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Miscellaneous
Programs and Benefits
Loans for Farms and Homes |
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) |
Naturalization Preference
Small Business Administration |
Social Security |
Supplemental Security Income
Passports to Visit Overseas Cemeteries |
Medals |
Review of Discharges |
Replacing Military Records
Correction of Military Records |
Armed Forces Retirement Homes |
Commissary and Exchange Privileges
Death Gratuity
Loans
for Farms and Homes
Loans and guaranties
may be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy,
improve or operate farms. Loans and guaranties are available for
housing in towns generally up to 20,000 in population. Applications
from veterans have preference. For further information contact
Farm Service Agency or Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC 20250, or apply at local Department of Agriculture
offices, usually located in county seats.
Housing
and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD grants are provided
to non-profit organizations, state and local governments, and
tribal nations to provide housing for homeless veterans, disabled
veterans and veterans with low or moderateincomes. Other activities
include homeownership assistance, micro enterprise development,
job training and substance abuse counseling. HUD sponsors the
Veteran Resource Center (HUDVET), which works with national veterans
service organizations to serve as a general information center
on all HUD sponsored housing and community development programs
and services.
To
contact HUDVET, call 1-800-998-9999, TDD 800-483-2209, or e-mail
hudvet@hud.gov. HUD also funds approved housing counseling agencies
that provide free counseling services. To find a counselor that
serves your neighborhood, call toll-free 800-569-4287 or visit
(http://www.hud.gov:80/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm).
Naturalization
Preference
Certain applicants who have served in the U.S. armed forces are eligible to file for naturalization based on current or prior U.S. military service. An applicant who served three years in the U.S. military and is a lawful permanent resident is excused from any specific period of required residence, period of residence in any specific place, or physical presence within the United States if the application for naturalization is filed while the applicant is still serving in the military or within six months of honorable discharge. Applicants who file for naturalization more than six months after termination of three years of U.S. military service may count any periods of honorable service as residence and physical presence in the United States.
Aliens and non-citizen
nationals with honorable service in the U.S. Armed Forces during
specified periods of hostilities may be naturalized without having
to comply with the general requirements for naturalization. This
is the only section of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as
amended, which allows persons who have not been lawfully admitted
for permanent residence to file an application for naturalization.
Any person who has served honorably during qualifying time may
file an application at any time in his or her life if, at the
time of enlistment, reenlistment, extension of enlistment or induction,
such person shall have been in the United States, the Canal Zone,
American Samoa or Swain's Island, or, on or after Nov., 18, 1997,
aboard a public vessel owned or operated by the United States
for non-commercial service, whether or not lawful admittance to
the United States for permanent residence has been granted.
On July 3, 2002, President Bush issued Executive Order 13269 providing naturalization for aliens and non-citizen nationals serving on active duty status in the U.S. armed forces from Sept. 11, 2001, to a date not yet determined. In addition, if a person dies as a result of injury or disease incurred or aggravated by such service, their survivor(s) can apply for posthumous citizenship at any time within two years of the death of the alien or non-citizen national. For information, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Web site: (http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/Special.htm).
Small
Business Administration
The Small Business Administration
(SBA) provides a number of services that assist veterans who own
or are considering starting small businesses. Among the services
provided are loan guarantee programs, venture capital assistance,
entrepreneurial development programs, government contracting assistance,
and Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Information
about SBA's full range of services can be found on the Internet
(http://www.sba.gov/vets)
or by contacting the Office of Veterans Business Development at
(202) 205-6773. Veterans Business Development Officers at SBA
District Offices can provide additional information. Call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA
(1-800-827-5722) to locate the nearest SBA Office or for additional
information.
Federal
Tax Credits and Assistance
Federal law provides tax credits and deductions that apply to
many veterans or their families. The Earned Income Tax Credit
may be available to low or moderate-income workers, depending
on the amount of earned income and the number of children in the
household. Even when income is below the threshold for filing
a tax return, eligible individuals can file a return and claim
the credit to receive a refund. Education credits and deductions
for non-reimbursed expenses may be available to individuals when
they or members of their family are pursuing post-secondary or
job-related education. Child Tax Credits may be available to those
with children under age 17. Special deductions and credits can
benefit disabled taxpayers or their families. Free tax help is
available for low-income, elderly, disabled, and non-English speaking
individuals. Returns can be filed electronically to speed receipt
of refunds and increase accuracy. For additional information,
call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 or visit the
IRS Web site at (http://www.irs.gov).
Social
Security
Monthly retirement,
disability and survivor benefits under Social Security are payable
to a veteran and dependents if the veteran has earned enough work
credits under the program. Upon the veteran's death, a one-time
payment of $255 also may be made to the veteran's spouse or child.
In addition, a veteran may qualify at age 65 for Medicare's hospital
insurance and medical insurance. Medicare protection also is available
to people who have received Social Security disability benefits
for 24 months, and to insured people and their dependents who
need dialysis or kidney transplants.
Active duty or active
duty for training in the U.S. uniformed services has counted toward
Social Security since January 1957. Since Jan. 1, 1988, inactive
duty for training as a member of Reserve components of the armed
forces also counts toward Social Security. Servicemembers and
veterans receive an extra $300 credit for each quarter in which
they received any basic pay for active duty or active duty for
training after 1956 and before 1978. Veterans who served in the
military from 1978 through 2001, receive a credit of $100 for
each $300 of reported wages up to a maximum credit of $1,200.
After 2001, additional earnings will no longer be credited. No
additional Social Security taxes are withheld from pay for these
extra credits. Also, noncontributory Social Security credits of
$160 a month may be granted to veterans who served after Sept.
15, 1940, and before 1957, including attendance at service academies.
More information is available on the Internet (http://www.ssa.gov)
or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
Supplemental
Security Income
Those age 65 or older
and those who are blind or otherwise disabled may be eligible
for monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments if they
have little or no income or resources. States may supplement the
federal payments to eligible persons and may disregard additional
income. Although VA compensation and pension benefits are counted
in determining income for SSI purposes, some other income is not
counted. Also, not all resources count in determining eligibility.
For example, a person's home and the land it is on do not count.
Personal effects, household goods, automobiles and life insurance
may not count, depending upon their value. Information and assistance
in applying for these payments may be obtained at any Social Security
office or by calling I-800-772-1213.
Passports
to Visit Overseas Cemeteries
"No-fee" passports are
available for family members visiting graves or memorialization
sites at World War I and World War II cemeteries overseas. Those
eligible for such passports include surviving spouses, parents,
children, sisters, brothers and guardians of the deceased who
are buried or commemorated in American military cemeteries on
foreign soil. For additional information, write to the American
Battle Monuments Commission, Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500, 2300
Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201, or phone 703-696-6897, or
visit their Homepage on the Internet at (http://www.abmc.gov).
Medals
Medals awarded while
in active service are issued by the individual military services
if requested by veterans or by the next of kin of deceased veterans.
Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals,
decorations, and awards should be directed to the specific branch
of the military in which the veteran served. However, for Air
Force (including Army Air Corps) and Army veterans, the National
Personnel Records Center verifies the awards to which a veteran
is entitled and forwards requests and verification to the appropriate
service department for issuance of the medals.
Requests for replacement
medals should be submitted on Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining
To Military Records," which may be obtained at VA offices, from
veterans organizations or downloaded from the Internet (http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/otherforms.htm).
The Military Personnel Records section of NPRC's Web site (http://www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/veterans_service_records.html),
has forms, addresses and other information on requesting medals.
When requesting medals,
type or clearly print the veteran's full name, include the veteran's
branch of service, service number or Social Security Number and
provide the veteran's exact or approximate dates of military service.
The request must contain the signature of the veteran or the signature
of the next of kin if the veteran is deceased. If available, include
a copy of the discharge or separation document, WDAGO Form 53-55
or DD Form 214.
Review
of Discharges
Each of the military
services maintains a discharge review board with authority to
change, correct, or modify discharges or dismissals that are not
issued by a sentence of a general courts-martial. The board has
no authority to address medical discharges. The veteran or, if
the veteran is deceased or incompetent, the surviving spouse,
next of kin or legal representative may apply for a review of
discharge by writing to the military department concerned, using
Department of Defense
Form 293. This form may be obtained at a VA regional office,
from veterans organizations or from the Internet (http://web1.whs.osd.mil/icdhome/forms.htm).
However, if the discharge was more than 15 years ago, a veteran
must petition the appropriate service Board for Correction of
Military Records using DoD Form
149, which is discussed in the "Correction
of Military Records" section. A discharge review is conducted
by a review of an applicant's record and, if requested, by a hearing
before the board.
Discharges awarded as
a result of continuous period of unauthorized absence in excess
of 180 days make persons ineligible for VA benefits regardless
of action taken by discharge review boards, unless VA determines
there were compelling circumstances for the absence. Boards for
the correction of military records also may consider such cases.
Veterans with disabilities
incurred or aggravated during active military service may qualify
for medical or related benefits regardless of separation and characterization
of service. Veterans separated administratively under other than
honorable conditions may request that their discharge be reviewed
for possible recharacterization, provided they file their appeal
within 15 years of the date of separation. Questions regarding
the review of a discharge should be addressed to the appropriate
discharge review board at the address listed on Department of
Defense
Form 293.
Replacing
Military Records
If discharge or separation
papers are lost, veterans or the next of kin of deceased veterans
may obtain duplicate copies by completing forms found on the Internet
at (http://www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/)
and mailing or faxing them to the National Personnel Records Center.
Alternatively, write the National Personnel Records Center, Military
Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100.
Specify that a duplicate separation document or discharge is needed.
The veteran's full name should be printed or typed so that it
can be read clearly, but the request must also contain the signature
of the veteran or the signature of the next of kin, if the veteran
is deceased. Include branch of service, service number or Social
Security number and exact or approximate dates and years of service.
Use Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining To Military Records." (See the
"World Wide Web Links" section
of this booklet for more information on obtaining this and other
federal forms through the Internet, or contact your local VA regional
office.) It is not necessary to request a duplicate copy of a
veteran's discharge or separation papers solely for the purpose
of filing a claim for VA benefits. If complete information about
the veteran's service is furnished on the application, VA will
obtain verification of service from the National Personnel Records
Center or the service department concerned.
Correction
of Military Records
The secretary of a military
department, acting through a board for correction of military
records, has authority to change any military record when necessary
to correct an error or remove an injustice. A correction board
may consider applications for correction of a military record,
including a review of a discharge issued by courts martial.
The veteran, survivor
or legal representative generally must file a request for correction
within three years after discovery of an alleged error or injustice.
The board may excuse failure to file within the prescribed time,
however, if it finds it would be in the interest of justice to
do so. It is an applicant's responsibility to show why the filing
of the application was delayed and why it would be in the interest
of justice for the board to consider it despite the delay.
To justify any correction,
it is necessary to show to the satisfaction of the board that
the alleged entry or omission in the records was in error or unjust.
Applications should include all available evidence, such as signed
statements of witnesses or a brief of arguments supporting the
requested correction. Application is made with DD
Form 149, available at VA offices, from veterans organizations
or from the Internet (http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/dd149.pdf).
Armed
Forces Retirement Homes
Veterans are eligible
to live in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss.,
or the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., if their
active duty military service is at least 50 percent enlisted,
warrant officer or limited duty officer and if they are: 60 years
of age or older and have completed 20 years or more of active
duty service; unable to earn a livelihood due to a service-connected
disability; unable to earn a livelihood due to a non-service connected
disability and served in a war theater during a time of war declared
by Congress or received hostile fire pay; female veterans who
served prior to 1948. Veterans are not eligible if they have been
convicted of a felony or are not free from alcohol, drug or psychiatric
problems. Married couples are welcome, but both must be eligible
in their own right. At the time of admission, applicants must
be capable of living independently.
The Armed Forces Retirement
Home is an independent federal agency. For information, please
call AFRH-Gulfport at 1-800-332-3527, AFRH-Washington at 1-800-422-9988,
or visit their Web site at: (http://www.afrh.gov).
Commissary
and Exchange Privileges
Unlimited exchange and
commissary store privileges in the United States are available
to honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability
rated at 100 percent, unremarried surviving spouses of members
or retired members of the armed forces, recipients of the Medal
of Honor, and their dependents and orphans. Certification of total
disability is done by VA. Reservists and their dependents also
may be eligible. Privileges overseas are governed by international
law and are available only if agreed upon by the foreign government
concerned. VA provides assistance in completing DD Form 1172,
"Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege
Card."
Death
Gratuity
Military services provide
a death gratuity of $12,000 to a deceased servicemember's next
of kin. The death gratuity is paid for death in active service
or for retirees who died within 120 days of retirement as a result
of service-connected injury or illness. Parents, brothers or sisters
may be provided the gratuity, if designated as next of kin by
the deceased. The gratuity is paid by the last military command
of the deceased. If the beneficiary is not paid automatically,
application may be made to the military service concerned.
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