Veterans Benefits For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

A concise guide that explains the various programs available to veterans and their families. Helps you properly file applications, claims, and appeals. Benefitting from benefits -- A healthy look at medical care and compensation programs -- Understanding education and employment programs -- Home is where the heart is -- except when you're traveling! -- The part of tens Veterans Benefits for Dummies 3 Contents at a Glance 8 Table of Contents 9 Introduction 19 About This Book 20 Conventions Used in This Book 20 What You’re Not to Read 21 Foolish Assumptions 21 How This Book Is Organized 21 Icons Used in This Book 23 Where to Go from Here 24 Part I: Benefiting From Benefits 25 Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Veterans Benefits 27 Getting Familiar with the Benefits You Deserve 28 Breaking Down Your Benefits 29 Chapter 2: Determining Veteran Status and Qualifying for Benefits 35 What Is a Veteran? The Legal Definition 36 Understanding the Difference between Types of Military Service 37 Digging Into the Details: Other Considerations for Benefits 40 Service Records: Proving Your Eligibility 48 Protecting Your Paperwork 51 Chapter 3: Navigating Your Way through the Red Tape of Claims and Appeals 53 Meeting the Two Main Benefits Agencies 54 Double-Checking Your Documentation and Eligibility 56 Submitting Your VA Claim 59 Playing the Waiting Game: The Big Decision 60 Fixing Errors in Your Military Record 61 Do You Need a Lawyer or Additional Help? 63 Deciding to Appeal 64 When All Else Fails: Appealing the Appeal 70 Part II: A Healthy Look at Medical Care and Compensation Programs 73 Chapter 4: Veterans Affairs Healthcare 75 Medical Benefits Package: The Backbone of the System 76 VA Medical Care Eligibility and Enrollment 83 Seeking Extended Care 89 Addressing Financial Concerns 91 Chapter 5: Tricare: The Military’s Health Insurance 97 Tricare: Pick a Plan, Any Plan 98 Checking Your Tricare Eligibility 101 Enrolling in DEERS 102 Getting Your Medication 102 How Much Does All of This Cost? 104 What Isn’t Covered by Tricare? 106 Using Tricare Overseas 107 Smiling about Dental Care 107 Looking Into Vision Care 110 Chapter 6: Disability Compensation and Pensions 111 Checking Your Eligibility for Disability Compensation 111 How Much Is Your Disability Compensation? 120 Updating Your Home to Accommodate Your Disability 125 Clothing Allowance: Replacing Your Wardrobe 128 Looking into VA Pensions 128 Applying in All the Right Places 130 Chapter 7: Getting Your Military Retirement Pay 133 Understanding Retainer versus Retired 134 Figuring Out Your Retirement Pay 135 Getting a Handle on Medical Retirement 142 Divorce and Its Effects on Military Retirement Pay 145 Keeping DFAS Up-to-Date 146 Chapter 8: Carrying On: Payments and Benefits for Survivors 147 Ensuring the Family Future: Veterans Life Insurance Programs 147 Understanding Death Pensions 153 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) 155 Making Use of Education Benefits 158 VA Medical Care for Your Family 161 Home Loan Guarantees 166 Chapter 9: Burial and Memorial Benefits 167 Eligibility for Military Burial 168 A Final Place to Rest: Selecting a Cemetery 170 What the VA Does and Doesn’t Cover 173 Giving a Final Salute with Military Funeral Honors 177 Arranging Military Funerals 180 Part III: Understanding Education and Employment Programs 187 Chapter 10: Advancing Your Education through the GI Bill 189 Getting Cash for College: The Active-Duty GI Bill 190 The Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill: A Free Cash Cow 200 The GI Bill of the 21st Century 205 The GI Bill Is a Terrible Thing to Waste: Where You Can Use It 208 Dual Duty: Combining the GI Bills 210 Get That Cap and Gown Ready: Applying for the Benefits 211 Chapter 11: Aid and Vocational Training for Disabled and Homeless Veterans 213 The Chapter 31 Program: What It Offers 214 Examining Your Eligibility for Chapter 31 215 Footing the Bill: What the VA Pays For 216 Applying for Chapter 31 Benefits 221 Using Benefits beyond Education and Training 221 Giving Homeless Veterans a Helping Hand 222 Chapter 12: Veterans’ Job Preference & Small Business Loans 229 Veterans’ Preference: A Leg Up for Federal Jobs 230 Patriot Express Veterans Small Business Loans 238 Part IV: Home Is Where the Hear t Is — Except When You’re Traveling! 243 Chapter 13: Financing Your Dream House: VA Home Loan Guarantees 245 It’s Not a Loan, but Guaranteed Financing 246 Knowing How Much Uncle Sam Will Guarantee 247 Military Service Requirements for a VA Home Loan 248 Using the VA Home Loan Program, Step by Step 250 Before You Sign up: VA Home Loan Restrictions 252 Chapter 14: There’s No Place Like (A Military Retirement) Home 255 Moving In: Do You Qualify? 256 Two Homes, No Waiting 258 Gulfport: Whacked by a Hurricane, but on the Road to Recovery 259 Visiting the Washington Campus 260 Paying for Your New Home 265 Examining Your Healthcare Options 266 What Are You Waiting For? Apply Now! 267 Chapter 15: Shopping Until You Drop 269 Getting Familiar with the Military Exchange System 269 Commissaries: The Military Supermarket 276 Qualifying for ID Cards 278 263 How to Apply for Your ID Card 281 Chapter 16: Things to Do, Places to See: Travel Benefits 283 Leaving on a Jet Plane: Military Space Available (Space-A) Travel 284 Sleeping Cheaply at Military Lodging 296 Getting Some R&R at Armed Forces Resorts 299 Going Condo-Crazy with the Armed Forces Vacation Club 302 Part V: The Part of Tens 305 Chapter 17: Ten Places to Get Help with Veterans Benefits 307 American Legion 307 Defense Finance & Accounting Center 308 Disabled American Veterans 308 National Veterans Legal Services Program 309 Noncommissioned Officers Association 309 State Veterans Offices 310 VA Regional Centers and Vet Centers 310 Veterans Representatives on College Campuses 311 Veterans of Foreign Wars 311 Vietnam Veterans of America 312 Chapter 18: Ten Tips for Avoiding Problems with Your VA Benefit Claims 313 Don’t Try to Go It Alone 313 Read the Instructions Carefully 314 Answer All the Questions 314 Include Only Relevant Information 314 Use Your Claim Number 315 Keep the VA Informed 315 Meet the Time Limits 315 Read VA Correspondence Carefully 316 Establish a Filing System 316 Keep Your Appointments 316 Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Traveling via the Military 317 Choose Your Departure Terminal with Forethought 317 Time Your Travel Wisely 318 Sign Up from the Comfort of Home 318 Plan for Flexibility 318 Double-Check Your Travel Documents 318 Pack Lightly 319 Arrive Ready to Go 319 Be Financially Prepared 320 Purchase an In-Flight Meal 320 Sign Up Immediately on Arrival for Your Return Flight 320 Part VI: Appendixes 321 Appendix A: Contacts for State & U. S. Territory Veterans Benefits 323 Appendix B: VA Regional Benefits Offices 329 Appendix C: VA Medical Centers 335 Appendix D: Veterans Centers 349 Appendix E: National Cemeteries 365 Index 375

Saving veterans and their families from months of phone calls and internet searches, Veterans Benefits For Dummies outlines the various programs that the VA and other government agencies have in place as well as the procedures for filing applications, claims, and appeals for these benefits which include:
* Health care
* Ongoing care for wounded and disabled vets
* Education assistance
* Vocational rehabilitation
* Life insurance
* Home loan guarantees
* Pensions
* Survivors' benefits
* Burial benefits

Save time and cut through the red tape!Saving veterans and their families from months of phone calls and internet searches, Veterans Benefits For Dummies outlines the various programs that the VA and other government agencies have in place as well as the procedures for filing applications, claims, and appeals for these benefits which include: Health care Ongoing care for wounded and disabled vets Education assistance Vocational rehabilitation Life insurance Home loan guarantees Pensions Survivors'benefits Burial benefits Outlines the programs that the VA and other government agencies have in place. This book also features the procedures for filing applications, claims, and appeals for these benefits which include: health care; ongoing care for wounded and disabled vets; education assistance; vocational rehabilitation; life insurance; and home loan guarantees. Save time and cut through the red tape! Saving veterans and their families from months of phone calls and internet searches, Veterans Benefits For Dummies outlines the various programs that the VA and other government agencies have in place as well as the procedures for filing applications, claims, and appeals for these benefits which