000. You must apply within two years from the date you are notified of your service-connected disability for basic coverage.

Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) is a life insurance program that provides coverage on the home mortgages of severely disabled Veterans who receive a Specially-Adapted Housing grant. VMLI provides a maximum of $90,000 of mortgage insurance payable directly to the mortgage lender for an outstanding mortgage. Coverage is available on new, existing, refinanced, and second mortgages.

WHERE TO APPLY

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-669-8477 or Visit www.va.gov


 

BURIAL BENEFITS

Any VA Office or Call 1-800-827-1000 or Visit www.va.gov



 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMITS

EACH BENEFIT HAS ITS OWN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMITS, CONTACT THE VA OFFICES IN THE "WHERE TO APPLY" LINE FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

 

 

Programs & Benefits for Veterans

 

This year the VA developed the eBenefits web site to provide a common location for Veterans to identify and apply for all benefits available to them. To access and use this site, you must register at the following link. www.ebenefits.va.gov

On this site you can do many functions such as:

Check the status of compensation and pension claims

View payment history of VA benefits

Obtain or submit an application for the home loan certificate of eligibility

Access and retrieve copies of official military personnel records such as DD-214’s

Apply for benefits online

Check VA Claim status

Access other VA and DoD websites

Download VA letters

 

There are two types of registration: Basic Registration and Premium Registration

Both of these require a DoD Self-Service (DS) logon. You can register for an eBnefits account online using the eBenefits DS Logon Account Wizard. You will be walked through a series of questions to assist you in obtaining a Premium eBenefits account, which gives you the highest level of access to ebenefits featured. With a Premium Account you can view personal data about yourself in VA and DoD systems, apply for benefits online, check the status of your claims, update your address records, and more. To get a Premium ebenefits Account you must verify your identity.

 

To be able to register you must be listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility System (DEERS) and obtain DoD Self-Service (DS) logon. Many records of veterans that served prior to 1981 were destroyed in a fire in the St. Louis record facility. If you are unable to obtain a DS logon, you must contact a VA regional office for assistance in being added to the DEERS system.

 

If you need help setting up your account you should contact either of the below VA offices.

 

Glenn King / Kathy Donahue / Nate Porter Randy Nosal

C/O VA Center P.O. Box 2324

P.O. Box 42938 Harrisburg, PA 17105-2324

Philadelphia, PA 19101 Office = 717.730.9100 – ext. 18

Phone = 215.381.3032 Toll free = 1.877.720.8387

Fax = 215.381.3500 Fax = 717.975.2836

Email = glenn.king@va.gov email = randy@pa-legion.com

 

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)

www.ebenefits.va.gov

VRAP OFFERS TWELVE MONTHS OF RETRAINING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS WHO ARE:

Unemployed

At least 35 years old but no more than 60 years old

Have anything other than a dishonorable discharge

Not eligible for any other VA education benefit program (GI Bill, etc)

Not in receipt of VA compensation due to individual Un-employability (IU)

Not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

Enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a Community College or Technical school

The program is limited to 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014. Participants may receive up to 12 months of assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month) The program must lead to as Associates Degree, Non-College degree, or a Certification, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

Visit: www.gibill.va.gov/VRAP to learn more and read frequently asked questions about VRAP. More details about VRAP, including information on how to apply, will be published at www.gibill.va.gov as they become available.

 

VETERANS WITH A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY MAY QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

Veterans who previously completed a VA vocational rehabilitation program and have used the initial 26 weeks of unemployment benefits may qualify for an additional 12 months of VA vocational rehabilitation benefits.

You must have previously completed a VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program and been considered “rehabilitated” by VA.

You must apply within six months of using up your initial 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. You may still qualify for extended or emergency unemployment benefits.

You must apply to the VA by March 31, 2014. 

 

 

Bulletin: National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission

www.legion.org

VA streamlines Online Applications for Health Benefits Renewal

Automated 10-10EZR Form Simplifies Updates

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has automated its online Health Benefits Renewal (10-10EZR) form as part of its ongoing effort to streamline access to benefits.

 

“This action dramatically reduces the time it will take for enrolled Veterans to submit updates to the demographic information and further reduces barriers to needed care for Veterans” stated Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

 

Previously, Veterans filling out 10-10EZR were required to print a copy, sign it and send it to their local medical center before updates to their personal, insurance or financial information could occur. Veterans may now submit these updates online.

 

For additional information, go to www.va.gov/healtheligibility or call VA’s toll free number at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). The online form is available at:

https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010ezr.pdf