Veteran Benefits in Michigan
Available VA benefits in Michigan include support and assistance under the state Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and the Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA). These veterans benefits include education opportunities, military scholarships, financial assistance, resources for finding jobs, and medical care through the Homes for Veterans program.
Additionally, federal veterans administration benefits include health care, disability benefits, and pension programs. Other veterans assistance programs are available to surviving family members or the eligible dependents of servicemembers. To learn more about the veterans benefits administration and how to apply for the services it provides, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
Veterans may apply for VA disability pay in Michigan if they have a service-connected disability, injury or disease. Additionally, VA disability benefits may be available to surviving spouses their military spouse died while on active duty.
As such, available disabled veterans benefits and application methods include the following:
- VA disability compensation – complete VA Form 21-526EZ
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) – complete VA Form 21-534EZ
- Special Monthly Compensation – complete VA Form 21-2680
Parents or children may file VA disability claims through DIC if a servicemember dies while on active duty. However, specific benefit amounts may vary.
Furthermore, veterans may apply for VA life insurance, including Servicemembers’ Group Life (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life (VGLI), Family Servicemembers’ Group Life (FSGLI), Servicemembers’ Group Life Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI), Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI) or Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI).
Servicemembers may apply for veterans life insurance by downloading and completing a paper application, or they may apply for VGLI or S-DVI online.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
Veterans may obtain federal VA health care in Michigan through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To obtain VA health insurance, eligible servicemembers must apply online, in person, by telephone or by mail.
Service members may obtain VA medical benefits in person at a VA medical center, by telephone at 1-877-222-8387 or by mailing an Application for Health Care (VA Form 10-10EZ) to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Additional MI veterans health insurance is available under the DMVA. These benefits include access to VA medical centers, a 24-hour call center, mental health screenings and community-based outpatient clinics throughout the state. To learn more about VA health care eligibility, veterans must contact a DMVA benefits counselor.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
Veterans may apply for a VA pension in Michigan if they meet income, age and minimum service qualifications. Federal veterans pension options include Aid and Attendance (A&A), Housebound allowances and survivors payments.
To obtain these VA pension benefits, servicemembers must complete VA Form 21P-527EZ, or Form 21P-534EZ to apply as a surviving family member.
To apply for the A&A or Housebound veterans pension benefits, claimants must mail medical evidence and a physician’s report to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attention: Milwaukee Pension Center P. O. Box 5192 Janesville, WI 53547-5192
Note: Additional benefits for veterans in MI include grants under the Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF) or the Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF). To apply for grants under the MFRF, veterans must complete a Michigan Military Family Relief Fund Application (DMVA Form 10-1). To apply for benefits under the MVTF, veterans must complete an online Emergency Assistance Form or they may contact a local DMVA benefits counselor.
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
State and federal VA housing benefits are available to servicemembers and certain eligible dependents. For instance, Michigan veterans housing assistance includes admittance to the D.J. Jacobetti or Grand Rapids Homes for Veterans.
To apply for VA housing assistance through either of the two Homes for Veterans, servicemembers must complete an Application for Admission and mail it to the facility of their choice along with all supporting documentation.
Additional housing assistance for veterans includes an income tax credit and property tax waivers. To learn more about applying for these benefits, contact the state Department of Treasury.
Furthermore, federal VA housing benefits include home loans, housing grants, counseling and financial assistance. Prior to applying for a VA home loan, service members must complete a Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) and mail it to the address below.
To access VA home loan rates or to receive mortgage assistance, veterans may contact the Loan Guaranty Office at 1-877-827-3702.
Department of Veterans Affairs Cleveland Regional Loan Center 1240 East Ninth Street Cleveland, OH 44199
Education Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
Federal VA education benefits in Michigan are available to service members and their families, including tuition assistance. These benefits are also available through certain educational programs.
The GI bill is one federal program that helps many veterans gain access to a college education at little to no cost. The post 911 GI bill also serves to help veterans with their educational needs, as does the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP).
To apply for these benefits, students must complete an Application for Education Benefits (Form 22-1990) and mail it to the following address:
VA Regional Office P. O. Box 32432 St. Louis, MO 63132-0832
Additionally, scholarships for veterans are available to qualifying servicemembers and their dependents. These veteran scholarships and grants include the National Guard State Tuition Assistance program and the Department of Treasury’s Children of Veterans Tuition Grant.
Various veterans education benefits are available under local universities and colleges, including the Baker College Grant, the Central Michigan University Grant and the Lake Superior State University scholarship. To learn more about these GI bill benefits, contact the State Education Office at 517-481-7646.
Note: Eligible WWII, Vietnam and Korean-era veterans may obtain a high school diploma by completing an application and submitting it along with their military discharge papers. To do so, servicemembers must complete an Application for High School Diploma for WWII, Korean and Vietnam Era Veterans and submit it to the school district for which they live.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
Michigan VA jobs resources are available to eligible veterans as they transition from the armed forces to civilian life. To help service members find jobs for veterans in MI, the MVAA and DMVA offer transition assistance services, tips for job seekers, and licensing and credentialing opportunities.
Additionally, applicants seeking veteran jobs can take advantage of the following local programs:
- Hiring our Heroes
- Positions under the National Guard
- Pure Michigan Talent Connect
- State of Michigan jobs for vets
- Veteran-friendly employers
- Helmets to Hardhats
- The Military Spouse Employment Partnership
Federal VA employment resources include Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Veterans may apply for these programs online.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Michigan
Michigan VA death benefits include burial at two national cemeteries in the state, including the Great Lakes and Fort Custer facilities in Holly and Augusta. Additional VA burial benefits include a government headstone, burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, perpetual care, and the opening and closing of the grave.
Other veterans burial benefits may include burial allowances; however, payments vary depending on whether servicemembers die in a service or non-service-related death. To learn more about obtaining these veterans death benefits, contact the MVAA at 800-642-4838.