The VA offers many benefits to veterans such as basic healthcare and education benefits. While these are very substantial benefits, there are other programs that provide MORE benefits to veterans and their families that help improve quality of life and help ease the financial burden of medical care or other expenses. Listed below are 10 benefits that all veterans should see if they qualify for:
- Long-term Care – Through the A&A (Aid and Attendance) Program, veterans are eligible to receive money to cover the cost of nursing homes, assisted living programs, and other long-term options.
- Caregiver Support – This program doesn’t necessarily provide monetary support to caregivers, but they are provided with a free support line and a caregiver support coordinator to help navigate military benefits and the stress of caregiving.
- Death Benefits – When a veteran dies, there are several unique benefits available to the families of the deceased, including free headstones or grave markers. A U.S. flag may be requested to drape over the casket, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate to honor the deceased love one may also be requested.
- Certification Programs – The GI Bill offers up to $2,000 to help cover the cost of certification courses or other vocational training programs.
- Transferring GI Bill Credits – Unused credits through the GI Bill may be transferred to spouses and/or dependents of veterans.
- Free Tax Preparation – There are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offices on military bases that offer veterans and their family’s access to free tax preparation services.
- Life Insurance – Traditional life insurance is sometimes hard for a veteran to obtain, particularly if he/she sustained an injury during their time of service. Through the Servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program, veterans can receive up to $400,000 in life insurance at competitive premium rates.
- Mortgage Help – Repayment assistance is available to eligible veterans who are having trouble making mortgage payments. Options for help include loan forbearance, special repayment plans, and loan modification programs. Additional benefits are available for veterans with VA loans and homeless veterans.
- VA Foreclosures – Veterans are able to search a list of homes services by VA loans that have gone into foreclosure and purchase these homes at a discount. One doesn’t have to be a veteran to search, but all properties qualify for VA financing.
- American Corporate Partners – This entity connects veterans with top companies to help them obtain a job after military service.
There are so many lesser known benefits available to veterans, and it behooves him/her to look into the eligibility requirements of any of those listed above. They’re available to all veterans, so why not take advantage?
