Less Commonly Known Benefits For Veterans

Veterans do a lot to protect our country. As such, they are given many benefits when they retire or leave the service. Many are aware of medical, housing, and education benefits, but there are many benefits that veterans should be aware of.

However, transitioning from a servicemember to a civilian is not an easy task. There are a lot of unknowns and there are not always a lot of resources to help veterans. While they may know about healthcare and disability benefits, there are many other benefits available to help them transition with ease.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an extensive range of benefits for veterans, including housing, education, and automobiles. However, surveys show that roughly half of veterans are ill-equipped for civilian life once they leave the military. Forty percent said that they received little to no guidance once they left, even though many veterans struggle with disabilities upon leaving.

Veterans need to be aware of their benefits so they can better navigate through civilian life. Here are some benefits they should be aware of.

Adaptive Housing Loan Assistance

Veterans with disabilities can receive loan assistance and even grants to help them purchase a home that can be adapted to fit their needs or upgrade their current home. There are two grants that could help. One is the Specially Adapted Housing grant, which veterans with certain disabilities can qualify for, such as loss of limb or other mobility issues. This grant will help them subsidize the cost of buying a house. Currently, veterans can receive up to $109,986 towards a functional home.

Another option is the Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant, which is available to veterans with a wider range of disabilities. It provides as much as $22,036 to adapt their current home and assist with accommodations such as making bathrooms accessible, installing ramps, and widening doorways.

Automobile Allowance

Veterans with a disability that impairs their ability to drive may want to check into Automobile Allowance and Adaptive Equipment grants. These grants can be used to help a veteran purchase a specially equipped vehicle. They can also use the grant to add safe and necessary accessibility features to their current vehicle, such as power steering, seats, brakes, or lift equipment.

Educational Benefits

The VA offers the GI Bill to pay for college but it also offers other benefits, such as personalized educational and career counseling to help with the transition to civilian life. This counseling provides continual support to help veterans find a training program or field of study. In addition,  those with a service-connected disability can take advantage of the Veteran Readiness and Employment program to explore employment options.

Learn More About Veterans Benefits

As a veteran, it’s important to understand your benefits, as they can be helpful in everyday life. If you are making a huge change, such as buying a house or going back to school, make sure you know what you are entitled to receive.

Seek legal help from White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon. We’ll do our best to get you approved for benefits. Fill out the online form or call 914-294-2145 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

kiplinger.com/personal-finance/military-benefits-vets-might-not-know-they-earned