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Betty Watson Watson Studios 14230 Fisher Avenue Woodbridge, VA 22191 Phone: 703.494.6002 www.watsonstudios.net
concept, design, graphics, prepress, print Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Resource Guide To view the 2019 Guide, click this LINK. To view the current 2020 Guide, click this LINK.
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Design Illustration Graphics Packaging FOR VETERANS, ACTIVE MILITARY, AND THEIR FAMILIES
20-2021
RESOURCE GUIDE 20
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COMPENSATION AND PENSION
A monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness incurred or aggravated during active military service. These disabilities are considered to be service connected. DISABILIT Y COMPENSATION MILITARY RETIRED PAY Disability compensat
ion is paid monthly and varies with the degree of disability, the impairmen t to a veteran’s earning capacity and the number of dependents. Veterans with certain severe disabilities may be eligible for additional special monthly compensat ion. These benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax.
NATIONAL GUARD /SELECT RESERVE
World War II Memorial
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VA DISABILIT Y PENSION BENEFIT FOR WARTIME VETERANS A non-Service-Connected Disability VA Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans who have limited or no income, and who are age 65 or older, or under 65 and are permanently and totally disabled, a patient in a nursing home or are receiving Social Security disability payments. The amount that’s payable depends upon the type and amount of income the veteran and family members receive from other sources.
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Veterans who are more seriously disabled may qualify for Aid and Attendance or Houseboun d benefits. These benefits are paid in addition to the basic pension rate. Monthly payments are made to qualified veterans to bring their total income to a congressionally established support level (including other retirement and Social Security income).
AID AND ATTENDANCE ( A & A ) An A&A benefit is paid in addition to monthly pension. A&A is allowed if the veteran: requires the aid of another person in order to perform his or her daily living activities; is bedridden; is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity; or has corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
HOUSEHOLD BENEFITS A&A may not be paid without eligibility for pension. Qualifying veterans must have a single permanent disability (rated 100 percent disabled), and need assistance, or have a single permanent disability (100 percent disabled) and another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60 percent or more disabling. A veteran cannot receive both A&A and Household Benefits at the same time.
lf and n behalf of myse , we our entire staff thank all of would like to net partners, cabi the community ions other organizat agencies, and ributed to the that have cont urce Guide this NCDMVA Reso g, y year. Every sprin year and ever prepares this our Department ary e for NC’s milit Resource Guid 2020 their families. , veterans and of us, but we service members lenges for all presented chal year edition obviously has publish a latetance still be able to have the assis are grateful to lies fami e ensure thos times. of this book to g these uncertain they need durin
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Reservists who serve on active duty establish veteran status and may be eligible for the full range of VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and a discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorab le. In addition, reservists not activated may qualify for some VA benefits. National Guard members can establish eligibility for VA benefits if activated for federal service during ETS @NC4V a period of war or domestic emergency. Activation for other than federal service does not qualify guard members for all VA benefits. Claims for VA benefits based on federal service filed by National Guard members should include a copy of their military orders, presidentia l proclamation or executive order that clearly demonstra tes the nature of their federal service.
Historically, veterans have not been permitted to receive full military pay and VA compensat ion for benefits at the same time. Veterans who were entitled to both have had to either waive a portion of their retirement equaling the amount of awarded VA compensation or elect not to receive VA compensation at all. Receiving both benefits and retirement pay is commonly known as “concurrent receipt.” In 2004, Congress passed the Concurren t Retired and Disability Pay Act, allowing many veterans to receive 100 percent of the military retirement and VA compensation. Because of the complexity of this issue, visit www.dfas.mil for more informatio n.
WHAT CAN I DO IN eBenefits? Some of the features within eBenefits allow veterans and service members to access official military personnel documents, view the status of their disability compensation claim, transfer entitlemen t of Post-9/11 GI Bill to eligible dependents (service members only), and register for and update direct deposit information for certain benefits.
HOW DO I ACCESS eBenefits? eBenefits is located at www.ebenefits.va.go v. Before veterans or service members can access and use eBenefits they must be listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and obtain a DS Logon. They can choose from two levels of registration, DS Logon Level 1 (Basic) and DS Logon Level 2 (Premium).
WHAT IS A DS LOGON? A DS Logon is a secure identity (username and password) that is used by various DoD and VA websites, including eBenefits. If you are already registered in DEERS, you are eligible for a DS Logon. Once you have a DS Logon, it is valid for the rest of your life.
inue to ID-19 will cont how long COV r change We don’t know that will neve , but one thing and veteran impact our lives NC’s military ent to serving end of this is our commitm to reaching the ard forw look e, and we community. We es that will com g the challeng together. crisis and facin state forward to moving our look forward families are their rans and members, vete community— Military service apart from the k you community, not t to that. Than a part of the e is a testamen Guid do for the urce you this Reso e, and for all est in this Guid Carolina. for your inter State of North the and s United State rds, Warmest Rega ston Angella Dun munications Director of Com
of N.C. Department ns Affairs Military and Vetera
ard, ce. Going forw in military servi ery I witnessed this to improve deliv ones in their life. we will continue lina growing up the resources he North Caro ly, to ss fami acce own and in my of services Military Bragg. Fort on their er Department of ans and son of a paratroop for all of our veter rs is the fices ing and Veterans Affai early age the sacri over, we are work I saw from an families. More rnment agency and learned rtment fully into families make, central state gove to bring our Depa lina’s military Caro h Nort ng members, ing the dedicated to servi military service century, moderniz that 21st the bers, ary service mem families are a part while at the same active duty milit veterans and their way we serve you, families. Since the ity, not a part from easier to navigate veterans, and their of our commun time making it er has been dedicated Governor Coop ity. ered the call to mun 2015, our staff answ com You the process. est levels hard high ing stand the we work are n, and now to providing and NCDMVA serve our natio you, state’s military gthen that bond the call to serve of service to our every day to stren ready to answer munity, with a er. and veteran com ing even furth keep rity integ ice, and Yours in Serv responsiveness to State this of we It is the mission iples and values with the princ of e the sacrifices h Carolinians. honor and salut and, hold dear as Nort father, wife, husb know every mother, of support we ered That’s the level answ has who that rve, and it’s in son, and daughter our veterans dese or is the loved ce, , Secretary al servi annu to this call ish Larry D. Hall the t spirit that we publ mus We ber. nt of Military mem and N.C. Departme one of a service e, to ensure you Resource Guid the ble to you for Veterans Affairs ss to the unta and acce acco be have your loved ones se of defen in e mad sacrifices you earned. support you’ve ed We aim to exce our freedoms. d the h Carolinian, prou ons, not just meet As a native Nort your expectati the of e, tary futur Secre near . In the Marine, and the bare minimum North firsthand the nearly 1 in 10 that NCDMVA, I know know we nd ce can grou servi ary back a milit have impact that Carolinians will idual and the loved have on an indiv
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a tremendous COVID-19 has had of Since the Spring impact on our lives. ed crisis has transform 2020, this health the world live, over all le peop the way ies. famil their work, and raise Carolina is The State of North we continue no exception. As challenges to confront the daily l pandemic, posed by this globa committed to ins the NCDMVA rema
confront to cover costs and , to our struggling possible service ed by the pandemic providing the best the obstacles creat r bers s to make it easie duty service mem e want nt activ rtme ans, veter our Depa you ation inform the and their families. to connect you with most. when it matters you see this now, when need end, that To Resource long COVID-19 will SYMBOL in the We don’t know how ight a NCDMVA Guide, it’s to highl ct our lives, but continue to impa and your you rce with NC’s BOL resou SYM ated to standing during this is dedic bers and the family can utilize active duty mem ans, veter . As many long haul. public health crisis community for the l businesses are families and smal
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VA BENEFITS
VA BENEFITS
WHAT IS eBenefits? eBenefits is a joint VA/DoD web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to veterans, service members, and their families to research, access and manage their VA and military benefits and personal information. eBenefits uses secure credentials to allow access to personal information and gives users the ability to perform numerous self-service functions. It is an essential way for veterans, service members, and their families to receive access to and service from VA and DoD.
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