Last week, House Republican leaders pulled a vote on a veterans bill at the last minute, after failing to secure enough support for proposed changes to benefits.
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA), led by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Mike Bost, had been scheduled for a floor vote on July 16.
The bill, which aimed to expand veterans’ medical care and retirement benefits, faced criticism for funding those changes through reforms to future disability compensation. Some Republican lawmakers, along with key veterans’ organizations including Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans, argued that the plan risked leaving future disabled veterans worse off than they would be under current law.
Minutes before it was due to be brought to a vote, GOP leaders shelved the measure when more than half a dozen Republican hard-liners withheld their support, sparking questions about how best to fund veterans’ benefits.
The Department of Veterans Affairs says more than 200,000 veterans have enrolled in its health care system so far this year through an expanded outreach campaign, after a 2024 report said 1 million veterans missing out on support would be targeted.
Yahoo looks at some of the most commonly overlooked benefits — and why they go unclaimed. (Click below to skip to a section.)
1. VA disability compensation
Retired Army Vet enjoying life with disabilities
(Visual Vic via Getty Images)What is it? VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for veterans with an illness or injury that was caused or worsened by their military service. The amount awarded depends on the severity of the condition.
Veterans may be eligible if they:
Have a current illness or injury that affects their mind or body, and
Served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
They also need to meet at least one of these conditions:
They became sick or injured while serving in the military, and can link this condition to their illness or injury
They had an illness or injury before they joined the military, and serving made it worse
They have a disability related to their active-duty service that didn’t appear until after their service ended
They have an existing condition exacerbated by their service that has worsened over time
How much do they get? Monthly payments range from about $180.42 for a 10% disability rating to more than $4,671.47 for veterans with a 100% disability rating.
Veterans with qualifying dependents may receive higher payments. Dependents can include a spouse or a parent who is directly cared for by the veteran and whose income falls below a certain threshold.
It also includes having a child, including an adopted child or stepchild, who meets one of the eligibility requirements below:
They are under 18 years old, or
They are aged between 18 and 23 and enrolled in school full time
They became permanently disabled before they turned 18
Why do veterans miss out? Legal experts believe some veterans assume they don’t qualify for VA disability because they left the military years ago, lack the necessary evidence, missed a deadline or had an earlier claim denied.
Some may also be unaware that they can qualify for compensation for secondary conditions caused by an existing service-connected disability, such as sleep apnea, depression or arthritis.
Veterans are also encouraged to apply for an increased disability rating if their condition has deteriorated.
How to check: Veterans can check their eligibility, submit a claim or request a higher disability rating through VA.gov, or seek free assistance from an accredited Veterans Service Organization such as Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or The American Legion.
2. VA pensions
Disability compensation is awarded on a percentage scale.
(O2O Creative via Getty Images)What is it? VA pension is a tax-free monthly payment for low-income wartime veterans who are age 65 or older or have a permanent and total disability unrelated to their military service. Unlike disability compensation, eligibility is based on income and financial need.
Who may qualify? Veterans may be eligible if they:
Served during a qualifying wartime period
Are age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled
Are a patient in a nursing home for long-term care because of a disability.
Get Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.
Meet VA income and net worth limits of about $174,000, excluding the veteran’s (primary) home.
How much do they get? Veterans’ benefits are calculated from a maximum limit called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).
While these rates vary according to what other qualifying benefits veterans receive, the net worth limit to be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits is $163,699.
These payments can also vary depending on whether the veteran qualifies for additional aid.
Why do veterans miss out? Many veterans mistakenly believe they cannot receive a VA pension because they never saw combat or do not have a service-connected disability.
Others are unaware that unreimbursed medical expenses, such as health insurance premiums, prescription costs and long-term care expenses, can reduce their countable income, helping them qualify for a VA pension or receive a higher payment.
How to check Veterans can apply through VA.gov or with assistance from an accredited Veterans Service Organization.
3. VA health care
Eligibility depends on a person’s military service, disability status, income and exposure to hazards.
(chanakon laorob via Getty Images)What is it? VA health care provides health coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides primary care, specialist treatment, mental health services, prescriptions and preventive care.
Who may qualify? Eligibility depends on a person’s military service, disability status, income and exposure to hazards. They can be eligible if they:
Receive financial compensation (payments) from VA for a service-connected disability
Have been discharged for a disability resulting from something that happened to them in the line of duty
Have been discharged for a disability that got worse in the line of duty
Be a former prisoner of war (POW).
Have received a Purple Heart or Medal of Honor.
Receive or qualify for Medicaid benefits.
Were exposed to toxins or hazards by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, X-rays, or other toxins. This exposure could have happened while training or serving on active duty, even if you were never deployed.
Qualifying conflicts and periods of service are listed in further detail on this government website.
Why do veterans miss out? Some veterans may earn too much, didn’t serve for long enough to qualify, or don’t have their health issue recognised as service-related.
How to check: Veterans can check eligibility and enroll at VA.gov or visit a local VA medical center.
4. Education benefits
Veterans may qualify for GI Bill benefits if they served a minimum period of active duty.
(Pressmaster via Getty Images)What are they? Education programs including the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill, which can help pay for college, vocational training, apprenticeships, licensing exams and other approved education.
Who may qualify? Veterans may qualify for GI Bill benefits if they served a minimum period of active duty and received an honorable or other qualifying discharge, depending on the program (detail on those dates and times can be found here.)
If you’re eligible for more than one education benefit, you may be able to get up to a maximum of 48 months (or four years) of VA education benefits.
In some cases, benefits can also be transferred to spouses or children. Dependents of veterans who died or became permanently disabled because of military service may qualify for Survivors’ and Dependents’ educational assistance.
Why do veterans miss out? Many veterans may be unaware that their benefits can be used for trade schools, apprenticeships, flight training or certification courses, rather than just college degrees.
How to check: Veterans can compare programs and apply through VA.gov.
5. Survivor benefits
Support is available for the loved ones of veterans. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)
(AP Photo/Allison Joyce)What are they, and who may qualify? Survivor benefits provide financial support for surviving spouses, children and dependent parents of eligible veterans who have died.
Benefits include:
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors of veterans who died from a service-connected condition or while on active duty.
Survivors Pension for low-income surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of wartime veterans.
Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance. These are for those who receive a VA Survivors Pension and need help with daily activities or are housebound.
Why do survivors miss out? Many families are not aware that the benefits exist, nor that they qualify for them. Families of veterans who died years ago from illnesses like respiratory cancers also often do not know that the VA PACT Act expanded coverage retroactively. This allows survivors to file new claims that were previously denied.
How to check: Survivors can apply through VA.gov or receive help from accredited Veterans Service Organizations.
6. Housing assistance
VA-backed home loans with no down payment are available to secure a house purchase.
(jacoblund via Getty Images)What are they? Housing assistance is designed to help veterans buy, build or modify a home.
This may include VA-backed home loans with no down payment to secure a house purchase, or disability housing grants for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, providing assistance to modify an existing home to meet their accessibility needs.
Who may qualify? For VA-backed home loans, eligible veterans can qualify if they have served for at least 90 continuous days, or if they meet the minimum active-duty service requirement. More information can be found here.
For disability housing grants, claimants must
Own or will own the home, and
Have a qualifying service-connected disability
The qualifying service-connected disabilities include:
The loss, or loss of use, of more than one limb and/or lower leg
Blindness in both eyes (with 20/200 visual acuity or less)
The loss, or loss of use, of one lower extremity (foot or leg) after September 11, 2001, which means people can’t walk unaided
Why do veterans miss out? Historically, veterans have mistakenly believed they need to have a great credit rating, the loans may be risky, or they cannot use the program more than once.
How to check: Eligibility certificates and applications are available through VA.gov.
7. State benefits
What are they? Many states offer additional benefits beyond federal VA programs. Some states offer particularly generous benefits for veterans, including Texas, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and California. These may include property tax exemptions, free or reduced-cost college tuition, employment preferences, hunting and fishing licenses, vehicle registration discounts and access to state veterans’ homes.
Why do veterans miss out? State benefits vary widely, and many veterans never learn what their home state offers because these programs are administered separately from the federal VA.
How to check: Veterans can contact their state’s Department of Veterans Affairs or veterans affairs office, or search their state government’s website for veterans’ benefits. Several websites are also dedicated to outlining benefit offers.
