Dependents are generally not entitled to VA home loan benefits. There is an exception for certain qualifying surviving spouses of military members who have died as a result of military service. These benefits must be applied for by the surviving spouse and are not automatic. This section can be confusing for those new to veteran benefits programs. They can be transferred to dependents including spouses and college-age children, but only while the service member is on active duty.
Doing so requires a revised service commitment and you must serve a minimum time on active duty. VA life insurance is provided specifically for the veteran. VA disability pay itself is reserved for veterans.
You must file a claim for service-connected medical conditions as part of your discharge process or shortly afterward, and the VA has the final determination as to what will be compensated, how, and for how long. Spouses and dependents do not qualify for this compensation. Military members who qualify for VA compensation for their medical issues may also be entitled to additional financial consideration if they have a severely disabled spouse.
This is handled on a case-by-case basis and is not automatic. Primary caregivers including family members may qualify for VA disability benefits relating to the care of a disabled veteran. Anything other than a Dishonorable discharge qualifies a veteran to be considered for VA pension benefits and services.
The VA Disability Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are no longer able to work. You may be eligible for a VA disability pension if you served 90 days or more of active duty with at least one day of military service during a wartime period.
Other qualifying criteria include being permanently and totally disabled or being age 65 or older with family income below a federal cap. Those without military discharges civilian spouses, dependents are not eligible to receive this specific VA benefit. In general, a veteran must have any military discharge other than dishonorable conditions to qualify for VA health care.
Even within the health care and education programs are little-known benefits to improve the lives of veterans and help ease the financial burden of medical care or other expenses.
Long-term care is expensive, but often necessary to provide care for aging relatives. Through the Aid and Attendance program , many veterans are eligible to receive money to cover the cost of nursing homes, assisted living programs and other long-term care options. Should you choose to take care of an ailing Veteran at home, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a caregiver support program. While this program does not offer any monetary support to caregivers, they are provided with a free support line and a caregiver support coordinator to help navigate military benefits and the stress of care giving.
When a veteran dies, families have a few unique benefits available to them. The Department of Veterans Affairs also provides free headstones or grave markers. This benefit will work well for veterans who wish to change careers or pursue a career path that does not require a college degree.
Lastly, there are several free it certifications available to veterans. Unused credits through the GI Bill may be transferred to spouses and dependents of veterans. There are service limits required to transfer the benefits. Veterans and their family have access to free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance offices on military bases. That law also provided that the Secretary of Defense could determine that service for the Armed Forces by a group of civilians or contractors be considered active service for benefits administered by the VA.
Based on the provisions of P. If these groups are considered to be active duty by the Secretary, they are eligible to receive certain benefits, including health care.
Regulations implementing P. Changes and clarification to the regulations were implemented in in response to "a Federal Court determination [ Schumacher v. Aldridge ] 38 that the Department of Defense had failed to clarify factors and criteria in their implementing directive concerning P. Civilian groups granted veterans status pursuant to P. Pursuant to legislation enacted on May 20, P. Merchant mariners are civilians who engage in certain maritime activities, such as the transportation of military equipment by sea, in support of the armed forces.
In general, merchant mariners are not considered veterans for the purposes of any VA benefits. However, pursuant to regulations promulgated in accordance with P. For example, to be entitled to receive disability compensation, a veteran must provide sufficient evidence of certain elements e.
For example, National Guard and Reserve duty may not be considered active service unless an individual performing this duty was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. Active duty for training is a tour of active duty that is used for training members of reserve and other components to fill the Armed Forces during time of war or national emergency.
Active duty for training means 1 full-time duty for training performed by Reservists 38 U. Inactive duty for training has been defined to mean 1 duty, other than full-time duty, for Reservists 38 U. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts. Military personnel who served in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, , and May 7, , are also considered to have served during the Vietnam Era.
The termination date for the Persian Gulf War period has not yet been established. Inactive duty includes duty other than full-time duty, such as weekend assignments or part-time details. Specific rules regarding what type of service qualifies is provided at 53 Federal Register February 1, Topic Areas About Donate. Download PDF. Download EPUB. Who Is a "Veteran"? Contents Introduction Who Is a "Veteran"? Summary The U. Introduction The U. Length of Service Criteria for Veteran Status For people who enlisted prior to September 8, , no minimum length of service is necessary to be considered a veteran for most VA benefits.
Congress has designated eight wartime periods: Indian Wars —January 1, , through December 31, ; 25 Spanish-American War —April 21, , through July 4, ; 26 Mexican Border Period —May 19, , though April 5, ; 27 World War I —in general, April 6, , through November 11, ; extended to later dates under certain conditions; 28 World War II —December 7, , through December 31, ; extended through July 25, , for veterans in service on December 31, ; 29 Korean Conflict —June 27, , through January 31, ; 30 Vietnam Era —in general, August 5, , through May 7, , but the period begins on February 28, , for veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period ; 31 Persian Gulf War —August 2, , through a date to be prescribed by presidential proclamation or law.
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