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When we experience the death of a loved one in the family, whether it is sudden or a lengthy process, it can still lead to a great deal of confusion and grief. The survivors often find themselves not well prepared to deal with the recent loss, especially when it comes to funeral and burial arrangements. The US Government holds the belief that those who served in defense of the country should receive honorable burials as a token of the country’s appreciation for their service. It is for this reason that the Veterans Administration (VA) provides funeral benefits to the survivors and families of Servicemembers and Veterans. Survivors can apply to the VA to receive VA burial benefits on the Veteran’s behalf, or the Veteran can do so himself as part of end-of-life planning. These VA burial benefits assist in covering the unexpected and significant expenses of funerals and burials. The application for burial benefits is easy, and VA burial benefits eligibility is very broad. Understanding VA Burial Benefits: What is Covered? VA burial benefits and Veterans funeral benefits are programs offered by the Veterans Administration that include a burial allowance to help cover funeral costs, the

If you are the spouse or dependent of a military Servicemember who died in the line of duty, a retiree, or Veteran, you are eligible for a variety of benefits offered by the Veterans Administration. The Veterans Administration established these VA survivor benefits to provide certain means and support to survivors, particularly widows, of military personnel who have lost a family member. Recognizing that spouses and families are an essential part of the support system for military personnel, VA survivor benefits seek to provide these important supporters of the military with education, healthcare, and other VA surviving spouse benefits. What Are VA Survivor Benefits? Depending on your deceased Servicemember’s level of service, VA survivor benefits cover a variety of different types of healthcare, financial, educational, survivors pensions and other supportive VA surviving spouse benefits. Both the spouses and dependents of the deceased Servicemember typically qualify for these VA survivor benefits, with a primary focus on healthcare and education. Some of these VA surviving spouse benefits include: Dependency and indemnity compensation is paid to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of a Veteran who died after January 1, 1957. The surviving spouse or unmarried dependent child of

It is never a comfortable topic to think about one’s own mortality and what will happen to your family once you have passed on. Individuals in their later years often confront numerous decisions, such as their funeral preferences, the idea of living wills, and securing life insurance for their surviving family members to cover unforeseen expenses and life events post-death. Many people postpone getting life insurance until later in life, citing their daily expenses as a better use of the monthly premiums. However, individuals serving in the military, who frequently encounter hazardous conditions and potentially life-threatening situations, should consider life insurance from the outset. The Veterans Administration offers Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) as a low-cost form of coverage to eligible Servicemembers. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the Veterans Administration may automatically sign you up for SGLI coverage. This article covers the basics of SGLI insurance for Servicemembers and information on SGLI coverage and SGLI costs. If you have questions about how military life insurance can benefit your family, read on to learn more. You can also speak to a resource officer at your base, or at your local VA regional office if you have

The Veterans Administration offers many perks and benefits to Veterans and Servicemembers and their families, including many financial benefits and assistance. The VA offers, for example, VA-backed home loans for qualifying military personnel that help Servicemembers apply for and insure home loans. These home loans often give certain benefits, such as lower or no down payments, better terms, and less strict credit checks. However, in addition to these VA-backed home loans, the VA also offers refinancing options that help Veterans make home payments at monthly payments lower than traditional loans and with lower interest rates. Understanding VA Loan Refinancing: Which Option is Right for You? VA loan refinancing is a wonderful way to negotiate better terms for your VA-backed home loan. There are many reasons why you might seek VA refinance options for your home loan. You might be experiencing financial hardship and need a lower monthly payment, or there might be better interest rates available. Also, if you want to transfer other home loans with variable rates to a lower fixed rate on a VA loan, then VA refinancing is an option. The VA loan refinancing program offers many options, including Interest Rate Reduction Refinance

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is the base of operations for over 20 Marine units. Established in April 1941, it was the first Marine base in the area, named after John A. Lejeune upon his death. Sadly, it was discovered that between 1953 and 1987, there was serious contamination of the drinking water at the facility, leading to Marines and their families bathing and drinking in water with contaminations at concentrations of up to 3000 times more than permitted by safety standards. This was partially due to a lack of regulation in the safe disposal of solvents used in various operations and the improper dumping or burning of these materials near the base wells for several decades. It was ordered in the 1980s that the wells be shut down, but they were placed back online in violation of regulations at the time. Many ill health effects have since been linked to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, including birth defects and health effects in pregnant and nursing mothers. The information was not made public for over two decades, until several advocacy groups formed to inform possible victims of the contamination at

It is unfortunate that many Veterans and Servicemembers, who take an oath to defend the country frequently work in hazardous conditions and environments. Operating military bases and conducting war activities often pose significant risks, and many military personnel may experience long-term health effects because of their service. Occasionally, Servicemembers may unintentionally meet hazardous and toxic materials while serving. When the US military withdrew from an area, they ordered those stationed overseas to burn materials to prevent enemy combatants from using them, resulting in clouds of toxic smoke. Furthermore, improper disposal of hazardous materials used in military operations often unknowingly exposed Servicemembers to hazardous materials on US military bases and training facilities, as evidenced by the contamination of Camp Lejeune’s drinking water between the 1950s and 1980s. The PACT Act was a piece of legislation that sought to address the issue of Veterans and Servicemembers exposed to toxic materials, primarily burn pits and Agent Orange. The PACT Act broadened the scope of VA healthcare law and benefits, particularly for Veterans who met these criteria, and extended it to include Servicemembers stationed at Camp Lejeune during the period of toxic water exposure. Understanding the PACT Act and the

One of the many benefits of serving in the military is the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program. This is a program that provides support services and activities for US military personnel and their families. Some of the services include family and youth programs, recreation and entertainment programs, travel and leisure discounts, military-specific lodging at several resort locations, and a financial readiness program that assists military families with debt and money management. For military families looking to take advantage of the MWR benefits offered at the Disney theme parks, you are in luck! Disney provides a wealth of services for military families, such as the Shades of Green resort at Disney World, discounted tickets, and special military family days at its properties, as well as MWR Disney tickets and MWR Disneyland tickets at discounted MWR Disney tickets 2024 rates. Disney military tickets MWR specials are also available in November during Veterans Day weekend specials. What Are MWR Disney Tickets? Did you know that Disney provides special MWR Disney tickets 2024 rates on tickets for military families? MWR Disney tickets and MWR Disneyland tickets allow access to the Disney parks at a discounted rate, along with exclusive benefits only

The National Park system is one of the many crowning jewels of the USA. Made up of thousands of preserved vistas of natural wilderness, historical landmarks, and educational facilities, these visitor destinations, maintained by the US government, are usually family-friendly, affordable to visit, and contain a wealth of information about many aspects of American history. In partnership with Operation Live Well, the NPS looks to give back to military personnel and their families by giving them free annual passes to the nation’s National Parks. Overview of National Park Passes for Veterans The National Park Pass for Veterans is a special pass to the US National Parks that allows military members and their dependents free access to the parks, museums, and facilities of the NPS. The military National Park pass is available to all members of the US Armed Forces and their families, including the branches of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, National Guard, and Gold Star recipients. The VA National Park pass is for both active duty and Reserves, and for Servicemembers and their spouses and dependents. These passes are available at the National Parks themselves, online, or at federal recreation sites. The lifetime

Following World War 2, the US government created the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 to assist Veterans in transitioning from military to civilian life. In its present incarnation, it offers educational benefits, unemployment insurance, housing assistance, career assistance, and low-interest loans for businesses. Anyone who has ever served in the US military qualifies for at least a portion of the GI Bill, primarily for educational benefits. While the type and number of benefits vary based on your length of service and commitment, in general, Servicemembers coming out of the military have the opportunity to take advantage of the GI Bill to help finance their education. The Post 911 GI Bill Chapter 33 is one of the more popular aspects of this piece of legislation. The VA Chapter 33 GI Bill section oversees the educational benefits available to those who served in active duty after September 10, 2001, primarily. What Is the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)? A portion of the Servicemen’s Act known as Post 911 GI Bill Chapter 33 offers financial assistance to military members who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. It differs from other sections of the GI Bill, such as the

The Veterans Administration provides several benefits to Servicemembers and Veterans, as well as their families. One of the more popular benefits is the “GI Bill,” a piece of legislation that provides military personnel with educational opportunities, including full tuition reimbursement and materials funding in some cases, depending upon the type and length of service. Not only that, but these benefits also extend to the Servicemember’s family and, in some cases, allow for the transference of educational benefits to someone other than the Servicemember, provided they qualify and meet eligibility requirements. What is GI Bill Transferability? The Servicemen Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly referred to as the “GI Bill,” is legislation that provides financial assistance to Veterans and Servicemembers, allowing them to pursue job training, education, and certification with the purpose of helping military personnel to readjust to civilian life after military service. By assisting Servicemembers and Veterans in their education after their service, the military provides a valuable resource for those who took an oath to defend the country, completed their service, and now must forge a new life for themselves outside of the military. Of course, these benefits can also be used while the