Thirty-eight percent of all armed service veterans are over the age of 65. And whether they served in the Korean War, Vietnam War or are one of the few surviving WWII vets, those individuals, and in many cases, their families, are eligible for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Kingsway Community, which is home to some 70-plus veterans, recently hosted a presentation by Jesús Santiago, veterans services officer with the Schenectady County VA. Weren’t able to make it? Here are some of the topics Jesús covered.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible to receive benefits if you are a veteran, a veteran’s dependent (a surviving spouse, child, or parent), an active military service member, or a member of the Reserve or National Guard.
What health care services are provided by the VA?
- Hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy, and prosthetic services
- Domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care
- Sexual trauma counseling
- Specialized health care for women veterans
- Health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans
- Readjustment counseling
- Alcohol and drug dependency treatment
- Medical treatment for exposure to Agent Orange, Radiation, and other environmental hazards
- Caregiver assistance
What disability benefits does the VA provide?
- Non-service–connected disability pension
The VA will pay if:
- your disability is not service connected,
- you served 90 or more days of active service including at least one day during a war period, and
- you are 100 percent disabled and not able to work or are 65 or older.
That being said, this type of pension is subject to net worth limitations and is income based.
- Service-connected disability compensation
The VA will pay if: you are rated at least 10 percent disabled as a result of military service. An additional amount will be paid for dependents if the disability is rated 30 percent or more.
What education/training benefits does the VA provide?
Veterans, dependents, reservists, service members and some family members of disabled or deceased veterans are eligible for education and training benefits. New York State also provides Veterans Tuition Awards for full-time and part-time study for eligible veterans.
Are there any other benefits available to veterans and their loved ones?
Many veterans are also eligible for various tax credits, loans and burial benefits (headstones, markers, medallions, burial flag, and reimbursement of burial expenses). Dependents and survivors may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly benefit paid to survivors of military servicemembers who died in the line of duty or whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. Keep in mind that each family and situation is different. Reach out to the Schenectady County VA to find out exactly what you or a loved one is eligible to receive.