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Compensation Benefits for Aging Veterans
There are numerous veteran benefits available to aging veterans, including some recently implemented programs. For many veterans, aging, along with changes in physical health and income, makes them eligible for benefits they previously didn’t qualify for years ago. Here’s some information about what’s now available. 1. The Injured Veterans Grant Program offers as much as $10,000 to those who sustained serious injuries during combat after 9/11. The Veterans Trust Fund is also available for various service-related causes. 2. Housing is another benefit. The Homeownership Assistance Grant for $5,000 is available for those purchasing a home in many states (not all). 3. The Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credit is a new benefit from 2014 that provides 100 percent exemption of property taxes for 100 percent disabled service-connected veterans and indemnity compensation recipients. The Property Tax Exemption will reduce a veteran’s assessed home value for property tax purposes by $1,850. To qualify, one must have service during war or 18 months of peacetime. 4. Many Veterans Residential Care Facilities have residential and nursing beds for honorably discharged veterans in many states. Ask your VSO for more information. 5. The Brandstad/Reynolds Scholarship Fund offers post-secondary scholarships to children of deceased military members who died during active status after 9/11. Children with a parent who was killed in action after 9/11 are eligible for up to $11,844 per year in tuition assistance at a post-secondary institution through War Orphans Education Aid. There is also a smaller benefit for children with a parent who died prior to 9/11. 6. The National Guard Tuition Benefits for members in good standing. 7. Many states provide honorary high school diplomas to qualifying veterans who didn’t graduate due to service. Again, see your VSO for details. 8. Lifetime hunting/fishing licenses at a reduced rate and specialty license plates are also available to eligible veterans. 9. Many of the veteran’s organization such as VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, etc. often donate $300-$400 (depending on the length of membership, usually a minimum of five years, and paid up dues status), to the surviving spouse or nearest surviving relative. Many of these organizations will also have a group perform a military honors ceremony at the gravesite of the deceased veteran, with flag presentation to the next of kin. 10. The Brig. General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey provides burial services at no cost to the family, along with military honors, to all veterans with legal residence in New Jersey, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or undesirable. Requests for burial may be made at the time of death through any funeral director.
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