While militaries of the United States Military are in service, they may get injured physically or mentally. As soon as they return to their homes as Veterans, they can apply to get disability benefits and health care according to their injuries.
It is important to mention that these benefits can be extended to their families also.
Even though these benefits may be extended to the entire veteran’s dependent family, in this article, we are going to guide you on the process to obtain a 100 percent benefit as a spouse, like health care, education, and life insurance.
Veteran’s disabilities
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A mental condition can be qualified as a disability for Veterans when the physical condition has been developed during or after the active service. It also may be qualified when the previous mental condition got worse while serving in the military.
On the other hand, physical injuries that occurred during active service or injuries that got worse during service are also eligible for veteran’s disability benefits.
In the process of deciding the claim, there is an indicator ranging from 10% to 100% to calculate the injury´s severity.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in charge of assigning the medical condition (mental or physical) the correct percentage, which will determine the payment.
For example, in cases of married veterans who got a rating of 30% or more, they will receive a monthly payment of 150$. In cases of married veterans with dependant children, they will receive a higher amount.
Eligibility for disability benefits
As we said in previous paragraphs, the rate criteria is from 10% to 100%. To be considered as 100%, the veteran must have a total and permanent disability related to the military service.
Click in this link to find out if you are eligible or not: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility.
➡ READ MORE about disability benefits here: Social Security disability
What are the 100 percent disability benefits for a veteran’s spouse?
Health care
This specific benefit is provided by The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
Spouses of totally and permanently disabled veterans are qualified to obtain it as long as they remind married. It involves the payment of medical services and supplies.
Check the CHAMPVA application process to find information.
Education
Provided by the Department of Education to spouses of totally and permanently disabled veterans. These benefits include:
- Three years and nine months worth of education benefits.
- The reimbursement for the cost of correspondence courses.
The spouse may use these education benefits for over ten years from the date they were considered as benefited.
However, there is an exception in which can be used for over twenty years instead of ten; this is the specific case of veterans with a 100 percent rate within three years after discharge from the service.
If you are interested in applying for these education benefits, you will have to fill this form.
Educational and Vocational Counseling
This program provides veteran’s spouses a free educational and vocational counseling through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Spouses may receive a program introduction and guidance about how to apply according to their specifics cases. You can find more information here.
Burial benefits
Spouses are eventually able to receive burial benefits, like a gravesite, a grave liner, an identification, the opening and closing of the tomb, and the guarantee of taking care of the gravesite as a part of the cemetery.
About the application for disability benefits
If it is your first time, you can apply online here: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim and follow the instructions.
And, in case you have already applied, you can check your status here: https://www.va.gov/claim-or-appeal-status.
