In Triage Cancer's free Quick Guide to Veterans Resources, you'll learn about VA health care, VA disability compensation, caregiver support services, housing, VA partnerships, FMLA military caregiver leave, FMLA qualifying exigency leave, other federal laws that protect veterans, and legal assistance.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a wide variety of benefits to Veterans and their families. The VA has offices in every state. Every state has their own Veterans Affairs agency. The VA provides health care, financial and housing services, caregiver support, and partners with other organizations to offer more services to Veterans.
VA Health Care is not traditional health insurance, though it does meet the Affordable Care Act’s requirement of having “minimum essential health coverage.” Veterans who served in the active military and did not receive a dishonorable discharge may be eligible for VA Health Care. Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months. This minimum duty requirement may not apply if you served prior to September 7, 1980, or if you were discharged for a disability or a hardship.
All Veterans receive coverage for most health care services, but only some will qualify for added benefits like dental care. The full list of your covered benefits depends on:
There are eight priority groups whose factors include military service history, disability rating, income level, Medicaid eligibility, and other benefits you may be receiving. Veterans with disabilities connected to service are assigned a higher priority. Veterans who need help applying for health benefits can:
When you get care at a VA facility, VA Health Care can work with other insurance such as private plans, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE. When other insurers pay the VA for your care, the VA may use the funds to offset your VA co-payment. Your payments for VA Health Care may count towards your other insurer’s deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.
VA Disability Compensation is a monthly, tax-free payment if you have a physical and mental health condition that developed before, during, or after service. A Veteran must have a disability rating for a service-connected condition:
For Veterans separated from service for a medical condition, the U.S. Department of Defense Disability Process begins automatically. For all others, you must file a claim. First, a VA physician performs a Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P Exam) and sends it to the VA Rating Authority. Veterans submit copies of evidence, like medical reports and a commander’s statement. The Rating Authority determines whether the medical condition is on the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). This VASRD disability rating is adjusted to the nearest 10% in increments up to 100%. The higher the rating, the higher the compensation. Ratings of 30% or higher may also qualify spouses and dependents for benefits. Veterans can file a claim:
No one can charge you a fee for helping you file your claim. If you are denied and choose to appeal, an accredited representative or attorney can charge a fee for that appeal.
The VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) offers legal and financial services for designated family caregivers of eligible Veterans who are seriously injured. The Veteran and family member caregiver complete the application process together. The process has ten steps, including assessments and training. The VA provides Caregiver Support Coordinators to help with enrollment.
The National Alliance of Caregiving also provides access to no-cost respite care for military or Veteran caregivers.
The VA provides housing assistance through a variety of loans and programs to help Veterans with disabilities, Veterans facing homelessness, and aging Veterans:
The VA partners with other organizations to provide resources to Veterans and their families. To learn about these benefits, sign up for the monthly newsletter. Benefits have included discounts on Amazon Prime membership and Amtrak, free yoga, help to quit smoking, free flu shots, service dogs, free toolboxes, and much more. Download a free VA Welcome Kit.
Other examples of partnerships:
The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) includes Military Caregiver Leave, which allows a spouse, parent, child, or next of kin to care for a qualifying Veteran, and receive up to 26 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave from work, in a 12-month period.
The FMLA may also provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave when urgent demands arise out of the foreign deployment of the employee’s spouse, child, or parent. This urgent need is called a “qualifying exigency.”
Veterans with disabilities are protected from discrimination in the workplace under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA requires employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate Veterans with disabilities and provides up to 2 years for Veterans to return to their jobs. USERRA also requires employers to reemploy qualified returning service members in the same jobs, with the same seniority, status, and pay.
For information about employment rights: TriageCancer.org/Employment.
More military and veterans resources from Triage Cancer
Last reviewed for updates: 01/2022
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