Many American citizens disabled while serving in the country's armed forces need assistance to resume civilian life with diminished abilities. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the primary federal agency that manages and disburses disability benefits to veterans. It provides benefits for disabled veterans that help meet career, health, financial and mobility needs.
Disability Compensation Payments
Anyone with a military service-connected injury or illness may apply for tax-free disability compensation from the VA. You must meet eligibility requirements, including a discharge from active military service without dishonorable conditions. The amount of money that you receive depends on the VA's assessment of the extent of your disability and the number of your eligible dependents. Disability levels range from 10 to 100 percent, with basic monthly compensation payments for 2010 ranging from $123 to $2,673, respectively, before adjustments for dependents. The VA authorizes additional disability compensation for dependents in college and other special circumstances. The VA and the Department of Defense coordinate disability benefits and retirement pay for veterans with eligibility for both. You need your DD-214, DD-215 or WD for World War II veterans to file your initial application for disability benefits.
Disability Pension
Low-income, 100 percent-disabled veterans can apply for a VA disability pension at age 65. Most veterans must have 90 days of active service with one day of war service. If you entered the military after 1980, the minimum duty time is 24 months. The 2010 VA "Improved Disability Pension" payments range from $11,830 for eligible veterans with no dependents, to $23,396 for housebound veterans who require authorized home health services.
Health Care
Disabled veterans receive free or low-cost health care at VA facilities and overseas, where applicable. The VA determines the fees that you must pay by assigning you to a priority group, based on your dates of service and percent of disability. Medical services include inpatient and outpatient care, mileage reimbursements for travel to a VA healthcare facility, no-copay prescriptions with a 50 percent or higher disability, eyeglasses, hearing aids and prosthetics. Your priority group and disability rating determine eligibility and fees for dental care.
Additional health care benefits include community-based and skilled nursing care at home, hospice care, adult day care and long-term care in VA nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. The "Aid and Attendance" program increases disability compensation payments to housebound disabled veterans and their spouses to offset expenses for caregiver services.
Medical Equipment, Mobility and Accessibility Benefits
With authorization from the VA, disabled veterans can get free home medical equipment and mobility aids such as wheelchairs, power scooters and lifts, crutches and transfer benches. The VA's "Specially Adapted Housing" grant pays 50 percent of the cost of home accessibility modifications, with a maximum of $63,780. When a disabled veteran uses a family member's home as a temporary residence, the VA provides prorated grants for modifications. Disabled veterans also qualify for allowances to purchase a vehicle with disability modifications or to adapt existing vehicles.
Career Benefits
The VA's career benefits for disabled veterans include vocational rehabilitation, funds for education and monthly subsistence payments. The duration and type of program, number of dependents and several other factors determine your eligibility and compensation rates. The VA also provides independent living skills training for veterans with disabilities that may permanently prevent them from obtaining employment, and job preference for veterans who apply for federal government employment.
Survivor Benefits
The VA provides a range of benefits to the surviving spouse, dependents and parents of deceased disabled veterans. Eligible survivors receive a prorated amount of the veteran's disability compensation as "Dependency and Indemnity Compensation" payments, health care, commissary and base exchange privileges and education benefits. The 2006 "VA Pamphlet 21-03-1: VA Benefits for Survivors" summarizes eligibility requirements for each survivor, including divorced surviving spouses.
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