You have served in the United States military at its most extreme demand and now you are permanently injured. Re-orientation to civilian life, finding career and living arrangements that suit your skills and your health requirements are top priorities. You are not on your own, however, as both the Veterans Administration and your state government have benefit programs to assist you.
Early Days of the VA
The relationship between the federal government and the individual states regarding benefits for disabled veterans dates back to the First Continental Congress. In the beginning, the federal program for soldiers injured in the Revolutionary War could not be fully covered by the new government budget. The burden of making up the difference fell to the states until 1808. State compensation was not mandated, however, and each state made its own decisions on what coverage would include.
Historical Development
In 1808, The Federal Bureau of Pensions was formally established and a national tax base had developed sufficiently to cover the full cost of disabled veterans' benefits directly from the federal budget. By the end of the Civil War, federally funded veteran's homes and hospital level medical facilities had also become standard. Most states continued to fund disabled veterans' benefits as a supplement to federal programs. Many of those benefits are still in place today.
Modern Times
State to state comparisons of benefit programs for disabled veterans vary significantly. Options range from relief of vehicle registration fees and free hunting licenses to direct financial compensation, additional health care, tuition payments and employment preference programs. Attention to veteran needs and assistance to disabled veterans re-entering the society they have honorably served, is on the rise. The best place to start for help at home is your state Veteran's Affairs office.
Complications and Duplications
Two primary challenges for disabled veteran's seeking full activation of their benefits are complications related to travel and extensive paperwork and disputes that result from improper duplication of state and federal benefits. It is very important to get all of the information before making decisions about what to accept as assistance from any source. Create a long term plan that includes your housing, health, education and employment needs and design a package of both federal and state benefits that will support your goals without conflict. If you are unable to drive, include provisions for how you will travel for benefits processing and health care. Be sure you have the help you need to fill forms in correctly, saving time and future complication.
Advocacy
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is a national non-profit organization created and managed by disable veterans for nearly 90 years. With a mission to ensure that those who have defended the Nation's freedoms are able to enjoy the benefits they have earned, the DAV provides benefits assistance and veteran's advocacy in every state. If you are overwhelmed by the process of sorting through your VA and state disabled veterans options, or have a dispute that needs perspective to settle, consider contacting DAV. They can, at the very least, help steer you to clarity.
Tags: disabled veterans, your state, benefit programs, disabled veterans benefits, health care, they have
