Integrating back into civilian life after a tour of service with the armed services can be difficult. Leaving the armed services with a service-related injury that makes a veteran 100% disabled is even more difficult. However, this disabled veteran can access several benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Tips
Individuals who incur 100% disability during their time of service are given full pay and all allowances commensurate with their rank following their discharge.
Exploring Medical Benefits
Every disabled veteran is eligible for free medical care during the course of his or her lifetime. This benefit is provided not only at veterans hospitals, but also at civilian facilities. The VA makes the transition easier. Once a major service-related injury is identified, a veteran will receive a medical discharge, which is considered an honorable discharge for the purposes of identifying what benefits the veteran is eligible for. Medical treatment includes dental, life insurance and optometry.
Understand Veteran Compensation
Every disabled veteran is provided compensation after she is discharged from the armed services. A veteran determined to have a 100% disability is given full pay and allowances for her given rank while she served in the military.
For example, if an individual was a sergeant, she would receive equal compensation for what a sergeant with the same time and service would receive if she was still active in the military, along with annual cost-of-living raises.
As of 2020, the monthly compensation for a single 100% disabled veteran is $3,106.04. If the disabled veteran is married, the compensation is $3,279.22. If there is a spouse and child, monthly compensation is $3,406.04. For each additional child under age 18, add another $86.05.
Assessing Commissary Privileges
Commissary and exchange privileges are authorized for 100% disabled veterans. Each military base has what is called a "commissary," which is similar to a grocery and department store.
A comparable civilian facility would be a Super Wal-Mart. This benefit allows the veteran and his family to shop at any commissary located on any military base. Shopping at a commissary saves the family and veteran a lot of money because the prices of products are much cheaper at a commissary than at a civilian store.
Understanding the Housing Allowance
Veterans with 100% disability are provided a housing allowance, which can be used for rent or the payment of a mortgage. If the veteran does not own a home, the federal government will provide to the veteran with a grant that pays housing allowance of the home's value, not exceeding $46,000.
A 100% disabled veteran is also eligible for home modifications, like the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant if she owns a home. As of 2020, a veteran can receive up to three of these grants per year, for a total of up to $18,074. This money can be used to renovate a veteran's home to make it more user-friendly for the disabled veteran.
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Writer Bio
Horacio Garcia has been writing since 1979, beginning his career as the spokesperson for Trinity Broadcast Network. Within 10 years Garcia was being called upon to write speeches and scripts for several state and federal congressmen, local broadcast networks and publications such as "Readers Digest." He received his bachelor's degree in public relations from Argosy University.