Did you know that veterans can receive a wide range of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs? Many veterans and their families are not aware of all the benefits that are available to them. This blog post will discuss ten veterans’ benefits that most people don’t know about. These benefits include Tricare and GI Bill benefits and numerous other programs that help veterans and their families. If you are a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, be sure to check out this list! You may be surprised at what you find.
Veterans Benefits That You Probably Already Know
One of the most well-known veterans benefits is the GI Bill. The GI Bill provides educational assistance to veterans and their families. This benefit can be used for undergraduate or graduate degrees, as well as vocational training programs. In addition, the GI Bill also provides a monthly housing allowance and a stipend for books and supplies.
Another veterans benefit that is widely known is Tricare. Tricare is a healthcare program that provides military members, veterans, and their families access to quality healthcare services. Tricare offers three different plans: the Standard Plan, the Extra Plan, and the Prime Plan. The Standard Plan is the most basic plan, and it offers coverage for medical expenses that are not covered by other health insurance plans. The Extra Plan provides more comprehensive coverage than the Standard Plan, and the Prime Plan offers the best coverage of all three plans.
Veterans Benefits That You Probably Don’t Know About
In addition to the veteran’s benefits that we have already mentioned, numerous other programs provide valuable assistance to veterans and their families. Some of these veterans benefits include,
Free Tax Preparation
When it comes to veterans benefits, one that many people don’t realize is that veterans and their families have access to free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offices. These offices are located on military bases, and the people who work there have the experience and knowledge needed to handle the complicated nature of military-related tax issues.
Mortgage Help
Another benefit that most veterans are unaware of has to do with their mortgage. Veterans having trouble making mortgage payments may be eligible for repayment through the Department of Veterans. Veterans benefits that can help with your mortgage include unique repayment plans, loan modification programs, and loan forbearance programs. There are even additional benefits that are available for veterans with VA loans as well as for homeless veterans.
VA Foreclosures
Many veterans and their families are unaware that the VA maintains a list of homes serviced by VA loans that have gone into foreclosure. This provides veterans benefits when searching for a new home at a discounted price. While anyone can look at these homes, veterans have the benefit of qualifying for VA financing.
American Corporate Partners
American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a national veterans’ organization that provides veterans with career counseling, mentorship, and job resources. ACP helps veterans transition from the military to civilian life by pairing them with a professional industry mentor. Mentors help veterans identify their skills and interests and connect them with jobs that match their qualifications. This is something that veterans benefit from immensely as they transition back into everyday life.
Transferring GI Bill Credits
When it comes to veterans benefits, most people know about the GI Bill. However, they don’t realize that credits from the GI Bill can be transferred. These credits can be transferred to either spouses or dependents of veterans. However, there are service limits that are required to transfer the benefits.
Non-College Degree Programs and Certificates
Not only is there the ability to transfer credits from the GI Bill to spouses and dependents, but there are also more veterans benefits attached to the bill that can help further education. The GI Bill is also available for training certifications and vocational training programs. This includes training programs for HVAC repair, emergency medical training, beautician school, and many others. This benefit is excellent for veterans who want to make a change in their career or pursue a job that doesn’t require a college degree. There are also veterans benefits for non-college degree programs through the VET TEC program that focuses on information science programs and several free IT certifications available to veterans.
Life Insurance
Another area that veterans benefit helps to cover and that most people don’t know about comes from the Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) program. This program provides veterans with life insurance coverage up to $400,000, and it can be used to provide coverage for spouses and children. The VGLI program also allows veterans to convert their other life insurance policies into the VGLI program, which gives veterans benefits that they can use in the event of their death.
Caregiver Support
When it comes to veterans benefits, another that most people don’t have any knowledge of is caregiver support. If you choose to take care of an ailing veteran at home, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a caregiver support program. This program provides caregivers of veterans benefits such as training and peer support. While they do not offer support monetarily, they have people to help them navigate veterans’ benefits and the stress of caregiving.
Long-term Care
Veterans benefits don’t just stop at caregiver support. Another great program that veterans can take advantage of is the VA’s long-term care insurance (LTCI) program. The LTCI program provides veterans with a monthly stipend to help cover the costs of long-term care, which can be used in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or at home. This program is great for veterans who want to stay in their homes as they age and need a little assistance.
Death Benefits
Veterans’ benefits also extend to their family members after their death. One of these benefits is the death gratuity, a payment of $100,000 made to the deceased veteran’s spouse or children. This money can help with funeral costs and other expenses associated with the death of a loved one.
Veterans Benefits and You
So, as you can see, veterans can take advantage of many different benefits that most people don’t even know about. These benefits range from life insurance coverage and caregiving support to transferring GI Bill credits and vocational training programs. If you are a veteran or the spouse or dependent of a veteran, be sure to look into all of the different veterans’ benefits available to you. You may be surprised at just how much help is out there.
Information from this blog post was gathered and provided by: http://militarybenefits.info/