Women are Veterans, Too!

Disability - There are two types of assistance you can receive for a disability. Compensation & Non Service Connected Pension. Compensation is given to someone who is injured during time of service and Non Service Connected Pension is based on financial need. You need to file for compensation if you were injured during your time in service. By going to your local Veterans Service Agency, you fill out the necessary paper work, give the VA adequate medical evidence to substantiate your claim and go to a VA scheduled medical evaluation to validate your claim. **Remember, the more medical evidence you have, the greater your chance of getting your claim pushed through. Within a reasonable time period, the VA will send you a letter of explanation of their findings and a rating if applicable. Once a rating has been established, you will receive monthly checks from the VA, as well as back pay from the time you filed the claim.

For example, I filed in November 1994, the decision was made on October 1995, therefore, I received pay from November '94 to October '95 in a lump sum, then began my monthly payments each month. Non Service Connected Pension is based on a means test and pays you for permanent injuries or illnesses sustained after you have left the armed forces. Not everyone is eligible for this; but it doesn't hurt to file for it if the need arises.

   Survivor Benefits - Surviving Spouse Benefits are available for certain surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service may be eligible for a non service connected pension based on need. Minor children may be eligible even if the surviving spouse remarries. Another type of compensation is called the Disability & Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which is payments from the VA to spouses, dependent parents, unmarried children under 18, and some others, for those who died due to their service connected disability.

   Real Estate Tax Exemption - Some states, such as New York, grants a real estate tax exemption to wartime vets. This exemption allowed a percentage off for veterans who owned property and served during a war or a combat zone. NOT ALL STATES OFFER THIS EXEMPTION; but I do know that New York does. The rate of exemption is 15% of assessed value($12,000 maximum) to vets who served during war and an additional 10% for those who served in a combat zone. Check with your local real estate broker or legislative office for more details. These exemptions are not automatic. You need to go to your local assessors office to apply, if eligible.

   Burial - You can rest at ease in a VA National Cemetery at low/no cost to your family. The VA will pay for the cost of a grave site, headstone or marker, opening & closing the grave, and perpetual care of the grave when buried in a VA cemetery. Eligibility is as follows: discharged under any condition except Dishonorable. In accordance with a 1997 law, no one who's been convicted of a federal or state capital crime is NOT ELIGIBLE to be buried in a VA National Cemetery.

   These grave sites cannot be reserved and are on a first come, first serve basis and are applied for upon death. Cemeteries do not do Military Honors, that must be sought elsewhere, such as a the American Legion, VFW or a military installation or reserve group. A burial flag is given to drape the casket of the veteran and a burial headstone or marker. For those buried outside the National Cemetery System, these items need to be applied for through the VA Service Center. The VA will pay up to $1,500 toward a private burial if the vet died of service connected disability. The VA will pay up to $300 burial expenses toward those vets who died while receiving Compensation or Pension from the VA.

   Mental Health Care - Care needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle may be needed in the form of counseling for Mental Health. This could be clinical depression, PTSD, manic depression, suicidal thoughts, and other types of mental illness. Reliable clinician counseling is available to women for improved living.

   Sexual Trauma Counseling - Specialized clinicians are available who are experienced in the knowledge and teaching the aftermath of sexual trauma. This program is designed to treat the emotional effects of sexual trauma and is available to both in and out patients. Services may include counseling for rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other act of sexual violence experienced in the veteran's life. This does not necessarily have to have been service connected, if the trauma has interfered with the way you live your life today is effecting your quality of living.

   Woman's Coordinator - Each VAMC is required to have a Women Veteran's Coordinator on staff at the facility to help women vets get acquainted with the hospital, answer questions, report abuses or dissatisfactions and to assist in treatment when necessary. A Woman's Coordinator serves to represent the needs of women veterans and keep a positive environment for equal access to quality care.

You may apply for benefits at the following locations:

Department of Veteran's Affairs - this is the Official website of the Department of Veteran's Affairs. You will find all of the information outlined here with full details and requirements.

Local Veteran Service Center

VA Hospitals

VA Regional Offices - 1-800-827-1000