BENEFITS
Eligibility Eligibility
for most federal and state benefits is based on discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions.
Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned
officer of the public health service, the Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Current and former members of the Selected Reserve may be eligible for certain benefits, such as home loan guaranties and
education, if they meet time-in-service and other criteria. Men and women veterans with similar service are entitled to the
same federal and state veterans benefits.
Health Benefits The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides a broad spectrum of medical,
surgical, and rehabilitative care to its customers. Our goal is to share information about these benefits and services to
make it as easy as possible for you to receive the care you need.
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Disability Compensation (Service Connection)
Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled
by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. The service of the veteran must have been terminated
through separation or discharge under conditions that were other than dishonorable. Disability compensation varies with the
degree of disability and the number of dependants, and is paid monthly. The benefits are not subject to federal or state income
tax. The payment of retirement pay, disability severance pay and separation incentive payments known as SSB and VSI (Special
Separation Benefits and Voluntary Separation Incentives) also affects the amount of VA compensation paid.
Non-service Connected Pension
Veterans with low
incomes who are permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active
military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war. The discharge from active duty must have been under
conditions other than dishonorable. The permanent and total disabilities must be for reasons other than the veteran's own
willful misconduct. Payments are made to qualified veterans to bring their total income, including retirement and Social Security
income, to a level set by Congress. Unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce countable income. Veterans of a period of war
who are age 65 or older and meet service and income requirements are also eligible to receive a pension, regardless of current
physical condition.
Education Virginia Military Survivors
and Dependents Education Program
The Military Survivors
and Dependents Program (MSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing
in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict.
Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, the Virginia National
Guard, or the Virginia National Guard Reserves. Armed conflict includes military operations against terrorism or as the result
of a terrorist act, a peace-keeping mission, or any armed conflict after December 6, 1941. This program may pay for tuition
and fees at any state-supported college or university. This program waives tuition and fees in Virginia. Benefits are available
for up to four years.
Eligibility Requirements
To
be eligible, children and spouses of qualifying military service members must meet the following requirements.The child must be between ages 16 and 29; There are no age restrictions for spouses.The military service member is and must have been a Virginia citizen at the time
he or she entered active duty or must have been a Virginia citizen for at least five years immediately prior to the date of
the application for admission.
In
the case of a deceased military service member the veteran’s surviving spouse can meet the residency requirements if
he or she lived in Virginia for at least five years prior to marrying the military service member or has been a citizen of
Virginia for at least five years immediately prior to the date of application.
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Required Documentation
In most cases, eligibility will be determined using documentation from the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. However, the veteran or surviving spouse may be asked to provide documentation verifying residency or the
applicant’s age or relationship. State income tax records, birth certificates, and/or marriage certificates are usually
sufficient.
Recertification
To continue
receiving MSDEP benefits, qualifying enrolled students must provide a letter to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
stating their continued enrollment, the period of time attended, and the period of time for which they are requesting benefits.
For
More Information
To learn more about the VMSDE program, Phone: (540) 597-1730 Voice: (540) 875-7573
Hours: Monday through Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Virginia Department of Veterans Services
270 Franklin Road, S.W., 8th Floor
Roanoke,
VA 24011
Honorary Diplomas
Veteran Honorary High School Diplomas
recognize the life experiences of veterans who were unable to complete their high school education because of service in the
armed forces during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Since the first honorary diplomas were issued in 2001,
more than 1,000 have been awarded to veterans of these three wars.
To
obtain an honorary diploma, a veteran may submit a statement to the Veterans Education Unit of the Virginia Department of
Education describing his or her service, the location of the last school attended, and affirming that he or she was unable
to complete high school upon return to civilian life. The guidelines also allow family members and veterans’ organizations
to submit this information on behalf of the veteran.
Veterans
Honorary High School Diploma Program
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120
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Virginia Employment Commission (VEC)
VEC provides
job referral and placement resources available to assist veterans in finding jobs. Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs)
and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) staff are available in most VEC offices to assist veterans with employment services
Department of Human Resource Management - Veteran Outreach Services
The Department of Human Resource Management places great importance on providing veterans access to
information about employment services and assistance.
Home Loan Guaranties The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) makes loan guaranties to service
members, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes, condominiums, manufactured homes
and for refinancing loans. VA guaranties part of a total loan, permitting the purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive
interest rate, even without a down payment if the lender agrees. VA requires that a down payment be made for the purchase
of a manufactured home. VA also requires a down payment for a home or condo if the purchase price exceeds the reasonable value
of the property, or if the loan has a graduated payment feature. With a VA guaranty, the lender is protected against loss
up to the amount of the guaranty if the borrower fails to repay the loan. A VA loan guaranty can be used to:
- buy a home
- buy a residential condominium
- build a home
- repair, alter, or improve
a home
- refinance an existing home loan
- buy a manufactured home with or without a lot
- buy and improve a manufactured home lot
- install a solar heating
or cooling system or other weatherization improvements
- purchase and improve a home simultaneously with energy-efficient improvements
- refinance an existing
VA loan to reduce the interest rate and make energy-efficient improvements
- refinance a manufactured home loan to acquire a
lot
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