EDITOR’S NOTE: Veterans’ Corner, a column to inform armed-forces veterans about services and benefits available to them, appears the first Sunday of each month.
The annual Veterans Appreciation Day is scheduled for July 29 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mack Park in White Township. All veterans and their families are invited to attend. There will be free food, prizes and games for the kids, and music will be provided by local entertainers. If you would like to set up an information table, please call the VA office at (724) 465-3815.
Summary of VA Benefits
You may be eligible for VA benefits if you are a uniformed service member; veteran; or spouse, child or parent of a deceased or disabled service member or veteran.
• Disability compensation: Service-connected disability compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to veterans for a disability (or disabilities) that either arose during service, was worsened or aggravated by service or is presumed by VA to be related to military service.
• Pension: This is a tax-free benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited or no income who are either aged 65 or older or who are permanently and totally disabled due to a non-service-connected cause. Seriously disabled or housebound veterans receiving a pension may also qualify for an additional Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefit.
• Education and training. VA pays benefits to eligible service members and veterans pursuing an approved education or training program. There are four primary VA education benefit programs that cover active duty, National Guard and Reserved Service members and veterans: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) and Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP).
The Post-9/11 GI Bill program provides financial assistance towards tuition and fees, books and supplies, and it provides a monthly housing allowance. Eligible service members may transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to an eligible spouse or child. It pays a monthly allowance under the other benefit programs to help offset educational costs. Information about VA education programs can be found at www.gibill.va.gov.
• Home loans. Veterans and active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members may be eligible for VA’s home loan program. VA loans have favorable terms, including no down payment for mortgage insurance premiums. VA offers a number of housing benefits and grants:
— Guaranteed loans: VA can guarantee a portion of a loan made by a private lender to help you buy a home, a manufactured home, a lot for a manufactured home, or a condominium unit for your own personal occupancy. VA also guarantees loans for building, repairing and improving homes.
— Refinancing loans: Whether you have a VA or non-VA mortgage, VA can help you refinance your loan. Specially Adapted Housing Grants: Certain severely disabled and military personnel can receive grants to adapt or acquire suitable housing.
• Health care. VA provides a number of health care services, including hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services, domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care, treatment related to military sexual trauma, readjustment counseling, homeless veteran programs, alcohol and drug dependency treatment, medical evaluation for disorders related to Gulf War service or environmental hazards, and specialized health care for women veterans.
VA supports caregivers who provide personal care services to veterans who are seriously injured, chronically ill, disabled, or are getting older and are no longer able to adequately care for themselves.
VA assists combat veterans through a nationwide network of community-based vet centers. Counselors provide individual, group and family readjustment counseling to help with the transition to civilian life, treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and help with any other military-related problems.
Other services include: outreach, education, medical referral, homeless veteran services, employment and VA benefit referral.
• Burial. VA offers burial and memorial services to honor our nation’s deceased veterans.
VA can honor a veteran by furnishing an inscribed headstone or marker at any cemetery, or a medallion in lieu of a headstone or marker to affix to one that is privately purchased.
VA can provide a burial allowance to partially reimburse the burial and funeral costs of a veteran; a Presidential Memorial Certificate for the next of kin and loved ones of a deceased veteran; and an American flag to drape the casket of a veteran.
A veteran and his or her dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.
• Dependents and survivors. VA honors the sacrifices of service members’ and veterans’ dependents and survivors through many benefit programs.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly benefit paid to a surviving spouse, including additional payments for dependent children. It is available to an eligible spouse of a service member who died during active military service or from a service-connected disability, or of a veteran who was rated totally disabled at the time of death. Parents’ DIC is paid to surviving parents based on financial need.
The surviving spouse and child(ren) who are eligible for DIC are also eligible for the following:
— The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) provides reimbursement for most medical expenses.
— The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) provides assistance to obtain a degree and pursue other eligible education and training.
— A survivors’ pension is a monthly benefit payable to a low-income surviving spouse and child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
This information is from the VA PAM 27-12-2, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If you have any questions, please call the Veterans Affairs Office at (724) 465-3815.
The annual Veterans Appreciation Day is scheduled for July 29 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mack Park in White Township. All veterans and their families are invited to attend. There will be free food, prizes and games for the kids, and music will be provided by local entertainers. If you would like to set up an information table, please call the VA office at (724) 465-3815.
Summary of VA Benefits
You may be eligible for VA benefits if you are a uniformed service member; veteran; or spouse, child or parent of a deceased or disabled service member or veteran.
• Disability compensation: Service-connected disability compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to veterans for a disability (or disabilities) that either arose during service, was worsened or aggravated by service or is presumed by VA to be related to military service.
• Pension: This is a tax-free benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited or no income who are either aged 65 or older or who are permanently and totally disabled due to a non-service-connected cause. Seriously disabled or housebound veterans receiving a pension may also qualify for an additional Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefit.
• Education and training. VA pays benefits to eligible service members and veterans pursuing an approved education or training program. There are four primary VA education benefit programs that cover active duty, National Guard and Reserved Service members and veterans: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) and Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP).
The Post-9/11 GI Bill program provides financial assistance towards tuition and fees, books and supplies, and it provides a monthly housing allowance. Eligible service members may transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to an eligible spouse or child. It pays a monthly allowance under the other benefit programs to help offset educational costs. Information about VA education programs can be found at www.gibill.va.gov.
• Home loans. Veterans and active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members may be eligible for VA’s home loan program. VA loans have favorable terms, including no down payment for mortgage insurance premiums. VA offers a number of housing benefits and grants:
— Guaranteed loans: VA can guarantee a portion of a loan made by a private lender to help you buy a home, a manufactured home, a lot for a manufactured home, or a condominium unit for your own personal occupancy. VA also guarantees loans for building, repairing and improving homes.
— Refinancing loans: Whether you have a VA or non-VA mortgage, VA can help you refinance your loan. Specially Adapted Housing Grants: Certain severely disabled and military personnel can receive grants to adapt or acquire suitable housing.
• Health care. VA provides a number of health care services, including hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services, domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care, treatment related to military sexual trauma, readjustment counseling, homeless veteran programs, alcohol and drug dependency treatment, medical evaluation for disorders related to Gulf War service or environmental hazards, and specialized health care for women veterans.
VA supports caregivers who provide personal care services to veterans who are seriously injured, chronically ill, disabled, or are getting older and are no longer able to adequately care for themselves.
VA assists combat veterans through a nationwide network of community-based vet centers. Counselors provide individual, group and family readjustment counseling to help with the transition to civilian life, treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and help with any other military-related problems.
Other services include: outreach, education, medical referral, homeless veteran services, employment and VA benefit referral.
• Burial. VA offers burial and memorial services to honor our nation’s deceased veterans.
VA can honor a veteran by furnishing an inscribed headstone or marker at any cemetery, or a medallion in lieu of a headstone or marker to affix to one that is privately purchased.
VA can provide a burial allowance to partially reimburse the burial and funeral costs of a veteran; a Presidential Memorial Certificate for the next of kin and loved ones of a deceased veteran; and an American flag to drape the casket of a veteran.
A veteran and his or her dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.
• Dependents and survivors. VA honors the sacrifices of service members’ and veterans’ dependents and survivors through many benefit programs.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly benefit paid to a surviving spouse, including additional payments for dependent children. It is available to an eligible spouse of a service member who died during active military service or from a service-connected disability, or of a veteran who was rated totally disabled at the time of death. Parents’ DIC is paid to surviving parents based on financial need.
The surviving spouse and child(ren) who are eligible for DIC are also eligible for the following:
— The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) provides reimbursement for most medical expenses.
— The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) provides assistance to obtain a degree and pursue other eligible education and training.
— A survivors’ pension is a monthly benefit payable to a low-income surviving spouse and child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
This information is from the VA PAM 27-12-2, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If you have any questions, please call the Veterans Affairs Office at (724) 465-3815.
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