Millions of Americans have served in the United States military. According to the most recent U.S. Census, CNN reports that upwards of 17 million Americans are veterans. In addition, more than 50 percent of these veterans receive one or more services or benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Let’s explore what some of the benefits available to veterans are.
Before exploring some of the specific programs that are available to help veterans and their families, it is important to note who technically qualifies for these benefits. Almost everyone who served in the U.S. military will be eligible for the benefits highlighted below. However, the most important qualification is a person’s military discharge. To qualify, a person must have an honorable or general discharge. A dishonorable discharge will disqualify a person from almost all benefits. In addition to discharge status, the government will also ensure that the person meets the minimum time of service required.
For many years, the VA’s medical system seemed to be overwhelmed, and many veterans expressed extreme dissatisfaction with their care, especially for mental health issues. However, in recent years, the federal government has recognized the importance of providing the country’s veterans with outstanding medical care and there have been numerous upgrades in the care provided.
The Department of Veterans Affairs places veterans in what it terms a priority group. There are eight priority groups, labeled 1-8. The priority group an individual is placed in will determine the type of care that they qualify for and the costs, if any, that they must pay for that care. Most veterans who were injured or disabled in the military will qualify for free care to treat these injuries. Priority group placement also depends on the type of military service that a person had and their current income level.
Individuals in priority groups 1 – 3 generally have varying degrees of disability, ranging from 10 percent to more, have been a prisoner of war, or alternatively, they have received awards such as a Purple Heart or Medal of Honor.
In recent years, the vast majority, upwards of 80 percent, of veterans are satisfied with the care that they receive from the VA. They are also mostly pleased with how the cost of their care compares with private insurance. In fact, experts seem to concur with their conclusions, stating that access and quality are high in the VA system. The medical benefits veterans are privy to include:
Educational programs are one of the most important incentives that drive many people to enlist in the military. These educational benefits are referred to as the GI Bill, which first came into existence after World War II. The GI Bill is an umbrella term, but there are many specific programs that fall under this large umbrella. These programs are listed below:
The military may also offer tutoring assistance and other support to individuals who may be struggling with their coursework.
Another educational benefit program is specially set up to help educate the children of parent(s) who died in duty. This program is commonly known as the DEA, or Dependents’ Education Assistance. Also, the U.S. military increasingly recognizes that college may not be everyone’s specific road to future success. Because of that, programs have become increasingly flexible in recent years. Funds can now be used for vocational and professional schools, as well as for internships.
The U.S. military recognizes that financial security is essential for many of its veterans. One of the most effective ways to provide for financial security is via pension plans. The benefits programs are available to individuals over the age of 65. People also need to meet service requirements. An eligible individual will have served at least 90 days in total and at least one day in an active war zone.
There are other restrictions on participation in the plan. An individual must meet strict maximum income levels to qualify. The eligible individual must also have served a specified number of active service days during certain time periods. More information about these requirements can be found online.
Home loans are another important added perk that veterans may qualify for via the United States’ government. In fact, many veterans believe that this is the most important benefit. Under a VA home loan, veterans may purchase a home with $0 down. Also, a veteran who qualifies for this loan will not need to pay traditional mortgage insurance (PMI). Under PMI, individuals need to buy insurance if they do not put at least 20 percent down on a property. This insurance is to protect against possible foreclosures.
It is worth noting that more than 20 million veterans have qualified for this attractive loan program since it was first launched decades ago.
The chart below lists what VA loan centers cover which geographic areas of the country:
STATE | COUNTY | 2019 VA LIMIT | Regional Loan Center |
AK | ALEUTIANS EAST | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | ALEUTIANS WEST | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | ANCHORAGE | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | BETHEL | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | BRISTOL BAY | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | DENALI | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | DILLINGHAM | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | FAIRBANKS NORTH | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | HAINES | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | HOONAH-ANGOON | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | JUNEAU | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | KENAI PENINSULA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | KETCHIKAN GATEWAY | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | KODIAK ISLAND | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | KUSILVAK CENSUS AREA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | LAKE AND PENINSULA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | MATANUSKA-SUSITNA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | NOME | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | NORTH SLOPE | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | NORTHWEST ARCTIC | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | PETERSBURG CENSUS AREA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | PRINCE OF WALES-HYDER | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | SITKA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | SKAGWAY MUNICIPALITY | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | SOUTHEAST FAIRBANKS | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | VALDEZ-CORDOVA | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | WRANGELL CITY/BOROUGH | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | YAKUTAT CITY | $726,525 | DENVER |
AK | YUKON-KOYUKUK | $726,525 | DENVER |
CA | ALAMEDA | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | CONTRA COSTA | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | EL DORADO | $552,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | LOS ANGELES | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | MARIN | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | MONO | $529,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | MONTEREY | $652,050 | PHOENIX |
CA | NAPA | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | NEVADA | $486,450 | PHOENIX |
CA | ORANGE | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | PLACER | $552,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | SACRAMENTO | $552,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | SAN BENITO | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | SAN DIEGO | $690,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | SAN FRANCISCO | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | SAN LUIS OBISPO | $667,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | SAN MATEO | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | SANTA BARBARA | $625,500 | PHOENIX |
CA | SANTA CLARA | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | SANTA CRUZ | $726,525 | PHOENIX |
CA | SOLANO | $494,500 | PHOENIX |
CA | SONOMA | $704,950 | PHOENIX |
CA | VENTURA | $713,000 | PHOENIX |
CA | YOLO | $552,000 | PHOENIX |
CO | ADAMS | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | ARAPAHOE | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | BOULDER | $626,750 | DENVER |
CO | BROOMFIELD | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | CLEAR CREEK | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | DENVER | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | DOUGLAS | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | EAGLE | $696,900 | DENVER |
CO | ELBERT | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | GARFIELD | $718,750 | DENVER |
CO | GILPIN | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | JEFFERSON | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | LAKE | $625,500 | DENVER |
CO | PARK | $561,200 | DENVER |
CO | PITKIN | $718,750 | DENVER |
CO | ROUTT | $625,500 | DENVER |
CO | SAN MIGUEL | $625,500 | DENVER |
CO | SUMMIT | $625,500 | DENVER |
CT | FAIRFIELD | $601,450 | CLEVELAND |
DC | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
FL | MONROE | $529,000 | ST. PETERSBURG |
GA | GREENE | $515,200 | ATLANTA |
GU | GUAM | $726,525 | HONOLULU |
HI | HAWAII | $726,525 | HONOLULU |
HI | HONOLULU | $726,525 | HONOLULU |
HI | KALAWAO | $726,525 | HONOLULU |
HI | KAUAI | $726,525 | HONOLULU |
HI | MAUI | $726,525 | HONOLULU |
ID | BLAINE | $625,500 | DENVER |
ID | CAMAS | $625,500 | DENVER |
ID | LINCOLN | $625,500 | DENVER |
ID | TETON | $726,525 | DENVER |
MA | DUKES | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
MA | ESSEX | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
MA | MIDDLESEX | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
MA | NANTUCKET | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
MA | NORFOLK | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
MA | PLYMOUTH | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
MA | SUFFOLK | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
MD | ANNE ARUNDEL | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MD | BALTIMORE | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MD | BALTIMORE CITY | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MD | CALVERT | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
MD | CARROLL | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MD | CHARLES | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
MD | FREDERICK | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
MD | HARFORD | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MD | HOWARD | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MD | MONTGOMERY | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
MD | PRINCE GEORGE’S | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
MD | QUEEN ANNE’S | $517,500 | ROANOKE |
MP | NORTHERN ISLAND | $524,400 | HONOLULU |
MP | SAIPAN | $529,000 | HONOLULU |
MP | TINIAN | $532,450 | HONOLULU |
NC | CAMDEN | $625,500 | ATLANTA |
NC | PASQUOTANK | $625,500 | ATLANTA |
NC | PERQUIMANS | $625,500 | ATLANTA |
NH | ROCKINGHAM | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
NH | STRAFFORD | $688,850 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | BERGEN | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | ESSEX | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | HUDSON | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | HUNTERDON | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | MIDDLESEX | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | MONMOUTH | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | MORRIS | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | OCEAN | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | PASSAIC | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | SOMERSET | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | SUSSEX | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NJ | UNION | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | BRONX | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | DUTCHESS | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | KINGS | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | NASSAU | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | NEW YORK | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | ORANGE | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | PUTNAM | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | QUEENS | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | RICHMOND | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | ROCKLAND | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | SUFFOLK | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
NY | WESTCHESTER | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
PA | PIKE | $726,525 | CLEVELAND |
TN | CANNON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | CHEATHAM | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | DAVIDSON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | DICKSON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | HICKMAN | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | MACON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | MAURY | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | ROBERTSON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | RUTHERFORD | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | SMITH | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | SUMNER | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | TROUSDALE | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | WILLIAMSON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
TN | WILSON | $534,750 | ROANOKE |
UT | SALT LAKE | $600,300 | DENVER |
UT | SUMMIT | $726,525 | DENVER |
UT | TOOELE | $600,300 | DENVER |
VA | ALEXANDRIA | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | AMELIA | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | ARLINGTON | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | CAROLINE | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | CHARLES CITY | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | CHESTERFIELD | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | CLARKE | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | COLONIAL HEIGHTS | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | CULPEPER | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | CUMBERLAND | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | DINWIDDIE | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | FAIRFAX | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | FAIRFAX INDEPENDENT CITY | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | FALLS CHURCH | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | FAUQUIER | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | FREDERICKSBURG | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | GOOCHLAND | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | HANOVER | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | HENRICO | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | HOPEWELL | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | KING AND QUEEN | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | KING WILLIAM | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | LOUDOUN | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | LOUISA | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | MANASSAS | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | MANASSAS PARK | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | NEW KENT | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | PETERSBURG | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | POWHATAN | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | PRINCE GEORGE | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | PRINCE WILLIAM | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | RAPPAHANNOCK | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | RICHMOND INDEPENDENT CITY | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | SPOTSYLVANIA | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | STAFFORD | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VA | SUSSEX | $535,900 | ROANOKE |
VA | WARREN | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
VI | ST. CROIX | $726,525 | ST. PETERSBURG |
VI | ST. JOHN | $726,525 | ST. PETERSBURG |
VI | ST. THOMAS | $726,525 | ST. PETERSBURG |
WA | KING | $726,525 | DENVER |
WA | PIERCE | $726,525 | DENVER |
WA | SNOHOMISH | $726,525 | DENVER |
WV | JEFFERSON | $726,525 | ROANOKE |
WY | TETON | $726,525 | DENVER |
Below are the contact details for each of these loan centers:
Cleveland
Address: Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Loan Center, 1240 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44199
Denver
Denver Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Loan Center, 155 Van Gordon Street, Lakewood, CO 80228 (Mail: Box 25126, Denver, CO 80225)
Honolulu
Honolulu Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Office Loan Guaranty Division (26), 459 Patterson Rd., Honolulu, HI 96819
Phoenix
Phoenix Department of Veterans Affairs VA Regional Loan Center, 3333 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85012-2402
Roanoke
Roanoke Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Loan Center, 210 First Street Roanoke, VA 24011 Mailing Address: 116 N. Jefferson Street Roanoke, VA 24016
St. Paul
St. Paul Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Loan Center, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling. St. Paul, MN 55111 (Mail: P.O. Box 1437, St. Petersburg, FL 33731)
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Loan Center, 9500 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33708 (Mail: P.O. Box 1437, St. Petersburg, FL 33731)
Burying a loved one in the United States can be extremely costly. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes this and looks for ways to make the process more affordable for its veterans. One way that this is accomplished is by giving free-of-charge headstones to the buried individual. There are other honors that a buried veteran may receive.
For example:
The programs highlighted above are important benefits that the Department of Veterans Affairs offers to individuals who have sacrificed for the country.
In the past, people applied via the VONAPP web platform. However, this platform has been entirely phased out. Instead, you should use the links below to apply for the appropriate benefits for yourself or a loved one.
There are several links to follow to apply for educational benefits:
The U.S. military’s men and women have sacrificed so much to keep our nation and way of life safe. To honor this, the United States’ government has set up a variety of benefit programs and incentives to help them in a wide range of areas.