Veterans Benefits Guide: Programs and Services You Have Earned

If you served in the military, you may qualify for a wide range of benefits – from healthcare to education to housing assistance. Many veterans do not realize all the programs available to them. Here is an overview of key benefits.

VA Healthcare

The VA provides comprehensive healthcare including primary care, mental health services, specialty care, and prescription medications. Most veterans who served 24 months and received honorable discharge are eligible. Enroll at VA.gov or call VA.gov.

Disability Compensation

Monthly tax-free payments for service-connected disabilities. This includes physical injuries, mental health conditions like PTSD, and illnesses caused or worsened by military service. The amount depends on your disability rating.

Education Benefits

• GI Bill: Covers tuition, housing, and books for college or training
• VET TEC: Training for high-tech careers
• Vocational Rehabilitation: Help for veterans with disabilities

Housing Assistance

• VA Home Loans: No down payment mortgages
• SSVF: Supportive services for veteran families facing homelessness
• HUD-VASH: Housing vouchers combined with VA case management

Contact your local VA office or call the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1) if you need immediate help. You have served your country – now let it serve you.

VA Healthcare: Comprehensive Medical Benefits

The VA healthcare system is one of the most comprehensive benefits available to veterans. Once enrolled, you can access primary care, specialty care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, prescription medications, and preventive care. VA hospitals and clinics serve over nine million veterans nationwide. To enroll, you can apply online at va.gov, by phone at 1-877-222-8387, or in person at any VA medical facility. Most veterans who served on active duty and received an honorable or general discharge are eligible.

VA healthcare costs are based on a priority group system that considers your service-connected disabilities, income level, and other factors. Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 50 percent or higher receive free healthcare for all conditions. Those with lower disability ratings receive free care for their service-connected conditions and may have modest copays for other services. Even veterans without service-connected disabilities can qualify for VA care if their income is below local thresholds. The VA’s prescription drug benefit is especially valuable, with most medications costing just $11 for a 30-day supply.

Education and Training Benefits

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits including full tuition at public universities, a monthly housing allowance, and a books and supplies stipend. Veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001, are eligible, with benefits increasing based on length of service. The GI Bill can be used for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational and technical training, apprenticeships, flight school, and some licensing and certification exams.

The Veteran Readiness and Employment program (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation) provides additional support for veterans with service-connected disabilities who face barriers to employment. This program covers training costs, provides a monthly living allowance, and offers employment support services. Unlike the GI Bill, VR&E has no time limit for eligibility and can provide longer periods of training. The VA also offers the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship for veterans pursuing science, technology, engineering, or math degrees who have exhausted their GI Bill benefits.

Disability Compensation and Additional Benefits

VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for injuries or illnesses that occurred or worsened during military service. Disability ratings range from 0 to 100 percent in increments of 10, with monthly payments in 2024 ranging from approximately $171 for a 10 percent rating to $3,737 for a 100 percent rating for a single veteran. Higher payments are available for veterans with dependents. Common service-connected conditions include hearing loss, tinnitus, post-traumatic stress, knee and back injuries, and conditions related to toxic exposures.

Beyond healthcare and disability compensation, veterans can access VA home loans with no down payment required, life insurance programs, burial benefits, and survivors’ benefits for family members. The VA also provides aid and attendance benefits for veterans who need help with daily activities, pension benefits for wartime veterans with limited income, and caregiver support programs. Filing claims can be complex, so consider working with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) like the American Legion, VFW, or Disabled American Veterans. These organizations provide free claims assistance from trained advocates who understand the system and can help you get the benefits you have earned.

VA Healthcare: Comprehensive Medical Benefits

The VA healthcare system is one of the most comprehensive benefits available to veterans. Once enrolled, you can access primary care, specialty care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, prescription medications, and preventive care. VA hospitals and clinics serve over nine million veterans nationwide. To enroll, you can apply online at va.gov, by phone at 1-877-222-8387, or in person at any VA medical facility. Most veterans who served on active duty and received an honorable or general discharge are eligible.

VA healthcare costs are based on a priority group system that considers your service-connected disabilities, income level, and other factors. Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 50 percent or higher receive free healthcare for all conditions. Those with lower disability ratings receive free care for their service-connected conditions and may have modest copays for other services. Even veterans without service-connected disabilities can qualify for VA care if their income is below local thresholds. The VA’s prescription drug benefit is especially valuable, with most medications costing just $11 for a 30-day supply.

Education and Training Benefits

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits including full tuition at public universities, a monthly housing allowance, and a books and supplies stipend. Veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001, are eligible, with benefits increasing based on length of service. The GI Bill can be used for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational and technical training, apprenticeships, flight school, and some licensing and certification exams.

The Veteran Readiness and Employment program (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation) provides additional support for veterans with service-connected disabilities who face barriers to employment. This program covers training costs, provides a monthly living allowance, and offers employment support services. Unlike the GI Bill, VR&E has no time limit for eligibility and can provide longer periods of training. The VA also offers the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship for veterans pursuing science, technology, engineering, or math degrees who have exhausted their GI Bill benefits.

Disability Compensation and Additional Benefits

VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for injuries or illnesses that occurred or worsened during military service. Disability ratings range from 0 to 100 percent in increments of 10, with monthly payments in 2024 ranging from approximately $171 for a 10 percent rating to $3,737 for a 100 percent rating for a single veteran. Higher payments are available for veterans with dependents. Common service-connected conditions include hearing loss, tinnitus, post-traumatic stress, knee and back injuries, and conditions related to toxic exposures.

Beyond healthcare and disability compensation, veterans can access VA home loans with no down payment required, life insurance programs, burial benefits, and survivors’ benefits for family members. The VA also provides aid and attendance benefits for veterans who need help with daily activities, pension benefits for wartime veterans with limited income, and caregiver support programs. Filing claims can be complex, so consider working with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) like the American Legion, VFW, or Disabled American Veterans. These organizations provide free claims assistance from trained advocates who understand the system and can help you get the benefits you have earned.