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Articles
VA Benefits Veterans May Not Know About
By USVCP Staff Writers & Deborah Chase, PhD
October 5, 2020
Oftentimes, there are benefits “floating” around that many veterans may be vaguely familiar with or have no idea they exist at all. We often hear from veterans around the world say, “I had no idea such a benefit existed.” As such, for the convenience and betterment of our members, we’ve compiled a short list of benefits that seem to allude many veterans or are extremely underutilized. Take a look, you may be able to take advantage of these benefits while they still exist.
1. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). The DIC benefit is a monthly, tax-free benefit paid to eligible survivors of military personnel. The children, spouses, and even parents of some service members who died in the line of duty can qualify for DIC. The same goes for family members of veterans who passed away due to a service-connected disease or injury.
2. Higher Monthly Compensation for Disabled Veterans With Dependents. The monthly VA compensation paid to disabled veterans can be increased if they have dependents. This applies to veterans living with a disability rating of at least 30% or more. VA disability compensation is tax-free.
3. CHAMPVA Health Care Benefits for Children of Veterans
Children of veterans can also qualify for CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs). CHAMPVA is a comprehensive program that delivers health care benefits. Eligible surviving family members of veterans share health care costs with the VA. Qualified beneficiaries can also get assistance for necessary health care supplies.
4. TRICARE Health Care Benefits. TRICARE is a comprehensive health coverage program for family members of certain veterans. These include the following retirees or deceased:
- Service member
- National Guard soldier
- Medal of Honor recipient
- Reservist
TRICARE provides coverage for health care services, dental plans, and prescription medicines. It also offers specific benefits to children of veterans with special needs.
TRICARE is a program managed by the Department of Defense (DoD). Veterans who qualify for TRICARE may no longer qualify for CHAMPVA.
5. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). A son or daughter of a veteran may be eligible for PCAFC under certain conditions. With this program, you can obtain necessary caregiver education and training. You can receive counseling as well as mental health services. The PCAFC can also provide the following benefits for caregiving children of veterans:
- Travel and lodging cost coverage when traveling with the veteran for healthcare purposes.
- Financial assistance for healthcare-related travels with the veteran.
- Monthly stipend
The PCAFC does require both the child and the veteran to apply together. The veteran must also need continuous personal care services for no shorter than six months.
