Veteran benefits you should know about

Many veterans are aware of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ fundamental health care and education benefits, such as Tricare and the GI Bill. ­­­ While these Veteran Benefits are significant on their own, several more programs assist veterans and their families in receiving even more benefits. Even within health care and education programs, there are little-known perks that can help veterans better their lives and reduce the financial burden of medical care and other expenses.

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a caregiver support program if you choose to care for an ailing Veteran at home. While this program does not provide financial assistance to caregivers, it does provide them with a caregiver support coordinator or a free support line to assist them in navigating military benefits and the burden of caring for others.

After death, the family of a veteran is eligible for a number of special benefits. Families can ask for a US flag to cover the casket. Also, they can request a Presidential Memorial Certificate to honor the services. The VA department also offers free grave markers and headstones.

The GI Bill can be used for training certification courses or other vocational training programs such as HVAC repair, emergency medical training, truck driving, and barber/beautician school, in addition to gaining credits toward a college degree. Veterans who want to change jobs or pursue a professional path that does not require a college degree would benefit from this benefit. The VET TEC program offers “accelerated training in coding bootcamps” or comparable information science programs, software training, and other non-college degree programs. Finally, veterans can take advantage of a number of free IT certificates.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offices on military bases provide free tax preparation services to veterans and their families. The employees in the offices have experience dealing with the complexities of military-related tax concerns.

Many veterans have difficulty obtaining regular life insurance. This happens especially if they sustain injuries while serving in the military. Veterans can get up to $400,000 in life insurance under the Servicemembers and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program. This scheme also provides affordable premium rates.

The VA keeps track of properties that have gone into foreclosure because of VA loans. Veterans can peruse the list of VA-owned properties and purchase homes at a reduced price. You don’t have to be a veteran to look at the listings. But all of them are eligible for VA financing.

If it’s your first time applying for a VA benefit, you’ll need to provide your discharge paperwork copy. It will include your service dates and kind of discharge, your full name, branch, dates of service, and social security number.

You should store the papers in a secure location that only you and your family have access to. Your wishes for burial at a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone should be written down and stored with this information.

If you meet the time-in-service and other conditions, you may be eligible for certain perks. This includes house loan guarantees and schooling.

Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges from general courts-martial may prevent you from receiving VA benefits. Certain VA benefits may be available to veterans in jail and parolees. Individuals having multiple discharges granted under different terms, as well as inmates, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under different conditions, can seek clarification from VA regional offices.