If you supported a loved one during their military service, chances are you want to continue to support them after their discharge. The extent and nature of support you’ll want to provide the veteran will depend on many factors, such as their age, medical status, employment opportunities, and the impact of military service on that individual. As the saying goes, all service members give some, but some give all, and the spectrum of support required by, and available to, veterans mirrors this scale.
Connect the Veteran to the VA
The VA provides services ranging from healthcare to occupational training, caregiving support to memorial services. To assist a veteran in accessing these benefits, check out the VA’s website or visit a local VA office.
To contact the VA, you can click here.
Most VA benefits are designed to be managed online, which can present challenges for veterans who are elderly, do not have access to the internet, or are not tech-savvy. However, for family members, this can be helpful in assisting a veteran who is not local. To access a veteran’s VA portal, the veteran will need to have an account. With an account, the veteran or designated family member can do the following:
- Apply for VA benefits
- Check the veteran’s claim status
- Update their address and other contact information across several VA benefits and services
- Check the status of and request help with any benefit overpayments or copay bills
- Refill prescriptions
- Communicate privately and securely with the veteran’s health care team
- Request or schedule health appointments
- Review lab and test results
Information on how to set up and access a VA account can be found here.
Provide caregiving services to the Veteran
As the spouse or dependent child of a veteran or service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, including health care, life insurance, or money for school. As a caregiver, you may be eligible for VA benefits to help you care for the Veteran and for yourself. Specifically, if you are the family caregiver of a disabled veteran, you may be eligible for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). Click here to learn more about this program.
Assist the Veteran in applying for VA benefits
If you think the veteran is suffering from a service-connected disability, you can assist the veteran in applying for VA disability benefits using the Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ), which can be filed in one of the following ways.
- File online: here.
- File by mail
Work with the veteran to complete the VA application for disability benefits and mail it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
- File in person at your local VA Regional Office
- File by fax:
If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818.
If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260.
If you do plan to assist a veteran with their claims or benefits, you’ll need to complete and submit VA Form 21-22a, Appointment of Individual As Claimant’s Representative.
Find an accredited VSO or representative for the Veteran
Navigating the VA appeals process can be daunting, especially if you are helping someone else. If you do not feel comfortable managing the veteran’s VA claims, or would like assistance in the appeals process, you may consider connecting the veteran to an accredited representative, like Vets National Veterans Advocates. We can assist the veteran in appealing their denied VA disability claims!
The VA also offers a directory of representatives who can assist veterans with their claims for benefits, which can be found here.
How to help a Veteran in crisis
If your veteran loved one is in crisis, you can connect them to a trained team of caring Veterans Crisis Line responders for confidential help. The Veterans Crisis Line is private, free, and available 24/7.
To connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime:
- Call 988
- Text 838255
- Start a confidential chat
- For TTY, call 711 then 988
Contact Vets National Advocates for Help
Our veterans have made many sacrifices during their military service, and it is important that we support them after their discharge. No one understands these sacrifices and needs better than a veteran’s loved ones. If you are supporting a veteran and seeking assistance with the appeal of a VA disability claim, contact Vets National today, at 877-777-4021, so we can help you help your veteran.
