Veterans' Benefits

Your armed forces service entitles you to certain benefits.

Since the 1930s, the Veterans' Administration and its successor, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) has provided a wide variety of health care, disability, educational, financial and other benefits to millions of America's military veterans and their dependents.

If you served in a branch of the military and received any kind of discharge other than dishonorable, chances are you are eligible for VA benefits. However, if you enlisted in the military after September 7, 1980, or if you were commissioned or entered active duty as an officer after October 16, 1981, you must have completed two years of active duty or the full period of your initial service obligation in order to be eligible, unless you have a service-connected disability or were discharged for disability or hardship late in your enlistment.

In addition, if you served in any of a number of civilian support groups during World War I or World War II, you may also be eligible for these benefits. In order to learn which of these groups have been certified as eligible to receive VA benefits, contact your local VA office, which can also provide you with information about how to obtain the discharge papers necessary for obtaining benefits.

The wide range of benefits available through the VA is too extensive to discuss in detail here, especially since not all veterans qualify for all the programs offered by the VA. You can obtain detailed information about benefits and your eligibility from the Department of Veterans' Affairs office in your area. To help the VA determine your eligibility for benefits, you will need a copy of your discharge form DD214. If you do not have this form, you will need to provide your name at the time of service, branch of service, dates of service and military identification number to the VA office.