How to Apply for Benefits With the Veterans Affairs

By Rita Kennedy

The Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, is a branch of federal government charged with providing veterans of the U.S. military with benefits and services. The department administers a wide variety of benefits, from education and health care to loans, insurance and headstones. Although each benefit has a separate application procedure, the process begins in the same way no matter which benefit you apply for.

Check which benefits you are entitled to on the department's eBenefits website or in person at the nearest Veterans Benefits Administration regional office. Generally, you will be entitled to benefits unless you were discharged under dishonorable conditions. Some benefits require wartime service; if this is the case for the benefit you are interested in, check the Department of Veterans Affairs guide to see if you qualify.

Order a copy of your discharge form from the National Archives. You can do this online or by mail, and the service is usually free for veterans. You may require the information again in the future, so once you receive your records, keep a copy in a place where you and your next-of-kin will be able to access it.

Check the eBenefits website, or visit your nearest Veterans Benefits Administration regional office to find out exactly how to apply for the benefit you are interested in. Each benefit has a separate application procedure.

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