VETERAN BENEFITS & ASSISTANCE

Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families.

You may be eligible for US Department of Veterans Affairs benefits if you are:

  • a veteran
  • a veteran’s dependent
  • surviving spouse, child or parent of a deceased veteran
  • an active-duty military service member
  • a member of the Reserve or National Guard
If you are eligible for federal benefits, but never have applied, you still can. 

Below are some of the Veteran Services that you may have earned:

Compensation: US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can pay you monthly compensation if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service.

Pension: You can receive a monthly pension if you are a wartime veteran with limited income, and you are permanently and totally disabled or at least 65 years old.

Medical Services: Various health services are available, including hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services, sexual trauma counseling, specialized health care for women veterans, readjustment counseling, alcohol and drug dependency treatment and medical evaluation for disorders associated with military service in the Gulf War, or exposure to Agent Orange, radiation, and other environmental hazards. Note: Combat Veterans receive free medical care for any illness possibly associated with service during a period of hostility for two years from the veteran’s release from active duty.

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment: VA can help veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find and keep suitable employment. For veterans with serious service-connected disabilities, VA also offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.

Education & Training: VA pays benefits to eligible veterans, reservists, and active-duty service members while they are in an approved education or training program.

Home Loans: VA offers various home-loan services to eligible veterans, some military personnel, and certain surviving spouses.

Life Insurance: Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is renewable term life insurance for veterans who want to convert their SGLI up to an amount not to exceed the coverage you had when you separated from service. Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, also called "RH" Insurance, is for service-connected veterans. Coverage is $10,000. You may be eligible for a $20,000 supplemental policy if you are totally disabled.

Dependents & Survivors: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is payable to certain survivors. 

BENEFITS & SERVICES
  Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents
    VA Benefits Fact Sheets
   
 
    Burial Benefits
      Military Burial Benefits, Office of the Secretary of Defense
      Types of Headstones & Markers Available
     
    Community-Based VA Vet Centers
    Health Care Benefits
    Home Loans
     
     
    Mental Health - Resources and Links
    PTSD & TBI Information - VA Informational Site
    Life Insurance Benefits
    OEF / OIF Service Members
    Dependent & Survivor Benefits
    Mesothelioma Benefit Information
       
  Apply for VA Benefits Online
    Check the status of your VA claim online
    VA Expands the Forms That Can be Submitted Online
       
  Benefits Calculator - Military.com
  Benefits - Military.com
 
 


 

       
  Health Care
    Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors (SSI)
    Grand Valley State University Wounded Warrior Traumatic Brain Injury Project
    PTSD / Stress Management
    Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
    TRICARE Benefit Info
    VA Health Benefits
       
  Laws Protecting Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities
       
  Long-Term Care
    Aid & Attendance Benefit
    Armed Forces Retirement Home, Eligibility
    Family Caregiver Program for Post-9/11 Veterans


Medical Foster Care Program, Geriatrics & Extended Care
   
       
  Google Resources for Veterans & Families
 
National Resource Directory, Benefits & Compensation
 Operation Uplink To Request a Card, call 800-479-5228800-479-5228
 
  Prior Service Connected Medical Conditions
    All Prior Service Medical Conditions Category File
      Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure
        Agent Orange Fast Track Claims Processing System
        Agent Orange Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans
        Agent Orange Herbicide Tests & Storage Outside of Vietnam
        Agent Orange, Military Benefits, Military.COM
        Korean Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange (Between 1968 to 1971)
      Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
        Illnesses Related to Gulf War Service
        Gulf War Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans
        VA Recognizes 'Presumptive' Illnesses in Iraq & Afghanistan
       
    Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
    VA Board of Veterans' Appeals
       
  Priority of Service for Veterans and Eligible Spouses
  Start Your Own Business
  Veterans Affairs, Michigan Department of Military & Veteran Affairs

VA Board of Veterans' Appeals
  VA Burial Benefits
    Military Burial Benefits, Office of the Secretary of Defense
    Types of Headstones & Markers Available
       
  VA Compensation & Pension Benefits
  VA eBenefits
  VA Life Insurance
  VA OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) / OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
  VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
  VA Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS)
  VFW Veterans Services
       
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
  All  Emergency Catagory Files
  Aid & Charity Associations
  Air Force Aid Society
  American Red Cross
  Armed Forces Relief Trust
  Army Emergency Relief
  Cell Phone, Government Supported
  Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund
  Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
  DTE Senior Citizen Electric Service Rate
  Emergency Relief, Non Government, National Resource Directory
  Family & Caregiver Support, National Resource Directory
  Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund
  Financial Assistance for Mortgage or Rent Payments
  Friends of the Fisher House - Illinois
  Goodwill Industries
  Help for Homeless Veterans
  Homeless Assistance, National Resource Directory
  Homeless Vet 24 Hour Hotline (VA) 1-877-4AID VET
  Homeless Veterans, VA
  Legal Services and Veterans Treatment Court, SCRA and USERRA Laws
  Legal Services ABA Pro Bono
  Legal Resources for Veterans, Google.com
  Legal Resources for Veterans, Yahoo.com
       
  National Guard Online Community
  Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
  Salvation Army
  Service Members Civil Relief Act
  Service Members Civil Relief Act
  Service Members Civil Relief Act, Overview, Military.com
  Shelters
  Social Security Administration online
  Social Security Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)
  United Way, Michigan 2-1-1 Phone Numbers
  United Way, Nationwide 2-1-1 Phone Numbers
  Veterans Assistance Foundation
  Veterans' Organizations
  VFW Family Assistance
  VFW National Military Services
  VFW National Veterans Service
  VFW Post Military Assistance
  VFW Transitioning to Civilian Life
  VFW Troop Support
  Volunteers of America
  Warrior Care, DoD & VA Resources Site
  Wounded Warrior Traumatic Brain Injury Project, Grand Rapids, MI
       

VETERAN INFORMATION
  All Veteran information Category Files
  All Veteran Research Category Files
  Census News
  Hiring People with Criminal Record
  Historical Documents of Interest to Veterans
  Laws Protecting Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities
  Locating Veterans & Service Members
  Military Discharge, Upgrade Application
  Military Records & Discharges, Correction Application
  National Gravesite Locator
  Prior Service Connected Medical Issues
  Priority of Service for Veterans and Eligible Spouses
  Replacement Military Records
  Replacement Medical Records
  Replacement Military Awards & Decorations (National Archives)
  Social Security Credit for Military Service (1957 - 2001)
  U.S. Dept of Justice - Rights of Servicemembers and Veterans
  VA Board of Veterans' Appeals
  Veteran Data and Information
  Veteran & Active Duty Information, J. Jones
  Women Veterans