Veteran Benefits in Hawaii
Hawaii VA benefits are overseen by the state’s Office of Veterans’ Services (OVS), a division acting as a liaison between local service members and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As such, local veterans benefits include advocacy and outreach, short-term counseling and referrals, and claim, benefit and burial assistance.
Federal veterans administration benefits include education and employment resources, disability compensation and life insurance. Additional programs under the veterans benefits administration include health insurance, home loans and pensions. To learn more about veterans assistance programs and how to apply, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
Several VA disability benefits and veterans life insurance options are available to eligible servicemembers, surviving spouses and eligible dependents. These disabled veterans benefits include general payments, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
To apply for VA disability pay in HI, claimants must complete VA Form 21-526EZ to receive veteran benefits or 21-534EZ for DIC. When making SMC VA disability claims, applicants must complete VA Form 21-2680.
Additionally, servicemembers may enroll in life insurance for veterans, such as the following policies: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI), Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI), and Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI).
When enrolling in VA life insurance, veterans must complete the following applications:
- SGLI: Form SGLV 8286
- VGLI: Form SGLV 8714
- FSGLI: Form SGLV 8286A
- S-DVI: VA Form 29-4364
- VMLI: VA Form 29-8636
- TSGLI: Form SGLV 8600
Other department of veterans affairs life insurance options include U.S. Government, National Service, Veterans’ Special Life and Veterans’ Reopened Insurance.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
Federal VA health care benefits include access to medical coverage under the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under VA health insurance, eligible veterans receive preventative care services, inpatient hospital stays, emergency aid, mental health resources and assisted living.
Other VA medical benefits may include dental care, diagnostic services, physical therapy and cancer treatments. As such, servicemembers may apply for veterans health insurance in Hawaii by visiting a local health care center, completing an online application, or by calling 1-877-222-8387.
However, patients who meet VA health care eligibility may choose to complete a paper application (Form 10-10EZ) and mail it to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
Veterans may apply for a VA pension in HI if they meet financial restrictions and age, disability or medical requirements. However, VA pension benefits are also available to surviving spouses and/or the unmarried children of deceased veterans.
Other veterans pension programs are available, including Aid and Attendance (A&A) or Housebound benefits. To apply for veterans pension benefits, claimants must complete Form 21P-527EZ, or Form 21P-534EZ to apply as a surviving family member.
To enroll in the Housebound or A&A veterans pension program, applicants must submit medical evidence supporting their claim. Vets must mail all required documentation to the Pension Management Center (PMC) servicing the state of Hawaii at the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attn: St. Paul Pension Center P.O. Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
Hawaii VA housing benefits include awards for qualifying veterans with disabilities. For instance, VA housing awards provide qualified veterans with a payment of up to $5,000 for remodeling or purchasing a handicap accessible home.
Additional VA housing assistance programs include tax exemptions on real property owned by veterans with disabilities or the surviving spouses of disabled servicemembers.
Federal veterans housing assistance programs are also available, including mortgage servicing assistance and home loans. To apply for a VA home loan, service members must complete a Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (Form 26-1880) and mail the form to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs VA Regional Office Loan Guaranty Division (26) 459 Patterson Road Honolulu, HI 96819
Note: To prevent VA Foreclosures, mortgage assistance services are also available. For additional information on the veterans housing assistance program, servicemembers may contact the VA’s Loan Guaranty Office at 1-877-827-3702.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
Under the federal GI bill, service members receive VA education benefits if they meet eligibility requirements. General GI bill benefits include tuition and fee payments, monthly housing allowances, and stipends of up to $1,000 for books and supplies.
Additionally, benefits under the post 911 GI bill provide veterans with services such as on-the-job training (OJT) and apprenticeships.
To apply for veterans education benefits under the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), Post-911 or Montgomery GI bill, service members or eligible dependents must complete an Application for Education Benefits (Form 22-1990) and submit it to the following address:
VA Regional Office P. O. Box 8888 Muskogee, OK 74402-8888
Note: For assistance in applying for VA school benefits in Hawaii, veterans may contact the OVS at 808-433-0420.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
To help servicemembers find jobs for veterans, several federal programs are available to them. These veteran employment benefits include access to the following VA employment databases:
- Hero2Hired
- VA For Vets
- Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS)
Military members searching for Hawaii VA jobs assistance may enroll in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program. Job seekers may apply online through the eBenefits website, or they may complete VA Form 28-0588 if they hold a service-related disability.
Additional veteran employment services include the Vocational Rehabilitation (VocRehab) and Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Hawaii
Hawaii VA death benefits include burial at any of the open veterans cemeteries in the state, including the State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe, as well as those in Hilo, Hanapepe, Makawao, Hoolehua and Lanai City.
These veterans burial benefits are also available to the dependents of qualifying veterans. Additionally, federal VA burial benefits include a government headstone or marker, perpetual care, the opening and closing of the grave, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
However, allowances for specific veterans death benefits vary depending on whether a veteran dies in the service or not.