What Benefits Are Veterans Eligible For?
Compensation & Pension
Disability Compensation
VA disability compensation is a tax-free payment made to Veterans who were injured or became ill during active-duty service. Veterans may qualify for disability compensation for physical and mental health conditions, such as PTSD or Anxiety. There may also be consideration given to conditions that existed prior to military service that were aggravated while on active duty. The injuries, illnesses, and incidents should be documented in the Veterans’ service treatment record (STR). To learn more about VA disability compensation, please visit: https://www.va.gov/disability/.
Pension
Health & Benefits
Health & Benefits
There are three separate branches of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
There are three separate branches of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
- Home Loan Guarantee
- Insurance
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
- Education
- Compensation and Pension
VBA is undergoing a major transformation that is a people-centric, results-oriented and forward-looking integration of solutions that will ensure total lifelong engagement with Service members, Veterans and their families.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is home to one of the United States’ largest integrated health care systems, consisting of 167 medical centers, more than 1,400 community-based outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers and Domiciliaries. Together these health care facilities and the more than 53,000 independent licensed health care practitioners who work within them provide comprehensive care to more than 9.1 million Veterans each year.
VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of its medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology and speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
In addition, VHA is responsible for biomedical research (under the Office of Research and Development), Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and Regional Medical Centers.
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
- NCA maintains approximately 3.4 million gravesites at 131 national cemeteries, one national Veterans’ burial ground, and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 40 states and Puerto Rico.
- Approximately 473,000 full-casket gravesites; 124,000 in-ground gravesites for cremated remains; and 154,000 columbarium niches are developed in VA’s 131 national cemeteries.
- NCA manages approximately 20,500 acres within its cemeteries. Approximately 57 percent are undeveloped and, along with available gravesites in developed acreage, have the potential to provide approximately 6.3 million gravesites.
- Of the 131 national cemeteries, 73 are open to all interments, including Yellowstone National Cemetery, NCA’s newest National Veterans Burial Ground serving Veterans in rural Montana.
Education & Employment
Education & Employment
GI Bill Benefits
Eligibility
Find out if you’re eligible for GI Bill or other VA education benefits.
How to Apply
Learn how to prepare and apply for the GI Bill or other VA education and training benefits.
After You Apply
Find out when to expect a decision from us on your application and what to do next.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
Check if you qualify for help exploring employment options, any training you may need, and other vocational rehabilitation services.
Educational and Career Counseling (Chapter 36)
Find out how to get free educational and career counseling if you are leaving active service soon, have been discharged within the past year, or are a Veteran or dependent who is eligible for VA education benefits.
VA Education Benefits for Dependents and Survivors
Find out if you’re eligible for Veteran dependent or survivor education benefits through a GI Bill program.
Other Educational Assistance Programs
Find out if you’re eligible for programs that provide added GI Bill benefits. If you’re not eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, learn about other VA education benefit programs for Veterans and National Guard or Reserve members.
Veterans Preference
Veterans Preference
When You Apply For A Federal Job
When You Apply For A Federal Job
0-Point Preference
If you are classified as having a 0-point preference, you are evaluated on the basis of your qualifications only. When applying for a job, you must submit Form DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to document your discharge under honorable or general conditions.
5-Point Preference
You are eligible for 5-point preference if you served during any of the following:
- During a war
- From April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955
- For 180 or more consecutive days after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976
- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through Jan 2, 1992
- For 180 or more consecutive days between September 11, 2001, and the date prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law as the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom
- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or between April 28, 1952, and July 1, 1955
To pursue a 5-point preference, you must submit Form DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to document your discharge under honorable or general conditions.
10-Point Preference
You are eligible for 10-point preference if you served at any time and you have a service-connected disability or received a Purple Heart.
To pursue 10-point preference, you must submit:
- Form DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to document your discharge under honorable or general conditions
- Form SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference
- Letter from the VA Regional Office stating your disability rating
Disabled Veterans receive 10-point preference regardless of their disability rating. As a disabled Veteran, you can seek noncompetitive appointments for some positions within VA.