Did you know that many of your VA benefits have an expiration date? If not
you are not alone, most veterans aren't aware of their benefits, let alone that
many of them can expire. Here are some quick examples of common VA benefits and
their time limits:
| VA Benefit |
Time Limit |
|
Education, Training, and Employment Programs: |
|
Montgomery GI Bill for Active-Duty (MGIB): MGIB provides 36
months of education, training, and OJT benefits to eligible
veterans. Payment rates are determined by the number of classes
taken. | 10 years
from date of last discharge or release from active duty. |
|
Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP): Offered
servicemembers who entered service for the first time between
January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 up to 36 months of education and
training benefits. | 10 years from date of
last discharge or release from active duty. |
|
Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR): Provides
members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
Reserves, as well as the National Guard with up to 36 months of
education, training, and OJT benefits. | 14 years
from the date of eligibility for the program, or until released from
the Selected Reserve or National Guard. |
|
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP): Provides
educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called
or ordered to active duty for national emergency, war, or
contingency operation as declared by the President or Congress. |
No time limit, while remaining in the same level of
the Ready Reserve. |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VocRehab): An
employment oriented program for veterans with service-connected
disabilities that offers services and assistance to help prepare
for, find and keep suitable employment. | Generally,
12 years of separation from service or within 12
years of being awarded service-connected VA disability
compensation. |
|
VA Life Insurance Programs: |
|
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI): Life insurance
for servicemembers and reservists. It is available in $50,000
increments up to a maximum of $400,000. SGLI coverage begins when
the servicemember enters service or changes duty status. This
includes the Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI)
program, which provides up to $100,000 in additional coverage in
case of sever traumatic injury. | Coverage ends 120
days after separation.
or...
Can be extended up to 1 year for totally disabled
veterans. |
|
Family Group Life Insurance (FGLI): Automatically provides
up to $100,000 in coverage for the spouse and children of
servicemembers insured under SGLI. | Coverage ends
120 days after separation. |
|
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI): Offers up to
$400,000 in renewable term life insurance ( 5-year term) for
veterans. Servicemembers who wish to, may convert their SGLI to
Veterans Group Life VGLI. | Within 120 days
of separation. |
|
Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (SDVI): A veteran who
has a service-connected disability but is otherwise in good health
may apply to VA for up to $10,000 in life insurance coverage at
standard rates. Veterans who are totally disabled may apply for a
waiver of premiums. | Within 2 years from
the date of being notified of service-connected status. |
|
Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI): Offers $90,000 in
mortgage protection insurance to severely disabled veterans who have
received grants for Specially-Adapted Housing from VA. | Must
apply before age 70. |
|
Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) Programs: |
|
Veterans Healthcare: VA provides a wide range of health
care services to veterans including treatment for military sexual
trauma, and for conditions possibly related to exposure to Agent
Orange, ionizing radiation, and other environmental hazards in the
Persian Gulf. Generally, veterans must be enrolled in VA’s Health
Care System to receive care. | No Time Limit |
|
Combat Veterans Healthcare: VA provides combat veterans
free health care for any illness possibly associated with service
against a hostile force in a war since the Gulf War or during any
period of hostility after Nov. 11, 1998. | 5 Years
from release from active-duty. |
|
Dental Treatment: Veterans may receive one-time dental
treatment who were not provided dental examination or treatment
within 90 days of discharge or separation from service. |
Within 180 days of separation. |
|
VA Pension and Compensation Programs: |
|
Disability Compensation: VA pays monthly compensation
(tax-free) to veterans for disabilities incurred or aggravated
during military service. Entitlement is established from the date of
separation if the claim is filed within one year from separation. |
No Time Limit |
|
Disability Pension: This income-based benefit is paid to
veterans with honorable war-time service who are permanently and
totally disabled due to non-service connected disabilities or who
are 65 or older. | No Time Limit |
|
VA Home Loan Guaranty Program: |
| VA
Home Loan: The VA Home Loan Guarantee Program offers
Veterans the chance to purchase a home at a low interest rate
without the need of a down payment. | No Time Limit |
Although these deadlines are generally set in stone, the VA has
provisions to wave them if you have a legitimate reason for not applying
before the given deadlines. These may include health and disability issues.
However the VA will not waive a time limit for not knowing
the deadline for your benefits.
Your CVSO can assist you in obtaining relevant documents and submitting your
claim to the appropriate VA regional office. Please contact us so that we may
offer our assistance and guidance.
Map/Directions
Lauri Brooke
