VA Benefits: What Veterans Are Entitled To and How to Access Them
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers some of the most significant benefit programs in the federal government — healthcare, disability compensation, pension, education assistance, home loan guarantees, and more. Yet studies consistently find that a substantial percentage of eligible veterans do not use VA benefits, often because they do not know what they qualify for or find the system difficult to navigate. This overview covers the major benefit categories, who is eligible for each, and where to start.
Written by the Uplift editorial team · Reviewed against official federal program sources
VA healthcare
VA health care provides medical, mental health, preventive, and specialty care to eligible veterans through a national network of VA medical centers and community clinics. VA health care is not automatically available to every veteran — eligibility is based on service history, disability status, and in some cases income.
Veterans who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are generally eligible for VA healthcare. Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive priority in enrollment and may pay no copays depending on their disability rating. Veterans without service-connected disabilities are enrolled in a priority group that determines whether they pay copays and for which services.
The PACT Act, signed in 2022, significantly expanded VA healthcare eligibility for veterans exposed to toxic substances, including burn pits and Agent Orange. Veterans who previously did not qualify for VA care may be newly eligible under PACT Act provisions. Checking eligibility after this expansion is worthwhile for Vietnam-era and post-9/11 veterans.
Disability compensation
VA disability compensation is monthly tax-free payment to veterans with disabilities that are connected to their military service. The amount depends on the disability rating — expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100% in 10% increments — that reflects the severity of the condition.
In 2024, the monthly compensation for a veteran with a 100% disability rating and no dependents is approximately $3,737. Ratings below 100% receive proportionally lower amounts. Veterans with multiple service-connected conditions receive a combined rating, and the VA uses a specific formula (not simple addition) to calculate the combined rating.
Filing for disability compensation requires submitting evidence of the service connection — medical records, service records, and a nexus linking the current condition to service. The claim process is managed through VA.gov. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion provide free assistance with claims filing and can significantly improve the quality and success rate of initial claims.
Education benefits
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) provides tuition, fees, housing, and book stipends for veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. For veterans with 36 months or more of qualifying service, benefits cover 100% of in-state public school tuition, a monthly housing allowance, and up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies.
The housing allowance is based on the DoD Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the rate for the school's location — in high-cost cities, this can be $2,000–$3,000 per month. The GI Bill can be transferred to a dependent spouse or child if the veteran remains in active service for a specified period.
The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) and other education chapters apply to different service periods and circumstances. VA.gov's GI Bill Comparison Tool allows prospective students to compare the benefits they would receive at specific schools under different chapters.
VA pension and Survivors Benefit
VA pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans with limited income and assets who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 or older. It is different from disability compensation — compensation is for service-connected conditions, while pension is available to veterans who have wartime service regardless of whether their disability is service-related.
Aid and Attendance is an enhanced VA pension benefit for veterans who need help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, feeding) or are housebound. It can provide significantly more monthly income than basic pension and may cover the cost of assisted living or in-home care.
Survivors Benefit (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC) provides monthly payments to surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who died from service-connected conditions. The basic DIC rate in 2024 is approximately $1,562 per month for a surviving spouse, with additional amounts for children and certain special circumstances.
Related