1. Who is eligible for Veteran Benefits?

People who fall under old GI Bills as well as new GI Bills, and those who fall under Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) are eligible for receiving veteran benefits.

2. What documents do I require to receive veteran benefits?

• Discharge A (WDAGO or DD214)
• Marriage certificate
• Death certificate (For immediate family member of veteran receiving benefits on behalf of the late veteran)
• Divorce Decree
• Veteran and widow’s Social Security Number
• Details of previous marriages
• Current monthly income
• Financial Institution information

 

3. What do I do if I do not have my DD 214?

Request for a copy of the form from Military Service records from this website - http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html

You need to provide information about your service to the military. For instance, the date you joined the military, home address at the time you joined, your social security number etc. to get the discharge form.

4.What do I do if I do not have my SSN card?

You need to request for a replacement card from social security number office website – http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

Fill the SS–5 form. Again you are required to provide several documents like passport, license, military records school identity cards etc.

5. Where will I get a copy of my birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, if I do not have one?

You will have to go to the following website an order to get those certificates. Generally you can get your certificate within 2-3 working days. http://www.usbirthcertificate.net/site/othercert.html

6. How do I apply for veteran benefits?

You could go to one of the following four veteran affairs offices –

• Hanover Red Cross Red Lion Senior Center
• York Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic
• York County Department of Veteran Affairs

And fill the form manually. You could also go online and fill a form, print it sign it and give it at one of the offices mentioned above.

7. What is a Presidential Memorial Certificate?

A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans. This program was initiated in March 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and has been continued by all subsequent Presidents. Statutory authority for the program is Section 112, Title 38, of the United States Code. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the PMC program by preparing the certificates that bear the President’s signature expressing the country’s grateful recognition of the veteran’s service in the United States Armed Forces. Eligible recipients include the deceased veteran’s next of kin and loved ones. More than one certificate may be provided. Eligible recipients, or someone acting on their behalf, may apply for a PMC in person at any VA regional office or by U.S. mail only. Requests cannot be sent via email. There is no form to use when requesting a PMC. Include a return mailing address with your request and a copy of the veteran’s discharge documents. Please send your PMC request to:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (403A) 810 Vermont Ave., NW Washington, DC 20420

8. If my service-connected condition becomes worse, will the VA automatically increase my rating?

No. You must reopen your claim if your condition has worsened. The best way to do this is to contact a veteran service organization or your County Director of Veterans' Affairs. To request an increase in your percent of disability file a VA Form 21-4138 "Statement in Support of Claim." You may also use a blank sheet of paper to provide the pertinent information. The first paragraph should read "I am requesting reevaluation of my
service-connected disability".

You need not submit conclusive evidence that a compensable condition has increased in severity. To persuade the VA to authorize a VA examination to assess the severity of the condition, you need only to submit evidence that leads the VA to conclude there is the "reasonable probability of a valid claim". The VA may accept a private medical statement, a lay statement, and even your own statement that the service-connected disability has increased in severity. Even a sketchy medical statement that you are being treated for the service-connected condition will almost always result in a VA examination.

9. Over the past several years, my service-connected conditions have gotten so severe; I can no longer make a living wage. Should I inform the VA?

Yes, there is a benefit called individual employability (IU). IU exists as a concept to cover the situation in which a service-connected disability makes the veteran unemployable, even though an average person with a similar impairment could secure and retain substantial gainful employment. Since the rating schedule focuses on the average person, the concept of IU is necessary to take into account circumstances such as education and past employment history that are peculiar to the claimant and to implement "the established policy of the Department of Veterans' Affairs that all veterans who are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities shall be rated totally disabled." If IU is granted your total rating will be 100%. Basically, you must be currently rated 70% disabled overall or 60% for a single issue to be eligible for this benefit.

10. What is VA pension?

Permanently and totally disabled veterans with low income may qualify for a non-service connected disability pension if they served at least 90 days on active duty with one day during a period of war. The amount paid by the VA's Improved Pension Program varies depending on whether a veteran has dependents; and/or has other sources of income, including other retirement or Social Security income. Unreimbursed medical and health insurance expenses may reduce countable income.

11. I asked about this pension a few years ago. I was told my income was too high. Now I need the assistance of others to care for me. Is there any help available?

These are two separate types of VA allowances that can be added to non-service related pensions. To qualify, veterans must be permanently housebound because of health reasons or need assistance with care from another person (Aid and Attendance). These allowances are intended to keep the veteran as independent as possible in a community setting. They are available to veterans who live at home or in a licensed long-term care setting (e.g., a personal care or assisted living facility, an adult foster care home or a nursing home).