Disability Benefits
50% Rating

Disability benefits rating goes from 0% to 100%. However, financial compensation starts from 10% and higher. If you’re rated at under 50% you do not get a separate check. Instead, the income is used to reduce your other taxable income. Only those rated at 50% or higher gets a separate check. However, there are many benefits that starts with a 0% rating and goes through to a 100% rating.

These are the benefits for a 50% rating.

Monthly Compensation
Those rated at 50% will start receiving monthly compensation. This will be a separate check. It is tax deductible.

Low-Cost Life Insurance
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife). VALife is guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance that pays up to $40,000 in life insurance coverage (in $10,000 increments). You’re eligible for VALife if you have a VA service-connected disability rating—even if your rating is 0%. There’s no time limit to apply after getting your disability rating. There is no medical examination requirement. Approval is automatic once you meet the basic requirement. Coverage starts 2 years after you application is approved. Premiums are based on age and ranges from $43.60 if you’re 18 years old and $1,768.00 if you’re 95 years old. Remember you can buy it in increments of $10,000 (meaning $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000)

Hiring Preference
Disabled veterans get a 10-point Veteran Preference in federal hiring if they have a 30% or more service connected-disability rating. They get 5-points for serving in combat zones and 0-points if they were released or discharged from a period of active duty from the armed forces, after August 29, 2008, by reason of being the only surviving child in a family. You also get hiring preference at the state government level. All states also offer this benefit. See more under State Benefits.

Free Healthcare
Receive free healthcare if you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981 and served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless you were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or
You were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or you served prior to September 7, 1980

If you’re a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don’t qualify for VA health care.

All Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving our country—at home or abroad—are now eligible for VA health care. This includes all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11. Apply today.

You must have an honorable discharge to be eligible for this benefit. Apply for Free Healthcare.

Dental
Disabled veterans get free Dental care from the VA if they receive monthly compensation for disability. You can also get this benefit if you have a non-compensable dental condition or a disability that is the result of combat wounds or service trauma. Apply for Dental Benefits.

Travel Allowance
This is a Travel Allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility. To get this benefit you must have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher, or You’re traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, even if your VA disability rating is less than 30%, or you receive a VA pension, or you have a low income or can’t afford the travel cost. You can also be re-imbursed for traveling to take the C&P Exam. File a Claim for Travel Reimbursement.

Commissaries/Exchanges/MWR
If you have a service-connected disability regardless of rating, you have access to Commissaries, Exchanges, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online.

Home Loan Fee Waiver
If you have a service-connected disability regardless of the rating level the funding fee for VA home loans will be waived. Learn more about VA Home Loans.

VR&E
You may receive Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) services to help with job training, education, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching. Other services may be provided to assist Veterans and Service members in starting their own businesses or independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment. You must have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA and not receive a dishonorable discharge. If you’re on active-duty you have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating) and will soon leave the military, or you’re waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while you were on active duty. If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, you have 12 years to apply for this service. Apply for VR&E.

Burial
Burial and plot allowance.  For service-connected deaths the VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 11, 2001. If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.  For non-service-connected deaths the VA will pay up to $978 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2024 and a $978 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). Apply for Burial Benefits.

Direct Hiring
Disabled Veterans can get hired through the non-competitive process for federal jobs.  Government agencies have Direct hire authority to do this. You must have a 30% or more service-connected disability to qualify for Direct Hiring.

Dependent Benefits
Spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or service member, may qualify for certain benefits, including health care, life insurance, money for school, burial cost and survivor compensation.

Concurrent Pay
Concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA benefits.

State Benefits
States provides benefits to disabled benefits that include education, property tax exemptions, exemption from vehicle registration and licensing fees, handicap plates, exemption from tool fees, etc.