Retired Veterans Benefits

By Alexis Writing

A veteran is an individual who served for the military, usually in areas of military conflicts. In recognition of the amount of danger these individuals put themselves in, and the devotion they show to their country, the government of the United States awards certain benefits to retired veterans.

Veterans receive memorial benefits in return for their service. Veterans receive partial reimbursements toward burial and the cost of a funeral. This reimbursement is separated into two payments---payments for the burial and funeral cost, and payments for the plot interment allowance. Additionally, the amount of money you receive depends if your death occurred during service or not. For veteran service-related deaths that occurred on or after Sept. 11, 2001, the Department of Veteran Affairs will pay up to $2,000 toward the burial expenses. If the veteran death occurred before this date, the VA will pay up to $1,500 toward the burial costs. For non-service-related veteran deaths, the VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, as well as a $300 plot-internment allowance.

If you have a service-related disability and you were not dishonorably discharged, you may qualify for VA disability compensation. Depending on the disability, your benefits can range from $123 per month to as high as $3,100 per month. Additionally, the number of dependents you have influences the amount of money you receive each month. Some of the things that may increase the amount of money you receive each month include the following: whether your disability is quite severe, such as a loss of limbs; whether you are supporting a spouse or dependent parents; or whether your spouse is extremely disabled.

Veterans also might qualify for a special monthly compensation. This is additional compensation if you lost certain organs or limbs in your service to the country. Some of the following disabilities that would qualify a veteran for special monthly compensation include: loss of a hand or a foot; loss of sight; deafness; loss of speech; loss of a reproductive organ; or immobility of a joint.

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