Understanding VA Benefit Eligibility

Understanding Veterans' benefits can be complicated, especially when each benefit can have varying eligibility and application requirements. This guide outlines benefits offered through the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.

What Qualifies a Veteran for VA Benefits?

Eligibility varies depending on the type of benefit a Veteran is applying for. Generally, benefits offered by the VA require that a Veteran did not receive a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.

What Benefits Do You Lose with a Dishonorable Discharge?

Receiving a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge doesn’t automatically mean a Veteran is ineligible for VA benefits—but it does make the approval process more complex, and benefits aren’t guaranteed. Veterans who receive a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge can generally do one of the following:

• Apply for a discharge upgrade: Discharge upgrades go through the specific branch of the military the Veteran served in. Each branch has its own Discharge Review board (DRB) that evaluates upgrade requests. This changes the discharge status, which can allow the Veteran a wider range of benefits. If the discharge occurred more than 15 years ago, the request may be reviewed by the Board of Correction of Military Records (BCMR).
• Request a VA Character of Discharge review: These reviews are handled by the VA. This process does not change discharge status but instead evaluates whether a veteran’s service was honorable enough to qualify for benefits. The review considers the circumstances of service and discharge to determine eligibility.

1. Health Care Eligibility

The VA offers health care coverage to qualifying individuals. Health care benefits cover preventative care, inpatient hospital services, and urgent and emergency care. Mental health services assisted living and home health care, and prescriptions can also be covered.

Who Is Eligible

• Veterans: Individuals must meet specific service requirements based on their enlistment period. See the Veterans Affairs website for details.
• Reserve/National Guard: Current and former members must have been called to active duty by a federal order and served the time required by that order.

Who Is Not Eligible: Reserve and National Guard members whose only active duty was for training purposes.

Exceptions: A service requirement of two years (24 months) may not apply for Veterans who were discharged for a service-connected disability, hardship, early out, or served before Sept. 7, 1980.

Application

Use VA Form 10-10EZ. Income and expense information may be needed if eligibility can’t be verified otherwise.

2. Disability Compensation

VA disability compensation provides tax-free monthly payments to those with service-connected conditions.

Who Is Eligible

• Condition: Must have a current physical or mental health condition. One of the following must apply: condition began during service, or pre-existing condition worsened due to service, or condition developed after service, but is linked to service.
• Conditions automatically considered service-connected: Chronic illnesses that appear within one year of discharge, illnesses caused by hazardous exposure, conditions resulting from being a prisoner of war.
• Service: Must have served active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.

Application

Use VA Form 21-526EZ to apply for VA disability benefits.

3. Education & Training

Education and training benefits cover expenses for school or job training for eligible Veterans and their family members.

Who Is Eligible

• Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33): 90+ days of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, or 30 continuous days and discharged for a service-connected disability, or individuals who received a Purple Heart after Sept. 10, 2001.
• Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD): Individuals who have served at least two years on active duty and have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and did not opt out of MGIB-AD when starting active duty.
• Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR):  One of the following must be true: The individual has a six-year service obligation in the Selected Reserve or they’re an officer who agreed to serve six additional years beyond your initial obligation. In addition, all of the following must also be true:
  • The individual completed Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), and
  • earned a high school diploma or equivalent before finishing IADT, and
  • remains in good standing with their Selected Reserve unit.

Application

For education and training benefits, fill out form 22-1990. Veterans with service-connected disabilities who want to apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits, should fill out form 28-1990

4. Careers & Employment

Career and employment services are available to help Veterans with service-connected disabilities in exploring career opportunities and address education and training needs. In some cases, family members can also qualify for certain benefits.

Who Is Eligible

• Active-Duty Members: Pre-discharge disability rating of 20%+, awaiting discharge due to serious illness or injury, severely injured individuals may qualify automatically.
• Veterans: Service-connected disability rating of 10% or more.

Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD): File 90–180 days before separation to speed up benefits.

Time Limits: Individuals who are discharged before Jan. 1, 2013, have 12 years from separation or VA rating notice to utilize career and employment benefits. Individuals who are discharged on/after Jan. 1, 2013, have no time limit on the usage of career and employment benefits.

Application

Use VA Form 28-1900 to apply.

5. Housing Assistance (VA Home Loans)

Veterans, Servicemembers, and surviving spouses can use VA housing assistance to purchase a home or refinance a loan.

Who Is Eligible

• Active-Duty: Served at least 90 continuous days of active duty.
• Veterans: Minimum active-duty service requirements depend on when the Veteran served.
• National Guard: 90+ days of non-training active duty under Title 10, or 90+ days of active duty (with 30+ consecutive days) under Title 32 (sections 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505), or 6 creditable years in the National Guard and: Still serving or honorably discharged or retired.
• Reserves: 90+ days of non-training active duty, or 6 creditable years in the Selected Reserve and: Still serving or honorably discharged or retired.

Discharge Exceptions: You may still qualify if discharged for: Hardship, government convenience (served ≥20 months of a 2-year enlistment), early out (served ≥21 months of a 2-year enlistment), reduction in force, certain medical conditions, service-connected disability.

Application

Request a Certificate of Eligibility or fill out VA Form 26-1880

6. Pension Benefits

VA pensions are available for some wartime Veterans and their survivors. The pension program provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, as well as income or net worth thresholds.

Who Is Eligible

• Income & Net Worth: Must fall within limits set by Congress (excluding home, car, and basic furnishings; includes spouse’s net worth).
• Service Requirements: Active duty before Sept. 8, 1980: Served at least 90 days, with at least 1 day during wartime, or enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980: Served 24 months or full obligated period, with at least 1 day during wartime, or active duty officer after Oct. 16, 1981: No prior 24-month active duty service.
• Additional Criteria: At least one of the following must be true: Age 65 or older, or permanent and total disability, or in a nursing home for long-term disability care, or receiving SSDI or SSI

Application

To apply for VA pension benefits, fill out VA form 21P-527EZ

7. Life Insurance

The VA provides life insurance benefits designed to meet the needs of Veterans, Service Members, and their families.

Who Is Eligible

The VA offers various life insurance options covering Veterans, Service Members, and their family members. Individuals may also be eligible for short-term financial coverage when recovering from severe traumatic injuries.

• Servicemembers' Group life insurance: This life insurance is available to those who are currently serving
• Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI): This life insurance extends coverage to a spouse and dependent children.
• Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI): This life insurance offers short-term financial support to help those recovering from a severe injury.
• Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI): Group term life insurance for those who have ended their service
• Veterans Affairs Live Insurance (VALife): For those who have a service-connected disability, Veterans Affairs life insurance offers guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance.

8. Burials and Memorials

VA burial benefits assist Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families with planning and covering the expenses of burial or memorial services in a VA national cemetery.

Who Is Eligible

• Veterans: Did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
• Service Members: Died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.
• Spouses: Current or surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran (including those who remarried after the Veteran’s death).
• Dependents: Minor children or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children of an eligible Veteran.

Application

Fill out VA Form 40-10007

Family Benefits

VA benefits may be available to family members of Veterans, including spouses and dependent children. These benefits can consist of healthcare, life insurance, and education benefits

Survivor Benefits

 Survivors of Veterans and Service Members may qualify for added benefits including Survivors pension, dependency and indemnity compensation, or bereavement counseling.

How to Apply for VA Benefits

Applying for VA benefits can seem complex, but understanding the process makes it more manageable.

• Online Applications: Healthcare, disability, education and training, careers and employment, pension benefits, burial and memorials
• In-person Applications: Healthcare, education and training, pension benefits, housing assistance
• Mail-In Applications: Healthcare, disability, education and training, careers and employment, pension benefits, housing assistance, burial and memorials
• Phone Applications: Healthcare, disability
• Fax Applications: Disability, burial and memorials
• Apply with the Help of a Trained Professional: Education and training, careers and employment, pension

Once VA benefit applications are submitted, individuals can check claim, decision, review, or appeals status online for certain benefits. Individuals can also call the VA and speak to a representative to check claim decision, review, and appeal status for other benefits.

For the most up-to-date and in-depth information regarding benefits for Veterans, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. To learn more about resources available to Veterans, visit our Veteran Resources page.