Almost a quarter of Americans, about 70 million in number, qualify for military benefits from the Veterans Administration. Those who can apply for those benefits are military veterans, close family members, including their children. The VA administers more than just health benefits; they provide educational benefits to veteran’s children for example. This is in keeping with the tradition of the popular post-World War II G.I. Bill, which was signed into law by Franklin Delano Roosevelt shortly after the war ended. The VA Benefits were establish in part to honor the sacrifice of men and women but as well to prevent mass unemployment when all our soldiers were to return home without the certainty of getting work.

The educational benefits include both the costs of residency as well as tuition is covered under a VA plan, and if requested, a stipend for books and supplies can be furnished to the student. The costs covered can also include independent study opportunities, funds for ongoing education, courses that may be required for certification, workplace apprenticeships and on-the-job training plans.

Financial assistance is provided through the Veterans Administration in the form of personal loans; if purchasing a home, the user can get up to $417,000. There are also low-interest loans for refinancing a home, as well as to have funds for additional home furnishings and remodeling.

Of course, when we speak about the Veterans Administration, its most visible institution is its health care system. All members of the armed forces are entitled to full and comprehensive health care coverage. Since 1996, veterans became able to draw funds for preventative and primary health care as well. Any combat veteran coming back from active duty is entitled to completely free medical care for close to two years.

Veterans’ families receive special death and funeral benefits. In case of a death in the family, the user of this benefit will be entitled to emergency funds which should be requested as soon as possible. This includes casualty assistance, which can help with the retrieval of medical information and give information about benefits and compensation. This part of the VA will also provide memorial and funeral services, whether the member is either still in the service, or out on the open market.

A Veteran’s Administration loan is one that gives veterans of war the opportunity to take out a guaranteed loan that does not require a down payment from the individual before the funds can be borrowed.

This kind of loan was designed to assist military personnel and their families with the purchase of a home, and has helped millions of members of the United States Armed Forces to do just that since it was signed into law in 1944 by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Armed forces veterans who were on active duty and then discharged honorably are eligible to get a VA loan. But first, potential candidates of the veteran loan must have been active in their branch of the military for either a minimum of 90 days during a time of war, or for 181 continuous days in a time of peace before they can be accepted into the VA loan program.

Private investors such as banks, hedge funds and various mortgage companies provide the funds to qualified veterans. The funds must be used for the purchase of a home, and said home must be occupied by the new homeowner.

Before applying for a Veteran’s Administration loan, what kind of information should a candidate gather together to make the scheduled loan meeting as seamless as possible?

The following information should be kept in one place: the applicant’s social security number; gross monthly income amount; names and addresses of all employers for the past two years; financial records for all checking and savings accounts; addresses of any homes or real estate owned in the past or currently; current check stubs along with the W-2 forms filed by the applicant for the past two years; and an estimated worth of the applicant’s personal property and furniture.

In addition, the applicant must pay the fees for both a home appraisal and a credit report before the Veteran’s Administration loan will be administered.

Veteran’s Administration Aid and Attendance Benefit Program loans can be especially involved and often times first-time homebuyers misconstrue how they work. It is important to know that the Veterans Administration (VA) ensures the loans to veterans who process special requirements; however it does not act as the lending agent. A credit counselor will help get you ready for your loan application by informing you of your credit score. If you do this, you are at the advantage by understanding what to expect prior to applying for the guaranty.

First-time buyers should also know that there is a required VA funding charge. The notion that the veteran is adding to the cost of his own mortgage and not relying on the taxpayer is the reasoning behind the required fee. First-time homeowners pay a bit over two percent for a “no down payment” loan while the fee for a second-time owner is greater at three percent. It is understood that second-time buyer will have earned equity in their house and that they have prepared for the additional cost incurred by the greater fee. Percentage rates for VA refinance mortgage loans do not differ.

A number of people are fortunate enough to not have to pay the funding fee, but not so lucky because they have to suffer from a disability from a military injury and be receiving compensation for that injury in order to be eligible for the exemption. Spouses of veterans who died in the line of duty or because of injury complications related to military service are entitled to additional legal exemptions also. The ultimate decision about exemptions for each particular case lies with the VA.

Lots of someone is astonished by the flexibility a VA mortgage loan can offer. It can be used for home upgrades as well as for buying a new house and also for the use of increasing energy efficiency. Each VA loan includes its own particular method of distribution and limitations and understanding what they are beforehand improves the circumstances.

An imperative aspect of establishing eligibility for a Veteran’s Administration Aid and Attendance Benefit Program loan concerns the manner in which the veteran was let go from military service. Getting a VA mortgage loan will become trickier when a discharge other than “honorable” is involved. A local VA organization can assist veterans who may have had other than an “honorable” discharge with filling out the correct forms, finding out where to send them and knowing how to appeal a decision, if required.

There is no denial from anyone that you will ask that trying to get information about the military that you have worked hard for is a very daunting task. And to add insult to the injury, you would be having an equally difficult time to check where you can apply just to get these military and VA benefits. If you will just be checking out sources, these benefits are not only given out on the level of the federal government but also in your own state and localities. You may know that it is your right to claim these benefits but you are still unsure what they are, and most of all what will make you entitled them.

But the good news is already here. You can already understand the military and VA benefits that you should have in the first place. There is an online program that you can access that is already able to get a comprehensive package that will teach you and will alleviate you from the problems of understanding these benefits. You will comprehend your entitlements on military and VA benefits plus instructions so that you can apply for them and claim them. Upon using this program, you will be asked of some questions you have to answer and your information is needed to be entered in the website.

You will be able to see right away of the total of the potential savings you can get as you also figure out your possible financial compensation with all those military and VA benefits combined. Once the process in MilitaryBenefitsReport.com was already done all you really need to just submit your data and you will almost instantly receive a report that is already giving you all information about the comprehensive benefits. Don’t be surprised as this report can go as thick as 80 to a hundred pages at an average. This will already contain all of the possible Federal, State, Local and even Private military and VA benefits that you are entitled to have and receive in the future.

The information and facts requested on VA Kind 26-1817 or VA Form 21-534 is generally self-explanatory and surviving partners can generally fill out the kind with the assistance of a capable VA mortgage qualified. Incomplete or erroneous information can cause delays.

A widespread error some have designed in the previous is entering the deceased veteran’s name in which the kind asks for surviving wife or husband title. It is recommended that the applicant reads and understands the type in advance of filling any part of it out. If this careful precaution is taken, then typical flaws can be avoided.

A prospective supply of confusion for some surviving spouses filling out VA Type 26-1817 is the part regarding past VA loan usage. For every single prior VA mortgage, a husband or wife has to also enter the nearest VA Regional Company. If the surviving spouse is unsure about which office was associated with which loan, a VA mortgage specialist can aid.

A further source of prospective error lies in which paperwork to submit with the form. When a surviving military partner applies for COE with VA Form 26-1817, he or she will need to submit the proper evidence to document the veteran’s services, marriage and death.

1. For a veteran who died on energetic duty, and the surviving spouse is getting Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), this is proof adequate. If not acquiring DIC, the surviving partner will need to enclose copies of the following paperwork with the deceased veteran’s SSN on every of them:

DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty)

Marriage Certificate

2. For a veteran who died post-duty from a services-related damage, and the surviving lover is acquiring DIC, a copy of the DIC reward letter need to suffice. Partners not getting DIC, ought to enclose copies of the following paperwork with the deceased veteran’s SSN on each and every of them:

DD Kind 214

Death certificate

Marriage certificate
Surviving military spouses who are not but obtaining DIC can use VA Form 21-534 (Request for DIC) alongside with the VA Form 26-1817 to get things rolling. If a surviving spouse VA home loan qualified, then it is likely that he or she is also eligible for regular monthly DIC benefits.

There are thousands of men and females who threat their lives every day, just to make sure that their countrymen can are living peacefully in the ease and comfort of their properties.

VA Disability Compensation Eligibility
The VA Disability Compensation program pays benefits only to people who have served in the military and who are disabled. To be eligible to receive these benefits, you must have received an honorable discharge from your years of service, and you must have a disability condition related to service. This medical condition could have been developed before you served, but it must have gotten worse due to injuries and disease you acquired while in service. You can receive benefits even if you have a disability rated as low as 10 percent. According to the information provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, you are not required to have served for a specific number of years. The Department of Veterans Affairs analyzes your condition to determine your disability rating. When you file for a VA Form 21-526, you must provide medical records.

VA Pension
Although the VA Pension program does not only pays benefits to disabled veterans – as it also pays benefits to veterans who are older than age 65 – if you are disabled you might qualify to receive VA Pension benefits. To be eligible to receive these benefits based on a disability, you must be considered totally and permanently disabled, and you must not have caused it intentionally. You must also have been honorably discharged from your military service. If you served before 1980, you are required to have served for at least 90 days, one of those days being during wartime. If you served after 1980, you are required to have served at least two years or the full period for which you were called to serve. As of 2011, your annual income cannot exceed $11,830 if you are single or $15,493 if you have one dependent.

Application
The same application form applies to both programs. To apply, fill out VA Form 21-526, Veteran’s Application for Compensation and/or Pension. You must attach copies of your marriage license and your children’s birth certificates, if applicable. You can also apply for these benefits online through the Department of Veterans Affairs website. If you apply for both benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs decides which program gives you higher monthly benefits.

Disability Retirement
Although the military disability retirement program is not strictly a disability benefit, you might be able to receive benefits if you are disabled. The military retirement program pays monthly benefits to veterans who served in the military for at least 20 years. These benefits start at the moment you retire, but you must be at least 37 years of age in order to do so. However, individuals who were planning on a military career for at least 20 years, but who were discharged earlier due to a disability, may also receive retirement benefits. If the disability is temporary, benefits last for five years, and if your condition improves, you are replaced into service. If your condition is permanent, you can receive these benefits for the rest of your life.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has a little known and often misunderstood tax-free pension available to Qualified Veterans and their surviving spouses to help pay the costs of health care, in-home health care, and nursing home care. The Pensions sole purpose is to help these Veterans and spouses afford the care they need as they age.
Each year a staggering amount of Qualified Veterans either did not know about, or did not know how to file a well-documented claim for, their Pension Benefits. With over 60% of the seniors in the United States being Veterans or spouses of Veterans this Pension is a lifeline to those who qualify. Allowing these Veterans to age with dignity and peace of mind by helping them and their families afford the care they need and deserve.

2012 Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts
VA Aid and Attendance

Two Veterans / Spouses $2,631*
Married Veteran $2,019
Single Veteran $1,703
Surviving Spouse $1,094
* May be higher depending on rating

Eligibility Requirements:
Must be 65 years old and/or unemployable
Must have an Honorable or General discharge (any other than Dishonorable discharge).
Must have served at least 90 days of active Federal duty with at least one day during an official period of conflict.
Must have a medical necessity requiring care.
Must meet income and countable asset criteria established by the VA

What does this mean to the millions of Qualified Veterans?
Your VA Aid and Attendance Benefit provides you with additional monthly income, to help you pay for your care. With a pension in hand, you are able to afford the care you deserve.
You have a choice. You have the power to select the services you need as well as the provider that meets those needs.
Your pension in paid directly to you.
Like Social Security, the pension is dependable and is paid to you by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

United States veterans earn VA education benefits while in service to their country. It is important to know the regulations of the program and to keep abreast of the latest changes to ensure you have adequate funds to complete your education.

New GI Bill

Recent changes in the GI Bill were made to overhaul the outdated Montgomery GI Bill. The Montgomery Bill, though useful, had far outlived its time, and many of the features of that benefit package were not particularly helpful to prior military personnel.

The new GI Bill was previously called the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and it cures some inadequacies of its predecessor by including tuition payments that go right to the school, a book and supply stipend, and a housing allowance. In other words, it gives you more of the tools you need to undertake successfully your education post-military.

The new Improved Pension Benefits with Aid and Attendance became effective August 1, 2009, and veterans are eligible to apply at anytime.

Who is Eligible?

Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine service members that are currently on active duty can use their benefits, as well as members in training overseas. Veterans must have a minimum of 90 days service after 9/11/2001 to be eligible for VA education benefits under the new GI Bill. Reserve members and National Guard members must have a minimum of three years active time since 9/11/2001 to be eligible.

Veterans are deemed eligible by percentage of the maximum amount based upon how long the active duty service was. Finding out what those percentages mean in dollars and cents can help with the decision about which degree or training will work best for the individual situation.

Setting Things Up

Check into the different options for training or educational program. Once the decision is narrowed to just a few choices, verify that these programs are approved to accept VA education benefits. Questions like these can typically be answered by the financial aid office in each particular school. Also, if you need help deciding on a program, meet with a counselor and look at the available degree programs.

Filling out an application is easy. The form is called the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) by completing form 22-1990. If you are eligible as far as length of service and other than a dishonorable discharge, you do not have to have been eligible or have participated in the old bill to qualify for this new package of VA education Improved Pension Benefits with Aid and Attendance.

Once you apply, you can also qualify for a monthly housing allowance equivalent to the amount available to an E-5 with dependents. Of course, active duty military students do not get to double dip on housing.

Understanding what benefits you are eligible for as a veteran as well as finding out what those Attendance Benefits can and cannot do for you can be enormously frustrating and exasperating. Looking for answers in order to cover long-term care expenses is really a critical a part of Estate Planning for vets in particular. Especially when taken into consideration that many people over 65 years old haven’t bought any type of long-term health care insurance.

For the beneficiaries of veteran’s benefits and for surviving partners of veterans who are residing in an aided living facility or elderly care home or those who require in-home care, tax assistance might be available. Contact your Veterans Administration to find out what exactly you are eligible for and what kinds of assistance that you can really use whether it be for health care, financial assistance or otherwise depending on your need.

The VA benefits that you are most likely to be entitled to include an underused pension benefit generally known as Aid and Attendance. Many people do not know about this benefit and therefore do not apply for it. The government doesn’t exactly advertise that it’s willing and able to help you really need to ask to find out what you can get from them. The Aid and Attendance program provides survival funds to veterans that are tax-free for those who need help carrying out the normal day to day activities of life. Veterans whose household earnings are over the legal limit for a VA pension program may still be entitled to the Aid and Attendance benefit if they have a sufficient amount of medical expenses while taking into account the household earnings of the vet in question.

The Veteran’s military Attendance Benefits for Pension benefits are of course open to Veterans aged at least 65 or who are 100% disabled. Certain criteria must be met. For example, if you have served a minimum of 3 months in service, a minimum of number of days off duty while the U.S. was at war is in effect and can affect your claim or eligibility for benefits if the requirements were not met. It is not necessary for the Veteran to have service related disabilities to qualify. Surviving partners or loved ones can also be qualified for the many benefits and programs available.

The Veterans’ Association Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit is a little known and underused benefit available to veterans with disabilities. The purpose of the benefit is to provide supplemental income to disabled or elderly veterans who are in need of the “aid and attendance” of another individual for daily care. An individual’s net worth plays a large role in determining eligibility for the benefit, but the VA does take other factors into consideration when reviewing applications.

What is the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit?
The VA Aid and Attendance Pension benefit is one of two disability benefits that are available to veterans who have served on active duty. The pension benefit is specifically available to war veterans who did not become disabled as a result of active-duty service. According to the VA, a veteran who is in need of a caregiver to perform “basic functions of everyday life” or is housebound may qualify for the benefit if s/he

* Is blind or nearly blind
* Is a patient in a nursing home
* Proves a need under established criteria

This last point is a matter of some misunderstanding among veterans who may qualify for the benefit. Eligibility determination is based largely upon household income, assets and resources, referred to by the VA as “net worth.” While it is known that net worth plays a large role in the eligibility equation, the VA has not issued a specific formula that is used to calculate qualification, nor has the agency named a specific income level that would preclude eligibility. Instead, the VA considers a variety of factors, including household assets, gross household income, income from other sources such as retirement or life insurance, unreimbursed medical expenses, and the life expectancy of the applicant. The younger the applicants, the more assets s/he may own and still qualify for the pension benefit.

Some veterans may require a “rating” in order to receive the benefit. Generally, lower income veterans will qualify without a rating. Receipt of a rating from the VA allows disabled veterans with higher incomes who might otherwise be ineligible to receive a pension benefit. Rated, higher income individuals applying for a benefit must typically be paying for extensive medical costs and ongoing and expensive long- term care in order to qualify.

Veterans who believe they may qualify for the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit should consult an elder law or special needs planning attorney to expedite the application process.