Cold War Veterans Blog

VA Benefits

A useful Guide from VAJOE.com

Use the links below to learn about military benefits and to find tips for coping with common challenges of military life:

• VA Benefits Calculator

  Are you tired of sorting through files, paper work and brochures about VA Benefits? Do you even know which benefits you currently qualify for? With VAJoe’s new Benefits Calculator, you can find answers to all your questions in minutes. Our members have earned their benefits, but unfortunately we’ve found that many of them aren’t even aware of what they qualify for. Hopefully this can make it easier to identify and pursue your benefits.

• GI Bill and Other Educational Benefits

  You could be eligible for more than $50,000 in educational benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill, Armed Forces Tuition Assistance, VEAP, REAP, benefits offered by each service branch and dozens of other programs. Find out which programs will help pay for all or part of your education.

• VA Home Loans

  The Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees home loans for up to $417,000 for active duty servicemembers and veterans. VA home loans don’t require down payments or mortgage insurance, and you don’t need perfect credit to get a good interest rate. Learn about these and other advantages of a VA home loan.

• Military Pay

  Find out about active duty and reserves pay, and view the 2008 pay charts. Also learn about retirement pay and overseas pay, as well as information about Cost of Living increases and the Basic Allowance for Subsistence. If you’re curious about the Basic Allowance for Housing, use the online calculator to view your monthly rate.

• Life Insurance

  The armed forces offer four types of life insurance for servicemembers and veterans: Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) and Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI, also called RH). Learn the differences, advantages and benefits of each.

• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program

  The goal of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E) is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For those whose disabilities prevent them from working, the program will work with the veteran to help them lead a more independent life.

• Veterans Disability Benefits

  Wartime veterans older than 65 and who live on limited income may be eligible for up to $20,000 in an annual veteran disability pension. In fact, you don’t even have to be disabled to qualify. You could also be eligible for up to $2,300 in monthly benefits through veteran compensation benefits if you were injured or developed a disease while on active duty . If you were a victim of a sexual assault during active duty, you could be entitled to receive monthly compensation from the VA.

• Survivors and Dependents Benefits

  The VA provides several benefits for eligible survivors and dependents of deceased veterans. A veteran's spouse, children, and parents are all eligible to recieve compensation for the loss of their loved one. The VA also provides free counseling to friends and family members of the deceased veteran.

• TRICARE Facts

  TRICARE provides comprehensive health care services for servicemembers, retirees and their dependents through a network of authorized providers and military facilities. Servicemembers can choose from several plans to meet their needs. Reservists, National Guard members and their dependents also are eligible under certain conditions, and TRICARE has plans for retirees. Learn important facts about TRICARE eligibility, providers, enrollment and patient priority placement.

• TRICARE Plans

  Learn about the highlights, drawbacks and differences among the numerous TRICARE plans.

• CHAMPVA

  The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) covers dependents and survivors of certain veterans who are ineligible to receive health benefits under TRICARE. Although similar in many ways, CHAMPVA is not the same as TRICARE. CHAMPVA is a VA-run program for eligible dependents and survivors; while TRICARE is a regionally run, Department of Defense program catering to active duty servicemembers, retirees and their families.

• Veterans Health Programs

  Learn how to use health insurance available to all veterans, and programs for specific ailments, such as Agent Orange exposure, post-traumatic stress syndrome and radiation exposure.