VA Benefits for Soldiers

By Gilberto Fuentes

Soldiers serving in the United States Army may be eligible for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA administers a variety of benefits programs, each with different eligibility criteria. VA benefits programs are available for soldiers currently serving on active duty, the Reserves and National Guard.

Home loan benefits from the VA assists soldiers on active duty or reserve components to purchase a home. The VA mortgage loan program works through approved lenders throughout the U.S. and does not make any direct loans to veterans. The VA mortgage benefit allows soldiers and veterans to obtain a mortgage insured by the federal government, with limited closing costs and no down payment. According to the VA, about 27 million soldiers and veterans are currently eligible for benefits to buy or refinance a home. A certificate of eligibility is required to obtain a VA mortgage loan, which is obtained by filing VA Form 26-1880 to the

Department of Veterans Affairs at the address on the form (see Resources).

Soldiers and veterans are also eligible for VA education and training benefits. According to the VA, soldiers qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill after completing a minimum of 90 days of continuous service. The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays the tuition bill for soldiers on active duty but not the housing or book allowance. The amount of the tuition benefit is based on the highest tuition rate of a public university in the state in which you want to pursue college education, technical training or vocational school. Soldiers in private colleges or universities may supplement more expensive tuition by applying to the Yellow Ribbon Program for additional tuition assistance benefits.

Soldiers who become disabled as a result of military service are eligible for disability benefits from the VA. The disability benefits program pays disabled veterans depending on the severity of the disability. According to the VA, disabled veterans are assigned a disability rating and each rating corresponds to a specific amount of monthly benefits. Veterans with dependents like spouses, children or parents receive additional disability compensation. All disability benefits are tax-free regardless of the amount of the benefit.

Soldiers who pass away on active duty and qualifying veterans are eligible for military funeral honors. The U.S. Department of Defense provides a funeral detail of at least two service members, a U.S. flag to drape the casket of the deceased soldier, flag presentation to the soldier's next of kin and playing "Taps" at the interment. In addition, a burial expense reimbursement allowance is available from the VA, the option to bury the deceased soldier in a national or state cemetery and the recognizable marble or granite headstone to mark the grave of the soldier.

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VA Benefits for Children of Veterans

By Colette Larson

The Department of Veterans Administration operates four major programs that provide financial and medical assistance to veterans' dependent children as well as the surviving children of deceased veterans. These benefits typically are available to unmarried children up to age 19 if they are full-time high school students, and disabled dependent children of any age who were disabled before age 22. Benefits also may be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children under certain conditions. Eligibility for most benefits is based on the veteran's discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions.

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) subsidizes up to 45 months of training and educational opportunities to eligible veteran dependent children between the ages of 18 and 26. Eligible recipients must be the dependent child of a veteran who died during active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability, is totally and permanently disabled as the result of a service-connected disability, or missing in action or captured in the line of duty by enemy forces. The DEA may be used to enroll in approved degree or certificate programs, as well as apprenticeships or on-the-job training programs.

The last military command of a service member provides a $100,000 death gratuity payment to the next of kin of those who die while on active duty or within 120 days of separation as a result of service-connected injury or illness. Veterans' dependent children may also be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if death resulted from an injury or disease incurred in the line of duty or a service-connected disability. Dependents of veterans who were totally disabled from service-connected conditions at the time of death may also qualify for DIC. Payments will be adjusted to reflect any amounts awarded from judicial proceedings resulting from the veteran's death.

Unmarried low-income disabled dependent children of deceased veterans may be entitled to monthly death pension benefit payments if a deceased veteran served over 90 days of active duty military service, at least one day of which was during a period of wartime. The veteran must have received a discharge other than dishonorable for dependents to be eligible for a death pension. The dependent child must be under the age of 18, permanently unable to support themselves due to disability occurring before the age of 18, or under the age of 23 if attending a VA-approved educational institution.

CHAMPVA is a health care program in which the Veterans Administration shares the cost of covered medically and psychologically necessary services with eligible dependent children. To be considered eligible, the sponsoring veteran must be totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected condition, have died as a result of a service-connected condition, or died on active duty. The dependent must not be entitled to standard Department of Defense Tricare benefits.

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VA Appraisal Guidelines

By Jackie Lohrey

Before closing a VA-guaranteed mortgage loan, the home you choose must pass a VA inspection and appraisal. Although this is a common step with most any type of mortgage loan, a VA appraiser follows a set of guidelines specific to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when assessing the value of your property. The appraisal value must correspond to the amount of your loan or the VA may deny your loan request.

The appraiser the VA randomly assigns to inspect your home must adhere not only to process guidelines but also to ethical guidelines. He cannot misstate the appraisal to ensure the value of the home is in line with your loan request. In most cases, the VA expects your appraiser to perform the inspection on his own. However, VALoans.com reports that if he requires any type of assistance, guidelines require the name of the assistant, as well as a list of the tasks the assistant performs, to appear on the inspection report.

The inspection provides a base for establishing value. Guidelines require the VA appraiser to personally inspect all elements that contribute to, or detract from, the value of your home. These include elements such as the plumbing or septic system, electrical system, water heater, home insulation, roof and walkways and/or driveway. If the inspection is for a new home still under construction, your appraiser may conduct the inspection by viewing approved blueprints or by inspecting a model home using the same floor plan. If the inspection uncovers any items in need of repair or servicing, appraisal guidelines require not only a listing of necessary repairs, but also a cost estimate for the repair or service.

An important part of establishing value is to compare your home to others in the area. Although guidelines do not provide a specific number of homes your appraiser must use for this comparison, they do require, except in rare circumstances your appraiser must be able to explain, the homes be sold within the past six months, all be in close proximity and within a narrow price range and be verifiable sales. In addition, your appraiser must include a picture of each home he uses as a comparison.

At the completion of the inspection, your appraiser completes and submits a signed valuation report following established guidelines. This report includes a listing statement, a map showing the location of your home as well as the comparison homes, a sketch of the perimeter of your home that includes square footage calculations, pictures of the front, rear and street view of your home as well as the front of each comparable and the repairs list. The final valuation of your home is almost always complete by using the sales comparison approach, according to DVA.

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USA Government VA Benefits

By Maureen Malone

Veteran benefits have been provided in the United States since 1636, when the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony passed a law to support veterans disabled in the war against the Pequot Indians. Today, veterans benefits are delivered through the three branches of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration and National Cemetery Administration. Benefits include medical treatment, education and vocational training, home loan guarantee and disability benefits.

Veterans, uniformed service members and members of the National Guard or reserve forces are eligible for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dishonorable discharge disqualifies the veteran from benefits. Children and spouses of deceased veterans are also eligible for some program. Other requirements for benefits vary by program.

Individuals can apply for benefits at a local VA office or online using the Veterans online application (see the link in Resources).

Individuals on active duty may apply for benefits prior to leaving service with the pre-discharge program. This program allows service members to receive disability benefits immediately when they are discharged.

Several education benefits are available depending on when the veteran served in the military. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, for military personnel who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, provides college costs up to the amount of in-state tuition plus an allowance for books and living expenses.

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment helps disabled veterans find and keep jobs. This program develops a plan for the veteran that includes rehabilitation planning and counseling, job-related training and education and employment assistance.

Health benefits are available to service members who served at least 24 months of active duty. Veterans receive treatment of injury and illness, preventative care, prosthetic services, alcohol and drug dependency treatment and mental health care. Some services require a small co-pay. Some veterans, such as those who are more than 30 percent disabled, may receive reimbursement for travel costs to the VA medical facilities. In addition, some veterans may qualify for a lifetime benefit of $4,100 to make home improvements necessary because of their disability.

Monthly compensation is available to veterans with at least a 10 percent, service-related disability. A pension plan is offered to veterans age 65 and older and to veterans whose disability is total and permanent.

Other benefits include a home loan guarantee that generally does not require a down payment and access to several life insurance options.

Veterans may be buried in a VA national cemetery in most cases. The VA will provide a headstone and a flag to drape over the coffin. If the death was service related, a $2,000 allowance is provided for burial expenses.

Disability and indemnity compensation is a benefit paid to the dependents of a veteran who dies while on active duty or who dies from a service-related injury or disability. A death pension is available if the service member dies in a war.

Claimants have up to 12 months to appeal a decision made by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Claimants first file an appeal with the department that made the decision. If the decision is upheld, the claimant may take the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims within 120 days of the appeal decision. Claimants appeal many decisions including denial of medical or burial payments, education benefits or disability compensation.

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Unemployment VA Benefits

By Tim Anderson

Veteran soldiers returning from service are often unable to work due to injuries. Others have spent their entire careers serving in the armed forces and may find themselves entering a civilian population that has no direct need for their particular skills. There are a number of reasons why veterans may find themselves unemployed, but thankfully, there are a variety of unemployment benefits that come down from the federal level to ensure that the people who keep the country safe are taken care of.

VA home loans ensure that eligible veterans can obtain or maintain an abode despite their unemployed status. While the specific guidelines vary state to state, the home loan guaranty helps veterans buy or build their own home, whether it be a condo, a house or an apartment. In addition, the loan can help veterans refinance an existing mortgage if required, as well as enable them to repair an existing facility if it is in need of such.

Health care benefits are one of the most important aspects of veteran unemployment aid. Whether a veteran is retiring after a career of service or is someone who has been injured in a past battle, there are a number of situations where the health of the veteran is compromised in some way, and without a job they cannot pay for the necessary health insurance. The government runs over 1,400 facilities to cover the needs of veterans, with a comprehensive program that depends upon the level of service a veteran has performed.

Whether a veteran is permanently or temporarily disabled or is over the age of employment, an individual might find themselves faced with an income that is too low to cover their cost of living. As long as a veteran has performed enough time in service and either retired or was given an honorable discharge, they are eligible for a federal pension to help them cover their costs of living.

On their own, many veterans find themselves unable to cover the cost of many amenities that regular citizens take for granted, such as life insurance. The government offers life insurance policies for unemployed veterans as a way of compensation for time served. Any member of the armed forces is eligible so long as they meet the requirements for time served. Coverage varies from personal life insurance to family policies.

While it is an unpleasant situation, many veterans face serious health issues after their time in the military. When there are dependents in the family who rely upon the income of that soldier, it can lead to disparaging circumstances. Unemployed veterans can rest assured that their dependents and families will be taken care of should they pass on, as well as if they are too disabled to work.

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Underwriting Guidelines for VA Mortgage Refinancing

By David Rouse

Americans started providing benefits for veterans before the U.S. was even a country. The Pilgrims passed laws requiring the colony to take care of soldiers hurt or disabled during the Pequot Indian war. Post-WWII, the government decided to give housing benefits to soldiers. Today, Veterans Affairs (VA) does not give loans directly to veterans but encourages lenders to give $0 down payment loans to veterans by guaranteeing the loans against losses.

The VA guarantees up to 25 percent of a veteran's loan amount. If a home with a $100,000 mortgage is foreclosed upon, the VA will pay for up to $25,000 in losses to the lender if the home does not sell for enough to recoup the mortgage balance and foreclosure fees. The standard loan limit is $417,000 for a VA loan, but in certain high balance counties the limit may be as high as $1,094,625 as of 2011. These limits are subject to change; check with your lender for the limits in your county. VA loans allow $0 down payment and can even include loan balances that exceed the purchase price if the funding fee or energy-efficient items are included in the loan amount.

The VA only offers loan guarantees for eligible veterans and their spouses or widows. Each applicant must provide a copy of his DD214 discharge paperwork and provide a certificate of eligibility from the VA. This information is included in the loan application, along with all of the other qualifying documentation required. Veterans must provide proof of income and employment, along with proof of the funds to close if required.

VA loans require the borrower to pay a funding fee. The funding fee varies, depending on the type of loan and how many times the benefit has been used previously. If the benefit has not been used before, then the funding fee is 2 percent of the loan balance when the down payment 5 percent or less of the purchase price. If the veteran used the benefit to purchase a prior home, then the funding fee is 3 percent of the purchase price. If the veteran did not serve on active duty but was a reservist or national guardsman, then the first time use funding fee is 2.75 percent.

Only a VA-approved appraiser may provide an appraisal for a VA-guaranteed loan. Mortgage lenders must also have an underwriter that has successfully completed the Lender Appraisal Processing Program (LAPP) and has received a Staff Appraisal Reviews (SARS) approval from the VA to examine the appraisal. Many VA loans require very little equity in the home, so the lender must diligently examine the appraisals for fraud or excessive values.

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U.S. Army Reserve Veterans Benefits

By Maggie O'Leary

Veterans of the United States Army Reserve are entitled to many benefits. The benefits for veterans who retire after 20 years of reserve service are greater than for those who retire with less than 20 years of service. These benefits cover health care, burial and funeral benefits, and other privileges.

Veterans who leave the Army Reserves after less than 20 years of service are not entitled to health care from the Veterans Administration (VA), unless they leave the Reserves due to a disability. Those who retire with more than 20 years of service are entitled to full health care benefits at any VA hospital or medical facility.

Only Army Reserve veterans who retire with over 20 years of service are granted a retiree military identification card and lifetime access to military installations.

Army Reserve veterans must be retired with over 20 years of military service to enjoy unlimited shopping privileges at any Army/Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Post Exchange or Base Exchange, or any Defense Commissary location.

Army Reserve veterans who retire with over 20 years of military service may take advantage of SGLI policies in amounts of up to $400,000 at very low premiums.

All Army Reserve veterans are entitled to military funeral benefits, to include a flag and a bugler to sound "Taps." Those who retire with more than 20 years of service are entitled to a full color guard with firing squad.

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