Lycoming County Veterans Affairs

 

Federal Veterans Benefits
 

The Federal VA mailing address is:

Eastern Region:
Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Philadelphia Regional Office
5000 Wissahickon Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19101

Western Region:  
Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Pittsburgh Regional Office
1000 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

The Federal VA telephone number is:
1-800-827-1000

The Federal VA website is http://www.va.gov/

o   Healthcare Services

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries.

For more information and eligibility requirements, see:

http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp

o Compensation and Pensions

Compensation & Pension Service administers a variety of benefits and services for veterans, their dependents and survivors, including, but not limited to: service-connected compensation, DIC, non-service connected pension, burial & accrued benefits, guardianship and public contact services.

o   Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment          

The Department of Veterans Affair's Veterans Benefits Administration's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) service is vested with delivering timely, effective vocational rehabilitation services to veterans with service-connected disabilities.

http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm

o   GI Bill

The various GI Bills are available for many different types of Education Programs.

o   Home Guaranteed Loans

For information and eligibility requirements, see: http://www.homeloans.va.gov/  

o   Burial and Memorial Benefits

For information on any of the following benefits, see: http://www.cem.va.gov/

Benefits may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Headstones and Markers

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. For all deaths occurring before September 11, 2001, the VA may provide a headstone or marker only for graves that are not marked with a private headstone.

Upright headstones in granite and marble, and flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.

Presidential Memorial Certificate

The PMC is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of  honorably discharged deceased veterans.

Burial Flag

The Veterans Benefits Administration provides a U.S. flag at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a veteran’s military service to his or her country.

o   VA Life Insurance Program

The VA insurance programs were developed to provide insurance benefits for veterans and service members who may not be able to get insurance from private companies because of the extra risks involved in military service, or a service connected disability.

For information, see: (also explore other insurance options linked on this page)

https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/vgli/

o   To Obtain Replacement DD214s and other Military Records

Military service records are the only proof of military service available. In some cases, records are destroyed and have to be replaced. In others, records were incorrect and need to be updated. This link provides information about  policy, procedures, and instructions for requesting changes or replacements to military records. https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/