U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Benefits and Services

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration –All VA benefits - Compensation, Education, Home Loan Guaranty, etc. –Administered by VA Regional Offices Veterans Health Administration –All VA health care services –Administered by VA Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care & Community Based Outpatient Clinics, etc. National Cemetery Administration –National and State Veterans Cemeteries –Headstones & Markers –Presidential Memorial Certificates

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Compensation Benefits

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disabilities are rated from 0% to 100% VA rating is independent of any military rating Payments begin with 10% ratings Additional allowance for dependents with 30% or higher rating Compensation

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pre-Discharge Program Purpose: A cooperative separation process between DoD and VA to provide complete transition assistance to all service members May include all phases of disability claims processing from receipt of claim through examination and the rating process Claims are accepted from service members within 180 days of separation or retirement

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pre-Discharge Program Types of Pre-Discharge Claims Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Quick Start Disability Evaluation System (DES) Very Seriously Injured/Seriously Injured (VSI/SI) and Special Category (SPC)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pension Benefits

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs At least 90 days of active military service (generally, 24 months for enlistments after September 7, 1980) At least one day of wartime service (combat service not required) Totally & permanently disabled, or attained age 65 Within income limits to qualify for this benefit Pension

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Complete a VA Form (Veteran’s Application for Compensation and/or Pension) Provide other supporting records –VA can help obtain them Submit all documents to appropriate VA Regional Office

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Benefits

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA provides care at about 1,300 facilities: 158 hospitals 858 ambulatory care and community- based outpatient clinics 232 Vet Centers 133 nursing homes 42 residential rehabilitation treatment programs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Primary Care Specialty and Inpatient Care Preventive Health Care Pharmacy Benefits Emergency Care Diagnosis and Treatment for Mental Health and Substance Abuse

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Surgical Care and Organ Transplantation Rehabilitation Nursing Home Care Home Health Care Respite and Hospice Care Readjustment Counseling Blind Rehabilitation Services Dental Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Eligibility Veterans who served in the active military, naval or air service and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable Former Reservists who served full-time and for operational or support (excludes training purposes) Former National Guard members if mobilized by a Federal order

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs A service-connected condition is not necessary to receive VA health care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans of Operations Enduring & Iraqi Freedom VA provides free health care for veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, for any illness possibly related to their service in that theater

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans of Operations Enduring & Iraqi Freedom Time Limits: FIVE years from date of discharge from active duty, if you were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, Until January 27, 2011, if you were discharged from active duty before January 28, 2003, and were not enrolled as of January 28, 2008.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Enrollment To receive VA health care, a veteran must enroll in the VA health care system unless: veteran has a 50% or more service-connected VA disability rating less than one year has passed since veteran was discharged from the military for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty but VA has not yet rated the veteran is seeking care for a service- connected disability

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Application Identify VA health care facility for primary care Complete VA Form 10-10EZ and submit in person, in writing, or on-line to facility of choice Call VETS ( ) Visit

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers Provide Readjustment counseling services to veterans and their families Community-based care Bereavement counseling for families who lose an active duty service member Veteran-focused services Supportive and completely confidential services

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers – Special Services Individual Counseling Group Counseling Marital & Family Counseling Alcohol & Drug Assessment Spouse/Significant Other Counseling Employment Counseling & Guidance

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers - Special Services Bereavement Counseling Sexual Trauma Counseling Referral to Community Agencies Community Education Liaison with VA Facilities Benefits Assistance & Referral

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30 VEAP – Chapter 32 Post-9/11 GI Bill – Chapter 33 –Yellow Ribbon Program Montgomery GI Bill, Selected Reserve – Chapter 1606 Reserve Educational Assistance Program – Chapter 1607

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Apply on-line at under Electronic Application Formwww.gibill.va.gov Mail in application

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs To assist veterans re-enter the world of work Application program VA disability rating of at least 20% Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Various programs to assist veterans and employers

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Life Insurance

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Life Insurance Products Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance – SGLI Traumatic Group Life Insurance – TSGLI Veterans’ Group Life Insurance – VGLI Service Disabled Veterans Insurance – SDVI Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance - VMLI

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan Guaranty

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Features of a VA Loan No down payment Limitations on closing costs The right to prepay without penalty Funding Fee Negotiated interest rates Special assistance for veterans experiencing difficulty in making loan payments

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Purposes Buy a home Build a home Refinance existing loan Repair, alter, or improve a home Use only for property located in the US, its territories or possessions Must occupy the property as your home within a reasonable period of time

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Amounts Maximum VA guaranty varies by county based on local housing costs Maximum loan – generally, lenders limit the maximum VA loan to 4 times the VA guaranty amount. Currently, this results in amounts ranging from $417,000 to $729,750 –These amounts can change yearly Loans more than the maximum allowed may require a down payment

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Funding Fee Law requires funding fee to be paid on VA loans Fee ranges from.5% to 3.35%, depending on loan type and if first time or subsequent user Fee can be included in loan Fee is waived for vets entitled to VA disability compensation

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Native American Direct Loans VA makes direct loans to Native Americans living on Trust Land (reservations, homelands, etc.) Maximum loan amount is the same as the amount allowed for VA guaranteed loans Vets must still meet credit qualifications

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs More Information? Visit Loan Guaranty on the Internet at:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Burial Benefits

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Burial Benefits National Cemeteries State Veterans Cemeteries Headstone or Marker Burial Flag Presidential Memorial Certificates Burial Cost Reimbursement

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs QUESTIONS?