Veterans & Military Funeral Honors – Resources

The Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies offer a substantial number of programs and services for veterans, their dependents and survivors. Beyond benefits, these programs and services can help you make the most of your post-military life.

Read below about VA disability pay, additional benefits by state and top VA services. You’ll find many more links to services and programs in each of these Military OneSource articles:

• Which GI Bill® Is Best for You?
• Employment Resources and Services
• For Veterans: All the Benefits of Home
• Help for Veterans
• Life Insurance for Veterans

Veterans programs and benefits by state

In addition to federal benefits for veterans, states have their own benefits and programs. Services range from veterans’ homes to tax credits, license plates to employment benefits. Connect with your state here.

VA disability compensation programs

VA disability compensation provides monthly benefits for veterans with disabilities, diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service. VA disability pay is tax-free. Here are some of the programs available:

• Disability Compensation: A tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: A tax-free monetary benefit generally payable to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of service members who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, or to survivors of veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities.
• Special Monthly Compensation: An additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents. For veterans, Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or by specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg.
• Claims Based on Special Circumstances: Veterans may be eligible for other types of disability compensation once a disability has been determined to be service connected. Special VA disability compensation programs include: individual unemployability, automobile allowance, clothing allowance, stabilization, hospitalization, convalescence, dental, and birth defects.

Surviving spouses, dependent children and dependent parents may also receive compensation in recognition of the economic loss caused by a veteran’s death during service or as the result of a veteran’s disability.

Additional VA services

• Beneficiary Financial Counseling: Free, professional financial advice and customized financial plans for beneficiaries.
• Tuition Assistance. If you’re active service member and your tuition amounts to more than what’s covered by the Tuition Assistance program, you may be eligible for additional assistance.
• Career Center: Offers veterans tools to translate their military skills into careers in the public and private sectors, search for jobs, identify professional strengths, and create and post resumes.
• Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs Discharge Upgrade Guidance Tool: This tool offers customized guidance to veterans who desire to upgrade or change the conditions of their military discharge.
• Educational and Vocational Counseling: VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service provides educational and vocational counseling for veterans and certain dependents.
• Fiduciary Program: A program to protect veterans and other beneficiaries who are unable to manage their financial affairs. The fiduciary is responsible to the beneficiary and oversees financial management of VA benefit payments.
• Independent Living: A program to make sure eligible veterans can, to the maximum extent, live independently and participate in family and community life, increasing their potential to return to work.
• Mortgage Delinquency Assistance: VA’s Loan Guaranty Service provides technicians and a special servicing center to intercede with the mortgage provider to explore all options to avoid foreclosure.
• Veterans Economic Communities Initiative: This program brings together community partners to coordinate and integrate veterans’ services at the local level, providing training opportunities to help veterans and their families develop professional skills.
• VetSuccess on Campus: A program that aims to help veterans succeed and thrive through a coordinated delivery of on-campus benefits assistance and counseling.

Additional government resources for veterans and military families.

• Department of Health and Human Services: Offers links to services supporting veterans and military families in the areas of jobs, health, substance abuse and mental health, rural health, and children and families.
• Office of Warrior Care Policy: This office proactively supports wounded, ill, and injured service members in their recovery and reintegration or transition to civilian life.
• Department of Labor: Provides comprehensive help for veterans seeking employment.
• Feds Hire Vets: The federal government-wide veterans’ employment website is intended to be your dedicated site for federal employment information for veterans, transitioning military service members, their families, and federal hiring officials.
• USAJobs: The federal government’s employment-related website provides helpful links for veterans seeking federal jobs. As the largest federal employer of veterans, the Department of Defense also offers help with connecting veterans with a civil service job.

Resources for Military Funeral Honors

• Funeral directors/planners can assist families with requesting Military Funeral Honors by contacting a Military Funeral Honors Coordinator.
• A Military Funeral Honors Coordinator is available for each military service to answer your questions and help your funeral director/planner obtain Military Funeral Honors.
• Form DD 214 or equivalent discharge papers are used to determine eligibility for Military Funeral Honors. Your funeral director or planner can submit a Military Records for Veterans Burial/Funeral Benefits Request Form to receive expedited records.
• Through the Authorized Provider Partnership Program, local veterans’ organizations may also augment the official honors.
• To learn more about the Military Funeral Honors program, funeral planners, service members and families can review the Military Funeral Honors eTutorial on MilLife Learning.

Military Funeral Honors Briefings

• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy Burial at Sea
• Department of the Air Force
• Department of Defense

There are also many veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans and their families. The Department of Defense provides a page of nonprofits and community organizations focused on veteran support.

The military community has a long history of supporting each other, and our country has many resources for veterans and their families. Don’t hesitate to reach out for the services you need. Military OneSource can connect you. Call 800-342-9647. OCONUS/International? Click here for calling options.