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Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents

Savvy Consumer: Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents

 

Introduction
1. Health Care Benefits
2. Benefit Programs
3. Burial Benefits
4. Survivor Benefits
5. Women Veterans
6. Homeless Veterans
7. Overseas Benefits
8. Small and Disadvantaged Businesses
9. Workplace Benefits
10. Miscellaneous Programs and Benefits
11. Appeals
12. Tables
13. Important Phone Numbers
14. World Wide Web Links
15. VA Facilities

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
2004 Edition

Health Care Benefits >>

Introduction

Wartime Service | Special Groups | Filipino Veterans | Selected Reserve and National Guard
Important Documents | Privacy Act | Información Para Veteranos De Habla Hispana y Sus Dependientes

This pamphlet describes the variety of federal benefits available to veterans and their dependents as of Jan. 1, 2004. Changes may occur during the year as a result of legislative or other requirements. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) World Wide Web pages are updated throughout the year to present the most current information. The VA web site (http://www.va.gov) contains links to sections on compensation and pension benefits, health care benefits and services, burial and memorial benefits, home loan guarantees and other information.

Eligibility depends upon individual circumstances. To determine eligibility for VA health care, contact the Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-8387. For VA benefits eligibility, contact a VA benefits office at 1-800-827-1000 from any location in the United States. Assistance is also available through Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 1-800-829-4833. Phone numbers of VA offices, including those in the Philippines and Puerto Rico, are listed on the VA web site. VA facilities also are listed in the federal government section of telephone directories under Department of Veterans Affairs.

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Men and women veterans with similar service are entitled to the same VA benefits.

Honorable and general discharges qualify a veteran for most VA benefits. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions. VA benefits will not be provided to any veteran or dependend wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.

Wartime Service: Certain VA benefits require wartime service. Under the law, VA recognizes these war periods:

Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916, through April 5, 1917, for veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders or in adjacent waters.

World War I: April 6, 1917, through Nov. 11, 1918; for veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917, through April 1, 1920; extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918.

World War II: Dec. 7, 1941, through Dec. 31, 1946.

Korean War: June 27, 1950, through Jan. 31, 1955.

Vietnam War: Aug. 5, 1964 (Feb. 28, 1961, for veterans who served "in country" before Aug. 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975.

Gulf War: Aug. 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

Special Groups: A number of groups who have provided military related service to the United States have been granted VA benefits. For the service to qualify, the Secretary of Defense must certify that the group has provided active military service. Individuals must be issued a discharge by the Secretary of Defense to qualify for VA benefits. Service in the following groups has been certified as active military service for benefits purposes:

  1. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).
  2. World War I Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit.
  3. Engineer Field Clerks
  4. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
  5. Quartermaster Corps female clerical employees serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.
  6. Civilian employees of Pacific naval air bases who actively participated in defense of Wake Island during World War II.
  7. Reconstruction aides and dietitians in World War I.
  8. Male civilian ferry pilots.
  9. Wake Island defenders from Guam.
  10. Civilian personnel assigned to OSS secret intelligence.
  11. Guam Combat Patrol.
  12. Quartermaster Corps members of the Keswick crew on Corregidor during World War II.
  13. U.S. civilians who participated in the defense of Bataan.
  14. U.S. merchant seamen who served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry in the World War II invasion of Normandy.
  15. American merchant marines in oceangoing service during World War II.
  16. Civilian Navy IFF radar technicians who served in combat areas of the Pacific during World War II.
  17. U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served overseas in World War I.
  18. U.S. civilians of the American Field Service who served overseas under U.S. armies and U.S. army groups in World War II.
  19. U.S. civilian employees of American Airlines who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.
  20. Civilian crewmen of U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessels who served in areas of immediate military hazard while conducting cooperative operations with and for the U.S. Armed Forces between Dec. 7, 1941, and Aug. 15, 1945.
  21. Members of the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and July 18, 1942.
  22. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of United Air Lines who served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.
  23. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. (TWA), who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.
  24. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. (Consairway Division) who served overseas in a contract with Air Transport Command between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.
  25. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Pan American World Airways and its subsidiaries and affiliates, who served overseas in a contract with the Air Transport Command and Naval Air Transport Service between Dec. 14, 1941, and Aug. 14, 1945.
  26. Honorably discharged members of the American Volunteer Guard, Eritrea Service Command, between June 21, 1942, and March 31, 1943.
  27. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Northwest Airlines who served overseas under the airline's contract with Air Transport Command from Dec. 14, 1941, through Aug. 14, 1945.
  28. U.S. civilian female employees of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps who served in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor during the period Jan. 2, 1942, to Feb. 3, 1945.
  29. U.S. flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Northeast Airlines Atlantic Division, who served overseas as a result of Northeast Airlines' contract with the Air Transport Command during the period Dec. 7, 1941, through Aug. 14, 1945.
  30. U.S. civilian flight crew and aviation ground support employees of Braniff Airways, who served overseas in the North Atlantic or under the jurisdiction of the North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, as a result of a contract with the Air Transport Command during the period Feb. 26, 1942, through Aug. 14, 1945.

Selected Reserve and National Guard: Current and former members of the Selected Reserve who served on active duty establish veteran status and may therefore be eligible for VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and the character of discharge or release. In addition, reservists not activated may qualify for some VA benefits. Members of the National Guard activated for federal service during a period of war or domestic emergency may be eligible for certain VA benefits, such as VA health care, compensation for injuries or conditions connected to that service and burial benefits. Activation for other than federal service does not qualify guard members for all VA benefits. Claims for VA benefits based on federal service filed by members of the National Guard should include a copy of the military orders, presidential proclamation or executive order that clearly demonstrates the federal nature of the service.

Filipino Veterans: World War II era Filipino veterans are eligible for certain VA benefits. Generally, Old Philippine Scouts are eligible for VA benefits in the same manner as U.S. veterans. Certain Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts may be eligible for disability compensation, hospital or nursing-home care, medical services and burial benefits. Other veterans of recognized guerrilla groups also might be eligible for certain VA benefits. Survivors of World War II era Filipino veterans may be eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation. Eligibility for some VA benefits and the rates of monetary benefits may vary based on the recipient's citizenship and place of residence.

Important Documents: Those seeking a VA benefit for the first time must submit a copy of their service discharge form (DD-214, DD-215, or for WWII veterans, a WD form), which documents service dates and type of discharge, or give their full name, military service number, branch and dates of service.

The veteran's service discharge form should be kept in a safe location accessible to the veteran and next of kin or designated representative. The veteran's preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with this information. The following documents will be needed for claims processing related to a veteran's death: (1) veteran's marriage certificate for claims of a surviving spouse or children; (2) veteran's death certificate if the veteran did not die in a VA health-care facility; (3) children's birth certificates or adoption papers to determine children's benefits; (4) veteran's birth certificate to determine parents' benefits.

Privacy Act: The Privacy Act provides the right to access and request amendment of information collected and used by the federal government. For more information, contact the Privacy Act officer at the facility where the information is maintained or visit the Privacy and Security section on VA's home page (http://www.va.gov).

Información Para Veteranos De Habla Hispana y Sus Dependientes

La versión en español de este folleto se encuentra disponible en formato Adobe Acrobat a través de el link (http://www.appc1.va.gov/opa/feature/index.htm) en la página de la Oficina de Asuntos Públicos del Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos (VA) en la red mundial del internet. Las oficinas del VA en areas de gran concentración de veteranos y dependientes hispanos tienen disponibles consejeros bilingües que le pueden ayudar a aplicar para obtener beneficios. Puede encotrar una lista de las oficinas del VA en la parte de atrá s de este folleto.

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