Having a loved one in service is already difficult for most families, but having to deal with their sometimes imminent death could be more than what they can handle. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs takes care of the veterans’ dependents and survivors by providing them with certain benefits.

Most benefits are the same regardless of whether the member in service or veteran died while in active service or during civilian life. However, to know more about the specifics, dependents and survivors can click on the Death in Service link or the Death After Service link.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is payable to certain survivors of service members who died on active duty, veterans who died from service-related disabilities and certain veterans who were being paid 100% Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation at the time of death.

Other benefits include Death Pension, which is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans, depending on the family’s financial need; Parents’ DIC, which is payable to some surviving parents, based on financial need; the CHAMPVA or the VA Civilian Health and Medical Program, which shares in the medical expenses of eligible dependents and survivors; Education and Training, for some eligible family members of disabled or deceased veterans; Home Loans, for certain surviving spouses; and Time Limits, or the duration in which the application for certain benefits remains applicable.

For more information on Survivor Benefits, visit this link.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers home loan services to eligible individuals, such as veterans, military personnel and surviving spouses. To know whether you are qualified for a VA home loan, visit this link.

Before you apply for a VA home loan, it is important to go through these pre-loan FAQs to understand more about this service and get a brief overview of the VA Guaranteed Home Loan, pre-purchase counseling, entitlement and steps in and benefits of obtaining a VA Home Loan.

There are three basic types of home loans being offered by the VA: Guaranteed Loans, wherein the VA can guarantee part of a loan from a private lender; Refinancing Loans, wherein the VA can help you refinance your existing mortgage at a lower interest rate; and Special Grants, wherein certain individuals can receive grants to acquire housing.

For more information on VA Home Loan Benefits, visit their website at www.homeloans.va.gov or call their toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000. You can also access online pamphlets on the VA Home Loan Program here.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs allows eligible veterans, reserve and active duty members to undergo approved education and training programs, depending on the type of military service.

There are different programs made available, such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing. Approved training under this program includes undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as vocational or technical training.

The Montgomery GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits, which can be used for degrees, certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship and correspondence courses.

The Reserved Educational Assistance Program provides for educational benefits for members of the Reserve who are called into active duty.

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program offers up to 45 months of educational benefits to eligible dependents of veterans who died on active duty or those who have been permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition.

In order for eligible veterans to claim their education and training benefits, they must apply within 10 years upon being released from active duty; for the Reserve and National Guard members, they have until 14 years from the date of their eligibility, unless they leave before completing their obligation.

For more information on VA Education & Training Benefits, click on this link.

The matter of death and dying is still taboo for some people, but for those who are in service, especially those who risk their lives, it is important for them and their family to understand the benefits that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have for them in terms of death and burial.

In honor of the Nation’s deceased veterans, the Veterans Affairs (VA) offers headstones and markers as a monument to mark the grave of an eligible veteran. A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC), which is a gold-embossed certification with the veterans name and bearing the signature of the current U.S. President, can also be provided by the VA for those eligible. An American flag can also be provided for the burial, to be draped above the eligible veteran’s casket. Most veterans and some dependents can be buried in a VA National Cemetery.

To help somehow financially help relieve the family, the VA generally pays a burial allowance of $2,000 for veterans who passed away from service-related causes. For other veterans, the VA can pay $300 for the burial and funeral expenses and another $300 for the burial plot. There is no time limit for the family to claim reimbursement for a service-related death. Otherwise, there stands a two-year time limit for claiming funeral- and burial-related expenses.

For more information on Burial Benefits, visit their website at www.cem.va.gov.

Because of the nature of their work, individuals in service are offered certain benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These benefits include hospital, outpatient medical, pharmacy and prosthetic services; domiciliary, nursing home and community-based residential care; specialized health care for women veterans; health and rehabilitation programs; alcohol and drug dependency treatment programs; and medical evaluation for those who served in the Gulf War, who were exposed to Agent Orange, radiation and other environmental hazards.

Combat veterans, or those who served in a theater of combat operations from November 11, 1998, are also provided of free health care, with five years to enroll, from the date of discharge from active duty.

For a complete list of medical benefits available for veterans, click on this link. For more information on health care and other medical benefits, click on this link. For concerns on Benefits, you may also call 1-800-827-1000. For Health Care, you may call 1-877-222-8387 (VETS).

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a wide range of benefits to eligible individuals. To qualify, one must first be either of the following: a veteran, a veteran’s dependent, a surviving spouse, child or parent of a deceased veteran, an active duty military service member, or a member of the Reserve or National Guard.

To know more about VA Health Care Eligibility and Enrollment, read up on this section by clicking on this link. Eligibility for other benefits, such as Compensation and Pension, Education, Home Loans, Life Insurance, Vocational Rehabilitation, Pharmacy Benefits, CHAMPVA or Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Burial Benefits, visit their respective sections here.

For more information on VA Benefits and Eligibility, visit www.va.gov or call their toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000.

Getting in touch with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be done through several avenues, depending on what’s most convenient for you.

If you want to acquire information on VA benefits or have any related queries, you may visit the nearest regional office or call their toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000. For a listing of the VA offices, you may click on this link to search for the office nearest you. You can also send a letter to the Veterans Benefits Administration by sending your mail to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420.

Other toll-free numbers include the Health Care department (1-877-222-8387), Education & Training (1-888-442-4551), VA Life Insurance (1-800-669-8477), Office of the SGLI (1-800-419-1473), CHAMPVA or the VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (1-800-733-8387), Helpline or Agent Orange & Gulf War (1-800-749-8387), Direct Deposit (1-877-838-2778), Headstones Regarding Status of Claims (1-800-697-6947), and Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (1-800-829-4833).

If you want to get detailed information on the benefits and services of the VA, just log on to the Internet and visit their website at www.va.gov. You can apply online for compensation, pension, health care, education, or vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits, by clicking on the Apply Online link. You can also contact the Department by clicking on this link.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or more commonly known as VA, was established as on July 21, 1930 as an independent agency. As the second largest Federal department, the VA’s mission is to serve America’s veterans and their families, to ensure that they receive medical care, benefits, social support and memorials.

The VACO, or the Veterans Affairs Central Office, is located in Washington, DC, with regional offices located throughout the country, administered by the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration.

As of June 2009, the VA has a vast network of 153 hospitals, 995 outpatient clinics, 135 community living centers, 49 domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment programs, 232 Vet centers, 57 Veterans benefits regional offices, and 128 national cemeteries.

According to the VA Organizational Briefing Book, the VA has five broad strategic goals to improve their services and their department: (1) Restore the capability of Veterans with disabilities to the greatest extent possible, and improve the quality of their lives and that of their families; (2) Ensure a smooth transition for Veterans from active military service to civilian life; (3) Honor and serve Veterans in life, and memorialize them in death for their sacrifices on behalf of the Nation; (4) Contribute to the public health, emergency management, socioeconomic well-being, and history of the Nation; and (5) Deliver world-class service to Veterans and their families through effective communication and management of people, technology, business processes, and financial resources.

If you want to get detailed information on the benefits and services of the VA, just log on to the Internet and visit their website at www.va.gov. You can also call their toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000.

Military families face many of the same obstacles as those faced by all Americans. These families maneuver in a different atmosphere and have unique financial options and considerations that may affect there approach to overall fiscal planning. National Guard and Reserve members face a different set of obstacles as there families must be prepared for the inevitability to report to active duty.

Whatever group they fall into service members need to look into both military programs and the private financial options available to them when addressing saving opportunities. They need to create a comprehensive strategy that encompasses both short and long term approaches. These should include traditional savings account held in banks and credit unions as well as higher risk investments for the longer term like stocks, mutual funds and bonds.

They should take advantage of what the military offers them in the way of saving vehicles. This will include the militaries Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which offers similar saving and tax benefits as 401(k) plans provided by private companies. Military members also have access to reasonably priced life insurance. Active duty personnel are automatically issued a $250,000 life insurance policy through the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance Program (SGLI).

National Guard and Reserve personnel need to be more informed as they need to know about not only their military benefits, but also those offered to them in the private sector, and where the gaps are. It is recommended that they save for an emergency fund that provides them with 3 to 6 months of monies that will cover any gaps between military and civilian pay. These members must also comprehend the differences in healthcare coverage provided by the military and any private insurance they may carry. Go to http://www.esgr.org for assistance in understanding your options and what employers must supply.

There is a critical need for personal financial management in all circumstances. Our current environment brings a new focus to families with members in the armed forces and there overall financial needs.

Other military benefits include improved terms on VA loans, bad credit loans, and protections against military payday loans and payday lenders.

When you joined the military, you got a great life insurance policy. (You may not remember signing up for the paperwork at MEPS or wherever you in-processed, but check your paystub and your year-end benefits statements — you have it). Did you know you can take a loan out against the value of your policy? Yes, it’s true — the VA offers a program called “Veterans Life Insurance Policy Loans”.

Program Description

Policyholders who have permanent plans of insurance under one of the programs listed below may borrow up to 94% of the cash value of the policy after it has been in force for one year.

United States Government Life Insurance (USGLI) – USGLI was generally issued to veterans of World War I. This program has been closed to new applicants since 1951.

National Service Life Insurance (NSLI) – NSLI was generally issued to veterans of World War II. This program has been closed to new applicants since 1951.

Veterans’ Special Life Insurance (VSLI) – VSLI was generally issued to Korean War-era veterans. This program has been closed to new applicants since 1957.

Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) – S-DVI is issued to qualifying veterans who separated from service on or after April 25, 1951, with service-connected disabilities. This program is still open to new issues.

Veterans Reopened Insurance (VRI) – VRI was generally issued to World War II and Korean veterans with service-connected or serious non-service connected disabilities. This program was open only for one year, from May 1965 to May, 1966, and is closed to new applicants.

General Program Requirements

In order to qualify for a life insurance policy loan you must have a permanent plan of insurance issued under one of the following programs:

• United States Government Life Insurance (USGLI)
• National Service Life Insurance (NSLI)
• Veterans’ Special Life Insurance (VSLI)
• Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI)

Policyholders may borrow up to 94% of the cash value of the policy.

A loan may be obtained at the end of the first policy year of a whole life or endowment plan of insurance, which has loan value and is in force on a premium-paying basis or is paid-up. A loan may also be obtained on paid-up additional insurance attached to either permanent or term plans of insurance.

Loans are granted in any amount up to 94% of the policy’s reserve value, minus any existing indebtedness against the policy, plus interest.

Loan Terms
Variable Interest Rate between 5-12% with no Upfront Fees or Pre-payment penalties. Maximum Loan Length at maturity. Maximum Loan Amount 94% of the policy reserve value. Annual Payment Frequency.

Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.

Program Contact Information

For more information, please visit:
http://www.insurance.va.gov

To download a policy loan application, please visit:

http://www.insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/forms/forms.htm

To apply for a policy loan online, please visit:

https://insurance.va.gov/inForceGliSite/SelfService/insmain.asp