Veteran Benefits in Montana
Available VA benefits in Montana are overseen by the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Labor & Industry (DLI). These veterans benefits include employment and education services, training opportunities and tuition waivers. However, additional veterans administration benefits include financial assistance, nursing home care and burial allowances.
Furthermore, federal veterans administration benefits are also available, including va disability pay, health care and pension programs. To learn more about the veterans benefits administration and the services they provide, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Montana
Service members may obtain VA disability pay in Montana if they have a service-connected illness, injury or disability. Available VA disability benefits include general compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
To enroll in disabled veterans benefits, service members must complete an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ), or they must submit an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (Form 21-534EZ) to apply for DIC.
To make SMC VA disability claims, veterans must complete Form 21-2680.
Furthermore, veterans may apply for VA life insurance, including Servicemembers’ Group Life, Veterans’ Group Life and Veterans’ Mortgage Life.
Additional veterans life insurance includes Family Servicemembers’ Group Life, Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life. To enroll in life insurance for veterans, service members may complete an application on their own, or they may contact the state’s Veterans Affairs division at 406-324-3740 for assistance.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Montana
Federal VA health care in Montana is available to eligible veterans who meet minimum service and military discharge requirements.
Under VA health insurance, service members receive benefits such as emergency aid, preventative health care and inpatient hospital services.
To apply for VA medical benefits, service members must complete an Application for Health Care (10-10EZ) either in person at a veteran medical facility, online or by mailing the form to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Note: Alternately, servicemembers may apply for veterans health insurance in MO by telephone by calling 1-877-222-8387 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Montana
State and federal VA pension options are available to low-income servicemembers and their surviving family members. Federal veterans pension programs include the following:
- Tax-free pension – complete VA Form 21P-527EZ
- Survivors pension – complete VA Form 21P-534EZ
- Housebound allowances – mail medical evidence to the state’s Pension Management Center (PMC)
- Aid and Attendance (A&A) – send medical evidence to the state’s PMC in Wisconsin
To apply for A&A or Housebound VA pension benefits, servicemembers must mail medical evidence to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attention: St. Paul Pension Center P.O. Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Additionally, Montana veterans pension benefits are available through the state Military Family Relief Fund (MMFRF). These benefits include the following:
- Status-based grants of $250 per eligible dependent – complete MMFRF Form 1
- Vadhauhauha.Need-based grants of up to $2,000 – complete MMFRF Form 2
- Casualty-based grants of $2,000 – MMFRF Form 3
After completing the veterans pension program application, servicemembers must submit the form along with all required documentation to the following address:
Department of Military Affairs Attn: CSD 1956 Mt Majo Street P.O. Box 4789 Fort Harrison, MT 59636
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Montana
Long-term Montana VA housing solutions are available through the Veterans’ Nursing Homes in Glendive and Columbia Falls. To apply for veterans housing assistance at either of the two homes, servicemembers must submit an Admission Application for the location of their choice, along with all other required documentation.
Other required forms to receive VA housing assistance include an Authorization for Care and Treatment, Disclosure of Health Information, Medical History and Medical Record Authorization. Applicants may need to complete additional forms, as well.
Note: To learn more about the state’s veterans housing assistance program, contact the Columbia Falls facility at 406-892-3256 or the Glendive home at 406-345-4222.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Montana
Under the federal GI bill, service members and their eligible dependents receive educational benefits, reimbursements for licensing and certification tests, apprenticeships and tuition waivers.
However, veterans must first apply for VA education benefits by completing an Application for Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990). Servicemembers may complete the form to apply for post 911 GI bill assistance, benefits under the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP).
The Montgomery GI bill also provides educational grants for veterans. Additional educational benefits include free classes through the Upward Bound Program. Through the program, veterans receive training and assistance in areas such as math, writing, computers and grammar.
To learn more about these benefits, veterans must call 406-657-2063.
Furthermore, scholarships for veterans are available through the University of Montana education system. These veteran scholarships include the Veterans’ Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) grant and tuition waivers. To learn more about these scholarships, applicants must contact the financial aid office for the university they wish to attend.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Montana
MT VA jobs services are available to veterans as they search for employment, apprenticeships or on-the-job training (OJT) opportunities. To help service members find suitable jobs for veterans, the state DLI offers the following employment resources and programs:
- Work registration through Job Service Montana
- Resume, cover letter, application and interview assistance
- Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialists
- Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERS)
- Skills testing
- Veterans employment preference
- Military Service Employment Rights Act (MMSERA)
Note: To learn more about finding veteran jobs or the various services the DLI provides, contact the Workforce Services division at 406-444-4100.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Montana
VA death benefits in Montana are available to servicemembers, eligible spouses and minor children under 21 years of age. Under these VA burial benefits, service members are eligible for interment at the Montana State, Eastern State or Western State Veterans Cemeteries.
Additional veterans death benefits include a government headstone, plot, Presidential Memorial Certificate, burial flag, and the opening and closing of the grave. Other veterans funeral benefits include a $250 burial allowance from the county for which the veteran resides.
Note: To confirm eligibility for death benefits, service members must contact a Veterans Service Officer at 406-324-3740.