Congress is responsible for establishing eligibility criteria for veteran benefits through the veteran’s benefits law. There are several factors to look at apart from being a veteran to receive these benefits. Some of them include your service position, how long you have served, and your military discharge. Below is a discussion of these components.
Veteran Benefits Based on Length of Service
A person becomes eligible for veteran benefits after they have served a minimum length of military service. For example, to receive military healthcare insurance benefits, one must serve a minimum of 20 years. A person must be actively involved in service for a minimum of two years to qualify for the veteran pension.
Veteran Benefits Based on Military Discharges
A military discharge, also known as characterization, includes honorable, dishonorable, general, and veteran determination. It can either be a punitive grant by a military court-martial or administrative granted by a high-ranking commander officer. In case you received dishonorable charges, you will not be eligible for veteran benefits. Understanding the kinds of discharges you get from the two is essential as it helps you know whether you are eligible for veterans’ benefits or not. Most of the benefits may not need an honorable discharge to receive them.
Veteran Benefits Based on When and Where you Served
Some certain veteran benefits will need details on where and when you served. The season you served impacts the kind of benefits you will receive. For example, if you served during the Vietnam war and need a veteran home loan program, you must be actively involved in your duty for at least 90 days. The same program for a person during the gulf war must be actively involved in their duty for at least 24 months. If a veteran was in a war and became disabled, they should receive the full number of benefits available. Sometimes these benefits can be denied, and the veteran is left to either hire a lawyer versed in veteran benefit denial law to claim the benefits or give up.
Types of Veteran Benefits
Some of the veteran benefits include the following: Veteran health care, veteran disability compensation, military retirement, military life, burial and memorial benefits, active-duty GI bill, vocational training for disabled veterans, and the veteran home loan program.
There are more benefits for people serving in the United States armed forces. It is essential to look into all these benefits and see the ones you qualify to help you navigate life. Some of these benefits may benefit your family in case of death.