Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How to Start a Veterans Disability Claim

By Jessica McElrath

A veteran is eligible for disability benefits if a service-related injury or disease caused the disability and the veteran was honorably discharged. The disability benefit is tax-free. The compensation amount varies, but an eligible veteran will receive $123 to $2,673 per month (as of 2010). The veteran may be eligible for an additional sum if the disability is severe, the veteran lost a limb, the veteran has a spouse, dependent children, or a dependent parent or if the veteran has a seriously disabled spouse. Besides compensation, the veteran may be eligible for other benefits, such as vocational rehabilitation, special housing and an allowance for clothing. To file a disability claim, the veteran must file VA Form 21-256 with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Fill in the dates of your military service. You must provide the dates of service, places you served and the address of the units you served with on Active Duty, Reserve Duty or National Guard Duty.

List your disabilities. The form requires the applicant to provide information about the treatment received while in the service, the name and address of the facility where the applicant received treatment, the cause of the disability and the date the disability occurred.

Fill in the form with information about your family. Because the applicant's familial status helps determine the disability benefit amount, the application requires information about your spouse, previous marriages and information about the children that live with you and the children that do not live with you. You must provide Social Security numbers, whether your spouse is a veteran, the dates of birth of your children and the places your children were born.

Provide information about your income. The application requires the applicant to list places of employment for the past year, the net worth of the applicant and dependents, recurring income of the applicant and dependents and how much income the applicant and dependents expect to earn over the next 12 months. If the applicant lives in a nursing home, the applicant must provide information about the home, such as the date admitted and the care receiving.

It is necessary to provide evidence to support your claim. Gather medical records that document your disability. The records should establish whether you still suffer from the disability and the cause of the disability.

Provide a copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree and birth certificates for your children.


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