Veterans Assistance

• The Department of Veterans Affairs housing assistance page assists veterans, service members and their surviving spouses if they are buying a home or refinancing a loan. It also provides assistance for military-affiliated personnel who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and offers contact information where they can get the assistance they need.
• Delinquency and assistance for housing loans
  • Veterans at risk of becoming homeless can always call or visit their local VA medical center or Community Resource and Referral Center for assistance.
  • Learn more about VA resources and other housing assistance programs.
• Veteran homelessness
  • The VA, in collaboration with other government offices and partners, offers programs such as Supportive Housing, Homeless Provider Grants, Enhanced-Used Leases and Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Providers.
  • Explore the VA Homeless Programs webpage to learn more about the fight against veteran homelessness. The programs assist veterans and their families in obtaining permanent and sustainable housing with access to high-quality health care and supportive services.
  • Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call or chat online with the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. Family members, friends and supporters can also use this confidential resource. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Counselors can provide information about local VA homeless programs, health care and other services in the area.
  • If you or a veteran you know is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, call 877-4AID-VET (424-3838) or chat online to be connected to the resources the VA offers.
  • The VA created Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services. HVCES improves employment outcomes for veterans who have experienced homelessness. HVCES has more than 150 vocational development specialists who serve as community employment coordinators. They are assigned to VA medical centers around the country.
• Home-loan guaranties
  • The VA guarantees home loans made by private lenders to active-duty service members, veterans and, in some cases, surviving spouses. Disabled veterans may receive grants to adapt their homes to accommodate their disabilities.
  • The first step toward owning your own home is meeting with a lender to secure a loan. The VA Home Loan Program is a substantial benefit earned with military service. These invaluable loans require no down payment, no private mortgage insurance and have low interest rates. You get much better financing terms than a traditional home loan. Even if you haven’t been approved for a traditional loan, you might still qualify for a VA loan.

Veterans have several options for confidential counseling.

• To receive counseling from Military OneSource as a veteran, you must be within 365 days of separation from the military.
• The VA has a variety of mental health resources, information and treatment options. They offer the Vet Center Program, which provides quality readjustment counseling. If you have served in any combat zone, you and your family are eligible. Vet Centers can be found all across the U.S.

People who live through a traumatic event sometimes suffer its effects long after the moment has passed. Several factors play a role in developing post-traumatic stress disorder, so there is no way to know who will or won’t experience it. The good news is that help is available, and early treatment may help reduce long-term symptoms.

• Read about the risk factors and what to look for.
• Visit the VA’s National Center for PTSD for access to online coaching and mobile apps.
• Head to VA.gov for information on how to speak with someone immediately if you’re in a crisis.
• Find your nearest VA hospital or clinic through the Veterans Health Administration.

If you’re having suicidal thoughts or are concerned about a loved one who is having them, don’t hesitate. Have a confidential talk with a professional who can help.

• The Veterans Crisis Line is always open. Call or chat online 24/7 for free. Speak to qualified Department of Veterans Affairs responders who understand the challenges of military life. Many are veterans themselves.
• The Defense Suicide Prevention Office is committed to developing suicide prevention efforts among all stakeholders in the military services. From best practices to resources for family and friends, help is available.

While anyone can be at risk of alcohol and substance abuse, there are several aspects of military life that can trigger it. Understand the signs of a substance abuse problem.

• If you find yourself repeatedly engaging in activities that have a negative impact on your life, you might be engaging in addictive behavior. Learn more about the signs.
  • You can also find support through Alcoholics Anonymous and similar programs. To find a program near you, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 800-662-4357 or find treatment centers online.
  • The VA provides effective treatment services for all eligible veterans. Options include therapy as well as medications in some cases. To get help, speak with your existing VA health care provider or call 800-827-1000.
• The War Department provides the following campaigns, aligned with the Defense Health Agency, to educate service members about various types of addiction:
  • YouCanQuit2 provides resources and support to quit tobacco.
  • Own Your Limits provides information to help service members learn how to drink responsibly if they choose to drink alcohol.
  • Too Much To Lose informs service members about the facts and risks related to prescription drug misuse and the use of illicit and prohibited drugs.

• The Office of Veterans Business Development strives to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of small business programs. The office supports veterans, service-disabled veterans, reserve members and their dependents or survivors. The OVBD is the Small Business Administration’s liaison with the veteran business community. OVBD provides policy analysis and reporting — and an ombudsman for veteran entrepreneurs.
  OVBD has a number of programs and services to assist aspiring and existing veteran entrepreneurs. These include training, counseling and mentorship, and oversight of federal procurement programs for veterans.

• The VA offers rehabilitation and employment services to service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities.
• The VA careers and employment website provides information and resources to connect veterans with programs to help build and manage their careers. This benefit helps veterans and their family members by linking them to programs and services that can assist them.
• Veteran Readiness and Employment is available to service members with a service-connected disability — to get help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development and skills coaching. Find out about eligibility and how to apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment.
• If you are seeking a new job, need help writing a resume or brushing up on your interview skills, or are looking for job search databases, these services and videos from FINVET will help you find and keep a job.

• Subsistence allowance. Veterans with a service-connected disability that limits their ability to work or prevents them from working, may qualify for assistance through the VA’s Veteran Readiness and Employment program. This program — also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E — helps veterans explore employment options and address education or training needs. In some cases, veterans with the VR&E program can also receive a subsistence allowance while they pursue an educational or training program in preparation for a future career. This is paid each month and varies based on whether the school/training is full time or part time, the number of dependents and the type of training.
• Special Monthly Compensation. Special monthly compensation is an additional pay that the VA pays to veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents with certain needs or disabilities. SMC is paid in addition to the VA’s standard disability compensation rates and is based on the severity of the disability. The VA website has information on how to file a claim for disability compensation or increased disability compensation.
• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program. The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program is for the child or spouse of a veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities. You may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program — also called Chapter 35.
• VetSuccess on Campus Program. The VetSuccess on Campus, or VSOC, program helps veterans, service members and their dependents at specific colleges and universities through benefits assistance and counseling. The program provides a vocational rehabilitation counselor (called VSOC counselors) and a VA Vet Center outreach coordinator to each VSOC school to provide counseling and referral services.
• GI Bill® Comparison Tool. The VA helps you research colleges and employers approved for the GI Bill. Answer a few questions and enter your school/employer selection to get an estimate of your GI Bill benefits. You’ll also receive information about the facility’s value and affordability. Visit the GI Bill^®Comparison Tool to learn more.
  • The Post-9/11 GI Bill  gives you up to 36 months of entitlements for college or training if you served on active duty at least 90 days since Sept. 11, 2001. You may be able to transfer your benefits to your spouse or child if you meet certain requirements.
  • Other VA education programs include the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, the MGIB-Selected Reserve and the Veterans Educational Assistance Program. If you qualify for one of the MGIB programs and the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, you may choose to receive benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
  • The work-study program allows you to earn money while in college.
• Education and training benefits. The VA education benefits help veterans, service members and qualified family members with paying college tuition, finding a school or training program and getting career counseling.
• Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program can help pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school or graduate school tuition and fees that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. Normally, Post-9/11 GI Bill payments at private schools are limited to a maximum amount by law. With the Yellow Ribbon Program, schools can enter into a voluntary agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to waive a portion of or all of their tuition costs that exceed the national maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill reimbursement. The VA will match the amount of the waiver and contribute that to your tuition.
• Protecting veterans from fraud. Scammers target veterans because they know they have access to benefits and resources. These materials from the VA show veterans, their family members, caregivers and survivors how to avoid being scammed: Fraud Prevention Kit and Be Vigilant of Scams Fact Sheet. Visit the VA website to Learn about protecting veterans, their loved ones and survivors from fraud.
• Active-duty VA benefits. The VA provides benefits for veterans and service members on active duty. Members of the National Guard and reserve who are not on active duty may also be eligible for some VA benefits. For more assistance with benefits, visit a local Vet Center or use eBenefits. eBenefits is a joint VA and DOW web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to service members, veterans and their families to apply, research, access and manage their VA and military benefits and personal information through a secure internet connection.
• Veterans Affairs Life Insurance. VA life insurance can offer financial security for veterans, service members, their spouses and dependent children. Different programs cover: Veterans Group Life Insurance, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. You may also be able to get short-term financial coverage through Traumatic Injury Protection – TSGLI to help you recover from a traumatic (severe) injury. And if you have a service-connected disability, you may be able to get coverage through VALife. Veterans can enroll online in VGLI through the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance using the Prudential website, or apply by mail or fax using SGLV 8714, “Application for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance.” For veterans wanting to reinstate a VGLI policy that has expired, they will need to fill out SGLV 180, “Application for Reinstatement of VGLI Coverage.”