What Are 100% Disabled Veterans Benefits?

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established the 100% disabled veterans benefits program to provide additional support for disabled veterans with a VA disability rating and individual unemployability of 100%. In addition, 100% VA disability benefits provide eligible veterans and their families financial support, access to free medical care, education assistance, and more.

What Are the Benefits Available to Disabled Veterans?

The 100% disabled veterans benefits program provides veterans with financial, medical, and educational assistance. Depending on the veteran’s situation, they may be eligible for one or more of these VA benefits.

VA Disability Compensation

VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free financial benefit given to veterans who developed or worsened an illness or injury while on active duty.

To be eligible for VA disability benefits, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have a current illness or injury that affects your body or mind
• You must have served on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training

Additionally, at least one of the following must be true:

• In-service Disability Claim: You suffered an illness or injury while serving in the military
• Pre-service Disability Claim: You had an illness or injury before joining the military, which worsened during your military service
• Post-service Disability Claim: You developed an illness or injury during active duty that didn’t appear until after the end of your service

VA Medical Benefits

VA health care benefits provide veterans with access to necessary medical care services for the following:

• Treatment of illnesses and injuries
• Prevention of future health issues
• Improvement of ability to function
• Enhancement of quality of life

VA health care benefits also cover essential health care services, including:

• Health examinations
• Health education
• Immunization against infectious diseases
• Counseling on genetic diseases
• Surgeries
• Medical treatments
• Kidney dialysis
• Acute care or short-term treatment after surgery or for serious illnesses or injuries
• Specialized care, including organ transplants, intensive care for physical and mental conditions, and care for traumatic injuries
• Urgent care at specific VA health facilities
• Urgent care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses that need immediate attention
• Mental health services for PTSD, military sexual trauma (MST), depression disorder, and substance abuse problems
• Assisted living and home health care
• Prescriptions written or approved by a VA doctor
• Diagnostic tests, including X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work
• Therapy and rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy, vision rehabilitation, and therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Additional healthcare services, including prosthetics, hearing care, and cancer care

VA Home Loan Benefits

VA housing assistance helps veterans, service members, and their surviving spouses buy a house or refinance a loan. In addition, other benefits and services are available to help them build, improve, or keep their current homes.

The VA offers various home loan programs, including:

• VA Direct Home Loan Work: For this program, the VA serves as the lender and helps veterans with the application and management of their loans. This includes the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program, which provides direct loans to eligible Native American veterans and veterans married to Native Americans.
• VA-backed Home Loan Work: This program involves a private lender such as a bank, credit union, or mortgage company, and the VA guarantees a portion of the loan. It includes purchase loans, interest rate reduction refinance loans (IRRRL), and cash-out refinance loans.

VA Education Benefits

The VA offers various educational benefits for veterans, service members, and their eligible family members. These programs are designed to help veterans and their families pursue degrees, certificates, or other forms of learning that will help them find employment or advance in their careers.

VA education benefits include:

• Montgomery GI Bill: This program pays tuition, fees, and other college or vocational school expenses. It is available for veterans who served for at least two years in active duty (Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program) or members of the Selected Reserve (Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve program).
• Post-9/11 GI Bill: This program covers educational expenses for veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001.
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program: This program provides training and employment services to help veterans transition from military service.
• Educational and Career Counseling: This program provides counseling to help veterans make informed decisions about academic and career paths.

VA Pension Benefits

VA pension benefits are available to wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who meet particular disability and age requirements, as well as income and net worth limitations. These benefits can provide monthly payments that help cover living costs for those who served during an eligible wartime period. This includes the VA Veterans Pension and the VA Survivors Pension.

VA Burial Allowance

The VA offers burial benefits for eligible veterans, service members, and their families. These benefits can help cover the costs of preparing for burial or memorial services in a veteran’s cemetery. This also allows family members to order memorial items to honor the veteran’s service.

How Can a Veteran Apply for Disability Benefits?

There are several ways to apply for VA benefits:

• Online: Veterans can complete the application process online
• In-person: Veterans may submit their applications at a local VA Regional Office
• By phone: Veterans may speak with a VA representative and apply by phone
• By mail: Applications and supporting documents can be sent to the nearest VA Regional Office for application

Veterans must take note of the specific requirements of each program:

• VA Disability Compensation: Veterans need to submit evidence of their service-connected disability, such as medical records and military service records with their VA disability claim
• VA Medical Benefits: Veterans must submit evidence of their medical condition, Social Security number, insurance card, and income information
• VA Home Loan Benefits: Veterans must accomplish their VA certificate of eligibility to apply for a VA direct or VA-backed home loan
• VA Education Benefits: Veterans must submit supporting documents about their education and military history and information about the school or institution they want to attend
• VA Pension Benefits: Veterans must submit documentation of their military history, Social Security number, financial information, work history, and medical information
• VA Burial Allowance: The surviving spouse or family member of the veteran must submit the veteran’s death certificate, military discharge papers, and proof of their relationship to the veteran

What Are the Criteria for a Veteran To Be Considered Disabled?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a veteran must meet the following criteria to be classified as legally disabled:

• Debilitating impairment: A war veteran must sustain a physical or mental disability that hinders a significant portion or function of their life
• Record of impairment: The veteran must be able to prove the existence of their disability via medical records or other formal documentation
• Regarded as having a disability: A veteran can be considered disabled even if they do not meet the criteria for a debilitating impairment, as long as they are “regarded as” having a disability

Different agencies or associations may have criteria for classifying a veteran as disabled, so it’s essential to understand the requirements of each organization.

How Does the VA Calculate a Disabled Veteran’s Special Monthly Compensation?

The VA bases your special monthly compensation on the severity of your VA disability rating. The agency uses a disability rating system to assign a particular percentage to your condition. Veterans Affairs will base your VA disability rates on the evidence you present to prove your VA disability claim.

The more formal documentation you can provide to support your disability claim, the higher your disability rating and individual unemployability may be. If you suffer from multiple disabilities, you will get a combined disability rating that takes everything into account.

Can a Disabled Veteran Receive Both VA Disability and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits?

Yes! You can claim both VA Disability and Social Security Disability Benefits, and many disabled veterans do. However, keep in mind that just because you qualify for one benefit doesn’t mean you automatically qualify for the other.

The claiming process for these benefits differs, and you must undergo separate assessments to determine if you qualify, and they use different criteria to determine the amount of money you’ll receive.

SSDI Benefits don’t adjust your compensation based on the severity of your disability, unlike VA Disability Benefits. Instead, SSDI Benefits base your compensation on your average lifetime salary.

Are There Any Tax Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans?

Certainly, disabled veterans have special tax breaks that can help ease their tax burden. However, the rules to tax exemption apply differently in every state, so confirming with your state’s veteran services is best.

For example, a disabled veteran living in Texas with a 100% disability rating can enjoy a 100% exemption from all property taxes. On the other hand, disabled veterans from California can receive either a $100,000 or $150,000 exemption, depending on their annual household income.

Moreover, legally disabled veterans are also eligible for non-veteran benefits such as Disability insurance payments and the federal’s initiative Tax Credit for the Elderly and Disabled.

What Is the VA’s Life Insurance Program for Disabled Veterans?

Disabled veterans who sustained debilitating injuries are enrolled in the Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) Program, a VA life insurance specific for disabled veterans. This insurance coverage provides an affordable solution for disabled veterans and their families in the event of death or disability.

However, the S-DVI phased out at the end of 2022 and was replaced by Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife). With VALife, disabled veterans who are 80 years old and younger can obtain coverage even if their disability rating is 0%.

The VALife provides up to $40,000 of whole life insurance coverage. This policy also has a cash value component that increases in value within two years of the VA approves your application.

Are There Any Benefits for the Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans?

The VA recognizes the unique needs of veterans’ dependents and provides them with financial assistance. Below are some of the most common benefits for disabled veterans’ dependents.

TRICARE

TRICARE is an insurance provider for veterans and their family members. TRICARE aims to help veterans keep their families healthy by providing comprehensive medical coverage.

If you sustained a service-related injury that leaves you 30% or more disabled, your dependents are eligible for TRICARE’s Temporary Disabled Retirement List (TDRL). After five years, TRICARE can transition your benefit to Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL) if your condition remains unchanged or worsens.

CHAMPVA

Other than TRICARE, dependents of disabled veterans can also claim benefits from The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). Unlike TRICARE, which the Department of Defense sponsors, CHAMPCARE is an initiative of the VA.

This life insurance program helps disabled veterans and their dependents by sharing the cost of certain healthcare services and supplies. It covers long-term care expenses such as home health, private nursing, mental health services, prescriptions, and durable medical equipment.

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) provides educational benefits to the dependents of disabled, deceased, or missing veterans. This program allows dependents of eligible veterans to receive various educational and on-the-job opportunities for up to 45 months.

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) applies to disabled veterans with over 70% disability rating and individual unemployability who need around-the-clock care. Eligible veterans can appoint one primary caregiver and up to two secondary caregivers.

What Is the VA’s Burial and Memorial Benefits Program for Disabled Veterans?

The VA provides burial and memorial benefits for veterans who died during active duty, those who survived the battlefield but eventually died, and those who died due to a service-related disability.

The VA will provide $2,000 for funeral and burial expenses if the veteran was killed during active duty. If the veteran died of natural causes or because of a disability and was sent to the hospital, the VA will provide $796 for burial and funeral benefits.

On the other hand, if the disabled veteran wasn’t hospitalized at the time of death, the VA will provide $300 for funeral and burial expenses. On top of that, the VA will also provide a $796 plot-interment allowance if the veteran was not buried in a national cemetery.

What Is the VA’s State Veterans Affairs Benefits Program?

State Veterans Affairs benefit programs provide different types of services for disabled veterans. The VA will approve and fund these initiatives, but the individual state can decide what services they offer. Each state’s program is unique, so it’s best to check your local veterans’ office.

Some of the most common services offered by state Veterans Affairs benefits programs are:

• Housing assistance, such as loans and grants
• Employment counseling and job placement services
• Educational opportunities for veterans and their families
• Mental health services for veterans
• Counseling on veteran benefits and entitlements

Final Thoughts

Serving the country is no easy feat; it takes its toll on veterans. Because of the life-threatening nature of their jobs, veterans often return home bearing lifelong scars and disabilities that prevent them from enjoying the same life they once lived.

The VA understands the hardship disabled veterans face, which is why they have numerous programs to help these brave soldiers transition back to civilian life. Whether it be financial assistance, educational opportunities, or mental health services, these programs are designed to support those who have served our country with honor.

We owe it to them to ensure they receive all the necessary resources and care they deserve. With this in mind, we must continue advocating on behalf of our nation’s heroes and ensuring their needs are met both now and in the future.

Reach out to us at Benefits.com to see if we can help you with your claim!