OIF-OEF
What benefits are available?
Depending on when you served in the military your benefits may vary. There are several programs designed for the disabled veteran who served during a war time period, but did not have any service connected disabilities. These include monthly monetary benefits, hospitalization, and outpatient medical care.
I was not injured in the service. Am I eligible for any benefits?
You may be eligible depending on when you served for a non-service connected pension program for you and your family depending on need. You may also be eligible for medical care, GI home loan, etc.
Are there non-service connected pension payments for veterans of a war time era?
This program will depend on the veteran being totally disabled and also on the amount of income the veteran currently has.
Are there educational/school benefits for veterans and their dependents?
If you paid into the educational program you have 10 years from discharge to use your GI Bill benefits.
Are there any Life Insurance benefits?
There may be, depending on how long you have been out of the service or if you now have a service connected disability. There are time limits on both programs.
Can I receive medical benefits although I only served for a short period of time in the service?
Yes, if you served 24 months or more since
Am I eligible for burial benefits?
All veterans who have other than dishonorable service are eligible for burial in a
How many times can I use my GI home loan?
As long as your home loan was paid off, as many times as you need it.
Is there compensation for disability injuries incurred in the service?
Assistance can be provided to assist you develop your claim for these injuries regardless of how long you have been out of the service.
Is there any assistance for having your Discharge upgraded?
Assistance can be provided to assist veterans in obtaining military records to support their claim for discharge upgrade and submission of same.
Do I have any benefits if I lost a son or daughter in the service?
Depending on income, as a surviving parent, you may be eligible for compensation.
My father was in the service, do I have any benefits?
Depending on whether the veteran incurred an injury or illness in the service could provide monthly payments for children under age 18 or under the age of 22 still in school.
How do I or a loved one get into the Federal Recovery Coordination Program?
You need to be referred to the program by a doctor, case manager, or commander. You can also self refer or a family member can refer on behalf of a recovering service member or veteran. Visit How Do I Get Help for more information.
What does a Federal Recovery Coordinator do?
A Federal Recovery Coordinator develops a Federal Individualized Recovery Plan with input from the service member or veteran's multidisciplinary heath care team, the service member or veteran, and their family or caregiver. They track the care, management and transition of a recovering service member or veteran through recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
How Can I Get Help?
Every VA Medical Center has an OEF/OIF Care Management Team ready to welcome OEF/OIF veterans and help coordinate your care. Visit How Do I Get Help for more information.
I'm having difficulty at home, work or school since I returned. Who can I talk to?
Every VA Medical Center has an OEF/OIF Care Management Team ready to welcome OEF/OIF veterans and help you access care and benefits. Case Managers, who are either nurses or social workers, coordinate patient care activities and help you navigate your way through the VA system. A Transition Patient Advocate (TPA) acts as a personal advocate as you move throughout the VA healthcare system. To contact the OEF/OIF Care Management Team check your local VA medical center web site. You can find the web site using the VA Facility Locator.
Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military related issues. Services are provided at no cost to the veteran or family. The 232 community based Vet Centers are located in all fifty states,
Getting to a VA Medical Center is difficult due to my injuries. How can I get help?
If you can't come to us, we'll come to you. A Transition Patient Advocate (TPA) will travel to your home and meet with you to discuss what the VA can do for you. To contact the OEF/OIF Transition Patient Advocate or OEF/OIF Program Manager, check your local VA medical center web site [VA Facility Locator].
What is a Fisher House and can it help OEF/OIF families?
Fisher Houses are temporary lodging facilities designed for the use of families of hospitalized active duty service members and veterans. They are constructed on military installations and VHA facility grounds by the Fisher House Foundation and then donated to DoD or the VA. Fisher Houses are a "home away from home" that provide a warm, compassionate environment where families find support and encouragement from each other. Visit www.socialwork.va.gov/fisher.asp for more information.
As a returning OEF/OIF woman veteran, am I better off working with an OEF/OIF Program Manager or a Women Veterans Program Manager? Why are there two different program managers to help me find the VA services I need? Should I choose one or both?
Both. The OEF/OIF Program Manager will help you understand all the benefits and services available to you as a
I am a female veteran. Where do I go to get services that are suited to women?
There is a Women Veterans Program manager at every VA Medical Center. For more information on the Women Veterans Health Program, read the 'Reaching Out to Women Veterans' Brochure or visit the Women Veterans' Resources page on the VA Mental Health site.