Veteran Benefits in Alabama
Many Alabama veterans benefits are available for local military members to take advantage of, including federal and state benefits. Of the federal va benefits, the state Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides military members with disability, health care and burial benefits.
Other veterans administration benefits include pension benefits, housing assistance, education-related benefits and vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance. On a state level, the veterans benefits administration helps to prevent homelessness through the Homeless Veterans Program. To learn more about benefits for veterans, including veterans benefits eligibility requirements, review the sections below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
The VA provides veterans with va disability benefits through the Disability Compensation program, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program and the Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) program.
Other disabled veterans benefits in Alabama include Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) and disabled veteran life insurance through Service-Disable Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI).
To apply for va disability compensation, military members may complete the process online through the eBenefits website, or they may apply for va disability pay by mail.
Note: To apply for va disability claims by mail, veterans must download and complete an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (Form 21-526EZ). Alternately, applicants may request a mail-in veterans disability compensation application by telephone at 1-800-827-1000.
To apply for va disability benefits through the DIC program, veterans must complete an Application for DIC, Death Pension and/or Accrued Benefits (Form 21-534EZ).
Additionally, eligible military members may request disabled veterans benefits through the SMC program by completing an application for Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance (Form 21-2680) and submitting the application to a local VA office.
Other veteran disability benefits in Alabama include care through the Veterans Home Program. Available Veterans Homes in the state include the following: Bill Nichols, Floyd E. “Tut” Fann, William F. Green and Colonel Robert L. Howard.
Veterans may apply for va health care through homes such as these by obtaining an application at a local Veterans Service Office, or online through the state’s VA website.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
Veterans may qualify for va medical benefits if they served in the air force, navy, or active military and meet specific va health care eligibility requirements. Available health insurance for veterans includes the following programs:
- Medical Benefits Package
- Veterans Choice Program
- VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP)
- Prescription coverage
- Geriatrics and extended care services
- Homemaker and Home Health Aide Services (H/HHA)
- Skilled Home Health Care Services (SHHC)
- Care for travelling veterans
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Other veteran medical benefits include the Veteran Transportation Program, Veterans Point of Service (VOS) program and affordable health insurance for veterans through the Affordable Care Act.
To apply for va health insurance in AL, eligible veterans may complete the process online, by telephone, in person at a local VA health care office, or by mailing an Application for Health Care (Form 10-10EZ) to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Note: To apply for veterans health insurance by telephone, veterans must call 1-877-222-8387 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8.p.m., Monday through Friday.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
Veterans may qualify for va pension benefits through the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension programs. Eligible military members may apply to receive veterans pension through the VA’s website, or they may download and complete an Application for Pension (Form 21P-527EZ).
Veterans may submit the form in person at a local VA office, or they may mail the form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) serving the state of Alabama.
To apply for survivor VA pension benefits, applicants must complete an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (Form 21P-534EZ) and submit it in person at a local VA office, or by mailing it to the PMC at the address below.
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center ATTN: Milwaukee Pension Center P.O. Box 5192 Janesville, WI 53547-5192
Other VA pension benefits in AL include Aid & Attendance (A&A) or Housebound benefits. To apply for veterans pension benefits through the A&A or Housebound programs, eligible applicants must visit a local VA office to submit all required medical evidence, or they may mail all documentation to the PMC facility in Wisconsin.
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
Other Alabama veterans assistance programs include va housing benefits and home loans. On a federal level, applicants who meet va home loan eligibility may apply for va home loan services, including the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), Native American Direct Loan (NADL), Adapted Housing Grants, Purchase Loans and the Cash-Out Refinance loan.
Other veteran home loan benefits include mortgage assistance, Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grants.
Additionally, military members may benefit from veterans housing assistance programs in the state, including the Homeless Veterans Program. The va housing assistance program helps to advise and assist homeless veterans and their families, or veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.
To learn more about homeless veteran housing assistance in AL, applicants must contact 334-242-5066.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
Under the gi bill and the montgomery gi bill, veterans and their families often receive higher education and training assistance. Applicants may qualify for post 911 gi bill benefits through the state’s G.I. Dependent’s Scholarship, which is available to veterans and their dependents.
Other va education benefits include vocational rehabilitation and employment, education and training, tuition assistance and programs such as the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) and the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP).
To apply for veterans education benefits in Alabama, applicants must visit a local Veterans Service Office.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
To help applicants find jobs for veterans, the VA offers Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services. The program introduces applicants to va employment opportunities, job training, resume development and career counseling.
In addition to helping applicants find veteran jobs, the program helps veterans to transition into civilian employment through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) services.
For assistance in obtaining va jobs in AL, applicants may visit a local VA office or they may apply online through the eBenefits website.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Alabama
Veterans death benefits include burial benefits, such as a gravesite at one of the 135 national cemeteries. Other va funeral benefits include a government headstone, burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
These veterans burial benefits are available to eligible families at no charge. Additionally, Alabama va burial benefits allow veterans to pre-register eligibility for burial at the state Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort.
There is no charge to pre-register for burial eligibility. VA death benefits are also available to the spouses and dependents of military members.