Hammond Veterans Benefits Attorney

Hammond Veterans Benefits Attorney

For help determining whether you qualify for healthcare benefits, education and training services, disability compensation, housing-related assistance, or another benefit provided by the VA or the state, please contact a dedicated Hammond veterans benefits attorney who can assist you.

VA Pensions

The VA offers pensions to veterans and their loved ones who meet certain eligibility requirements. Pensions are needs-based benefits, so before a person can begin receiving one from the VA, he or she must:

• Have served during a period of war;
• Have limited or no income; and
• Be age 65 years or older or have a permanent and total disability that is not connected to his or her military service.

In addition to receiving a basic monthly stipend, veterans who are housebound or who need the aid and attendance of another person to perform daily activities could qualify for an increased rate, known as a Special Monthly Pension. In either case, when submitting a claim for a VA pension, applicants must have access to certain types of documentation, including:

• Proof of income and net worth shown by bank statements and pay stubs;
• Private medical records describing treatment and the location of other records that are being held at a VA medical center or other federal facility; and
• The proper pension application.

A veteran’s surviving relatives could also be eligible for a VA pension if their yearly income is lower than $8,830, in which case they could receive tax-free supplemental income.

Employment and Education Services

To help veterans adapt to post-service life and transition to civilian employment, the VA offers benefits and services that are intended to enhance education, careers, and skills. For instance, veterans with disabilities could be eligible for help with tuition, fees, books, supplies, and housing payments through the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. The Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI bill also assist veterans with earning both traditional and non-college degrees, paying for licensing, certification, and fees, and obtaining on-the-job training, and apprenticeships.

VA Healthcare

The VA supports more than 1,200 healthcare facilities, which provide enrolled veterans with access to cost-free preventive, specialty, and primary care. Veterans who served in combat zones, as well as their family members, also have the option of obtaining no-cost counseling, as well as referral and outreach services. To qualify for these benefits, a veteran does not need to be suffering from a disability, but must have:

• Served in the active military;
• Been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; and
• Served 24 continuous months or the entire time period for which they were called to active duty, but only if they enlisted after September 1980 or entered active duty after October 1981.

These benefits are also available to current and former members of the National Guard or the Reserve if called to active duty.

Call Today for Legal Help

To speak with dedicated Hammond veterans benefits attorney James R. Comerford about applying for or appealing a denial of VA benefits, please call The Comerford Law Office, LLC at 312-863-8572 today.