Veteran's Disability/Related Benefits

Disability Benefits

for Veterans

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There are a wide range of benefits available to veterans with disabilities. For example, special disability insurance is available for those veterans who have VA life insurance. This disability insurance includes life insurance premium waivers as well as total disability income provisions.

Disability Compensation - 2002 Rates -- March 2002 -- Veterans whose service-connected disabilities are rated at 30 percent or more are entitled to additional allowances for dependents. Depending upon the disability rating of the veteran, monthly allowances for a spouse range from $37 to $124 and for a dependent child, $19 to $64. Additional amounts are provided for each additional child.

VA Disability Compensation Claims Processing - The Department of Veterans Affairs fulfills the government's obligation to help those who leave the military injured or ill. Administered through a network of 58 VA regional offices, disability compensation benefits cover chronic illnesses or injuries incurred during or worsened by military service. It is one of the VA's most extensive benefits and among the most complex, posing a challenge to timely service.

VA disability compensation stems from an official finding that links an illness or disability with the period of a veteran's military service, whether war-related or in peacetime. VA usually does not need to find the exact cause of the illness.

The dollar amount of compensation is determined by regulations that give a rating for each illness or injury on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the severity of the medical problem. When veterans apply for disability compensation, they are asked to provide medical evidence of a current condition and evidence that would relate it to the time of service.

Parkinson's Disease:VA Benefits and Programs

If they're doing it for PD they'd better cover Huntington's Disease to at these new facilities!

To qualify for VA disability compen-sation for Parkinson's, a veteran must have a current diagnosis of the disease and evidence that it was acquired in service. Normally, this means that symptoms began or worsened on active duty or within a year of discharge. Veterans with Parkinson's disease are eligible for VA health care and are exempt from co-payment requirements for hospital and outpatient medical services if they are receiving compensation for any service-connected disability or if their income is at or below the income limits.

Case Managers

VA is introducing a system to give each veteran the name and phone number of a case manager handling the claim to improve communication, speed service and resolve misunderstandings. The new "veterans service representative" com-bines the traditional job of "benefits counselor," the person who initially accepts the veteran's application and gathers information, with that of "claims examiner," the person who decides a medical problem's official connection with service as well as the nature and severity of the disability and its financial compensation.

The veterans service representative personalizes services to meet the needs of each veteran, advising about the evidence needed and when a decision may be expected. As the use of these case managers increases, VA expects them to process a claim from first contact through final decision, reducing the inefficiency in the old assembly line approach.

Non-VA Emergency Care Policy -- July 2001

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now has the authority to pay for emergency care in non-VA facilities for eligible veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. The program is retroactive for eligible veterans who have been treated since May 29, 2000. This provision was established as a safety net for veterans who have no other health insurance. Eligible veterans will not be required to pay any fees to the private facility. Once the veteran can be stabilized and safely transported, VA will arrange for treatment at an appropriate VA facility, if necessary.

VA Programs for Homeless Veterans -- March 2002 -- VA is the only federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless persons. Although limited to veterans and their dependents, VA's major homeless programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country, offering a wide array of services and initiatives to help veterans recover from homelessness and live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible.

Are You Eligible for Any Government Benefits? - Enter information into this website and it will give you a report on benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Filing a Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits

There are two types of disability insurance benefits awarded under VA life insurance policies. These are (1) waiver of premiums due to total disability and (2) Total Disability Income Provision (TDIP) payments.

Waiver of Premiums

Most VA Insurance policies contain a waiver a premiums provision in the event that the insured becomes totally disabled. Generally, to qualify for a waiver of premiums, the insured must:

1. The insured must have a mental or physical disability which prevents him or her from performing substantially gainful employment.

2. The total disability must begin before the insured's 65th birthday, and must continue for at least six consecutive months.

3. The total disability may not begin prior to the effective date of the policy. (Exception: waiver may be granted if total disability commenced prior to the effective date only on S-DVI policies, provided it is due to a service-connected disability.)

There are certain exceptions to the above conditions. However, if you believe that you are eligible for a waiver of premiums, you should apply as soon as possible. VA will determine your eligibility and notify you of the decision. Use VA Form 29-357, Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits which can be downloaded from this site. In most cases, premiums can only be waived up to one year prior to receipt of a claim.

Total Disability Income Provision (TDIP) Rider

A TDIP rider provides for monthly payments to be paid to an insured starting on the first day of the seventh month of his or her continued total disability. Payments continue as long as the total disability continues. This provision is available on all NSLI policies, except S-DVI ("RH") and VRI ("JR" and "JS").

Policyholders must apply for TDIP before their 55th birthday and the applicant must be in good health.

Total disability income provision benefits are payable to individuals who:

1. Have a TDIP Rider in force on the date that total disability began or one year from when the rider ceases and

2. Have a mental or physical disability (it does not need to be service connected) which prevents him or her from per-forming substantially gainful employment and

3. Total disability must begin before the insured's 65th birthday and

4. Must continue for at least six consecutive months

If the insured is totally disabled and qualifies for TDIP payments, he/she is also entitled to a waiver of premiums on the basic contract and the TDIP rider. To apply use VA Form 29-357, Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits which can be downloaded from this site.

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents (2002 Edition) - [PDF]
The 2002 edition of this booklet lists the variety of federal benefits available to veterans and their dependents. Selecting the link above will download the booklet as a PDF file.

Beneficios Federales para los Veteranos y sus Dependientes - [PDF] La versión en Español de el folleto "Beneficios Federales para los Veteranos y sus Dependientes", el cual explica la variedad de beneficios disponibles para los veteranos y sus dependientes, se encuentra disponible en versión PDF al presionar aquí.