Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents

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Women Veterans

Women veterans are eligible for the same VA benefits as male veterans. However, additional gender-specific services and benefits are available for women veterans, including breast and pelvic examinations and other general reproductive health-care services. VA provides preventive health care counseling, contraceptive services, menopause management, Pap smears and mammography. Referrals are made for services that VA is unable to provide. Women Veterans' Coordinators are available in a private setting at all VA facilities to assist women veterans seeking treatment and benefits.

VA health care professionals provide counseling and treatment to help veterans overcome psychological trauma resulting from sexual trauma during active military service. Appropriate care and services are provided for any injury, illness or psychological condition resulting from such trauma.

Homeless Veterans

A number of VA benefits, including disability compensation, pension and education benefits, can prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless. VA conducts community-based "stand downs" to make benefits information and assistance more accessible to homeless veterans. Homeless veterans also are provided special assistance through other VA program initiatives.

VA provides health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans. Health Care for Homeless Veterans programs provide outreach and comprehensive medical, psychological and rehabilitation treatment programs. Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans programs provide residential rehabilitation services. VA supports Compensated Work Therapy/Therapeutic Residence group homes, special daytime, drop-in centers, and Comprehensive Homeless Centers.

VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program assists nonprofit and local government agencies to establish housing or service centers for homeless veterans. Grants are awarded for the construction, acquisition or renovation of facilities. VA also works with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Social Security Administration, veterans service organizations, and community nonprofit groups to assist homeless veterans. For information on benefits for homeless veterans, contact the nearest VA facility. More information about this program, including information about VA loan guarantees for construction or rehabilitation of multifamily transitional housing for homeless veterans, visit (http://www.va.gov/homeless).

The Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP), sponsored by the Dept. of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service, focuses on employment and training services for homeless veterans. Organizations receiving HVRP grants, including faith-based organizations, typically provide job search, counseling, job placement assistance, remedial education, classroom and on-the-job training. A list of current HVRP grantees is located on the Internet at (http://www.dol.gov/vets/grants/main.htm). For additional information visit (http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm) or call 202-693-4710.

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