Eligibility | Wartime Service | Disability Compensation and Pensions | Education | Employment | Health Benefits | Home Loan Guaranties | Other |

Eligibility

Wartime Service

• World War I: April 6, 1917 through Nov 11, 1918; for veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917 through April 1, 1920; extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917 and Nov 11, 1918.
• World War II: Dec 7, 1941 through Dec 31, 1946.
• Korean War: June 27, 1950 through Jan 31, 1955.
• Vietnam War: Aug 5, 1964 (Feb 28, 1961 for veterans who served "in country" before Aug 5, 1964) through May 7, 1975.
• Gulf War: Aug 2, 1990 through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

Disability Compensation and Pensions

Disability Compensation (Service Connection)
Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. The service of the veteran must have been terminated through separation or discharge under conditions that were other than dishonorable. Disability compensation varies with the degree of disability and the number of dependants, and is paid monthly. The benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax. The payment of retirement pay, disability severance pay and separation incentive payments known as SSB and VSI (Special Separation Benefits and Voluntary Separation Incentives) also affects the amount of VA compensation paid.

Click here for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' comprehensive benefits site.

Non-service Connected Pension
Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war. The discharge from active duty must have been under conditions other than dishonorable. The permanent and total disabilities must be for reasons other than the veteran's own willful misconduct. Payments are made to qualified veterans to bring their total income, including retirement and Social Security income, to a level set by Congress. Unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce countable income. Veterans of a period of war who are age 65 or older and meet service and income requirements are also eligible to receive a pension, regardless of current physical condition.

Click here for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' comprehensive pension site.

Education

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program

The Military Survivors and Dependents Program (MSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict.  Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, the Virginia National Guard, or the Virginia National Guard Reserves.  Armed conflict includes military operations against terrorism or as the result of a terrorist act, a peace-keeping mission, or any armed conflict after December 6, 1941.  This program may pay for tuition and fees at any state-supported college or university. This program waives tuition and fees in Virginia. Benefits are available for up to four years.

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, children and spouses of qualifying military service members must meet the following requirements.

• The child must be between ages 16 and 29; There are no age restrictions for spouses.
• The military service member must have been a Virginia citizen at the time he or she entered active duty or must have been a Virginia citizen for at least five years immediately prior to the date of the application for admission.
• In the case of a deceased military service member the veteran’s surviving spouse can meet the residency requirements if he or she lived in Virginia for at least five years prior to marrying the military service member or has been a citizen of Virginia for at least five years immediately prior to the date of application.

Required Documentation
In most cases, eligibility will be determined using documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  However, the veteran or surviving spouse may be asked to provide documentation verifying residency or the applicant’s age or relationship.  State income tax records, birth certificates, and/or marriage certificates are usually sufficient.       

Recertification
To continue receiving MSDEP benefits, qualifying enrolled students must provide a letter to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services stating their continued enrollment, the period of time attended, and the period of time for which they are requesting benefits.

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program FAQs    

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program Application

For More Information
To learn more about the VMSDE program,

• call us at (540) 857-7104, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 P.M.;
• write to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, 270 Franklin Road, S.W., Room 503, Roanoke, VA  24011

Honorary Diplomas for World War II Veterans
Veteran Honorary High School Diplomas recognize the life experiences of veterans who were unable to complete their high school education because of service in the armed forces during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Since the first honorary diplomas were issued in 2001, more than 1,000 have been awarded to veterans of these three wars.

To obtain an honorary diploma, a veteran may submit a statement to the Veterans Education Unit of the Virginia Department of Education describing his or her service, the location of the last school attended, and affirming that he or she was unable to complete high school upon return to civilian life. The guidelines also allow family members and veterans’ organizations to submit this information on behalf of the veteran.

Veterans Honorary High School Diploma Program
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120

Find out more at the Virginia Department of Education.

For more information, contact Margaret Roberts at (804) 225-2924 or at Margaret.Roberts@doe.virginia.gov

Employment

Virginia Employment Commission (VEC)
VEC provides job referral and placement resources available to assist veterans in finding jobs. Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) staff are available in most VEC offices to assist veterans with employment services

Click here to learn more.

Department of Human Resource Management - Veteran Outreach Services
The Department of Human Resource Management places great importance on providing veterans access to information about employment services and assistance.

Click here to reach the DHRM Veteran Outreach Services.

Click here to see job opportunites through out Virginia.

Health Benefits

Health Benefits
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care to its customers. Our goal is to share information about these benefits and services to make it as easy as possible for you to receive the care you need.

Click here for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' health benefits site.

Home Loan Guaranties

Home Loan Guaranties
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) makes loan guaranties to service members, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses for the purchase of homes, condominiums, manufactured homes and for refinancing loans. VA guarantees part of a total loan, permitting the purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate, even without a down payment if the lender agrees. VA requires that a down payment be made for the purchase of a manufactured home. VA also requires a down payment for a home or condo if the purchase price exceeds the reasonable value of the property, or if the loan has a graduated payment feature. With a VA guaranty, the lender is protected against loss up to the amount of the guaranty if the borrower fails to repay the loan. A VA loan guaranty can be used to:

• buy a home;
• buy a residential condominium;
• build a home;
• repair, alter, or improve a home;
• refinance an existing home loan;
• buy a manufactured home with or without a lot;
• buy and improve a manufactured home lot;
• install a solar heating or cooling system or other weatherization improvements;
• purchase and improve a home simultaneously with energy-efficient improvements;
• refinance an existing VA loan to reduce the interest rate and make energy-efficient improvements;
• refinance a manufactured home loan to acquire a lot.

Click here for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' comprehensive loan guaranty site.

Other

License Plates
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers a variety of veteran and military-related license plates.

Click here to learn more.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries(VDGIF)
The VDGIF offers a lifetime hunting and fishing license to service-connected, totally and permanently disabled veterans for only $10.00

Click here to learn more