Veteran Benefits: Adding In-Laws For Support

Veterans of the Armed Forces have been entitled to some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs since the Civil War. Congress has enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking federal employment from being penalized for their time in military service. In addition to employment benefits, veterans are also eligible for VA benefits, which include health care, life insurance, and money for school. These benefits extend to the veteran's spouse or dependent child, who may also qualify for certain benefits, including health care, life insurance, and money for school.

Spouses and dependent children of veterans may receive benefits, including healthcare and life insurance

Spouses and dependent children of veterans may be eligible for a range of benefits, including healthcare and life insurance. These benefits are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and are designed to support the families of those who have served in the military.

Healthcare Benefits

Spouses and dependent children of veterans can qualify for healthcare benefits, including coverage for medical services and access to online health management tools. These benefits are available to those who meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having a service-connected disability. Spouses and dependent children can also receive confidential help and support from qualified Veterans Crisis Line responders, who are often veterans themselves. This service is free and available at any time.

Life Insurance Benefits

The VA also offers life insurance options to spouses and dependent children of veterans. Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) coverage is available to eligible families, and they can also manage existing policies. Additionally, beneficiaries of a veteran's or service member's policy can access free financial advice and will preparation services. This includes learning about VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC) or a VA Survivors Pension.

Education and Financial Benefits

Spouses and dependent children may be eligible for financial assistance for education, including money for school or job training through the Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance Program (Chapter 35) or the Fry Scholarship. Veterans can also transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouses or dependent children. Furthermore, surviving spouses may qualify for VA-backed loans to purchase, build, improve, or refinance homes, with support to manage loan benefits and avoid foreclosure.

Surviving spouses and children may receive added benefits, including help with burial costs

Surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans may be eligible for certain benefits, including financial support for burial costs. These death and burial benefits are available to the person who paid for the burial expenses. A surviving spouse can receive death benefits for the rest of their life, unless they remarry. In the event of remarriage, the spouse will receive a lump sum payment equal to two years' worth of benefits. If there are dependent children, the benefits will be split evenly between them and the spouse. If the deceased employee had no surviving spouse, child, or grandchild, non-dependent parents may qualify as eligible beneficiaries, though these benefits are limited to 104 weeks.

In addition to burial costs, surviving spouses and dependent children may be eligible for other benefits. These include health care, life insurance, and money for school through the Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance Program (also called Chapter 35) or the Fry Scholarship. A surviving spouse may also be eligible for a VA-backed loan to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home.

To be eligible for these benefits, spouses and dependent children must meet certain criteria. For example, ex-spouses must have been married to the veteran for at least 10 years. Children may be eligible if they are unmarried and are under a certain age or have a disability. Adult children who have a disability that began before their 22nd birthday may also be eligible if their veteran parent has died.

It is important to note that these benefits are available to surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who have served during specific periods or in certain military campaigns. According to Title 38, "period of war" includes non-declared wars such as Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. As such, veterans who served during these conflicts are entitled to VA benefits.

Veterans can receive benefits during service and after separation or retirement

During their service, veterans are eligible for benefits such as life insurance, health care, and financial assistance for their families. After separation or retirement, veterans can continue to receive these benefits and may also be eligible for additional support, including:

• Monthly payments for those with limited or no income who meet certain age and disability requirements.
• Home loan programs and disability housing grants to help with independent living.
• Education benefits for spouses and children of 100% service-connected disabled veterans, such as the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship and the Montgomery GI Bill.
• Bereavement counselling and burial assistance for survivors.
• Mental health services, including free VA mental health care and support for readjusting to civilian life.

It is important to note that the eligibility criteria and specific benefits available may vary depending on the individual's circumstances and the nature of their service. Additionally, veterans' benefits are subject to change over time, so it is essential to stay informed about the most up-to-date information.

In terms of adding in-laws to these benefits, it is not explicitly mentioned in the sources provided. However, spouses and dependent children of veterans are generally eligible for certain benefits, as mentioned earlier. It may be worth contacting the VA directly or seeking further legal advice to clarify whether in-laws can be added to the list of eligible dependents.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities may be eligible for increased aid added to monthly pension payments

Veterans with service-connected disabilities may be eligible for increased aid added to their monthly pension payments. This is known as Veterans Pension Benefits, and it provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements and have income and net worth within certain limits.

To be eligible for this benefit, a veteran must meet the following requirements:

• They started on active duty before September 8, 1980, and served at least 90 days on active duty with at least one day during wartime.
• Their yearly family income and net worth meet certain limits set by Congress. Net worth includes all personal property owned, excluding the house, car, and most home furnishings, minus any debt owed.
• They did not receive a dishonourable discharge.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities can also apply for a housing grant to make changes to their home to live more independently. Additionally, they can explore life insurance coverage options for themselves and their families.

Furthermore, veterans with a 30% or greater disability rating may receive additional compensation for dependent children or a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance benefits. The benefit amount is graduated according to the degree of the veteran's disability on a scale from 0% to 100% in increments of 10%. An additional allowance may be added if the combined disability is rated at 30% or greater.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities who are seeking employment can also take advantage of the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944. This law gives disabled veterans preference in hiring for Federal jobs and acknowledges the economic loss suffered by citizens who have served their country.

Veterans' Preference Act of 1944—veterans who are disabled or served during specific periods are given preference in hiring and retention

The Veterans Preference Act of 1944 is a United States federal law that grants preference to veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during specific periods or campaigns when hiring from competitive lists of eligibles. This preference also applies to retention during reductions in force. The act recognises the economic loss suffered by citizens who served their country and restores veterans to a competitive position for government employment. It also acknowledges the larger obligation owed to disabled veterans.

The Veterans Preference Act of 1944 builds on existing veterans' preference rules by giving them legislative sanction. This means that any changes to the provisions must now be made through legislation, and the Executive Branch can no longer alter them. The act clarifies that preference is a reward for patriotic duties and recognises the sacrifices made by servicemen and women. It aims to ensure that veterans can obtain or regain the economic position they would have been in had they not served in the armed forces.

The act defines eligible veterans as those who served in an active military capacity and were honourably discharged, regardless of whether the service was during wartime or peacetime. It also introduced the concept of spousal preference in the appointing process, including widows and wives of those too disabled to qualify for government employment. This act was amended in 1952 to grant preference benefits to honourably separated veterans who served on active duty during a specific period after the termination of the state of war between the United States and the Government of Japan. The Vietnam War in the 1960s led to further modifications, with peace-time preference granted to Vietnam-era vets who served on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days between 31 January 1955 and 10 October 1976.

Veterans who believe they have not been accorded their Veterans' Preference can file a complaint with the local Department of Labor VETS representative. To be eligible, a veteran must have served on active duty for more than 180 days and have other than a dishonourable discharge. They must also have served during a period of war or received a campaign badge or expeditionary medal.

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