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Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits

The Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides various benefits (including a pension, education and healthcare benefits, and rehabilitation services) to disabled veterans of the U.S. military. Unlike many other benefits, some VA payments are available to you while you are still in prison if you otherwise qualify. However, the benefits have been cut significantly for veterans who are still incarcerated, and your dependents, if any, may be entitled to the amounts not paid to you. No VA benefits will be provided to a veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.

U.S. Veterans Programs

Veterans are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system, but their numbers are significant.

An estimated one of every ten criminal defendants and inmates has served in the U.S. military. Most

justice-involved Veterans are likely eligible for health care and other benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), although their eligibility is suspended or reduced while they are incarcerated.

The VA’s Healthcare for Reentry Veterans Program (HCRV) offers outreach to veterans incarcerated in state and federal prisons, and referrals and short-term case management assistance upon release from prison. In addition, the Veterans Justice Outreach Program (VJO) offers outreach and case management to veterans who are involved in law enforcement encounters, overseen by treatment courts, and incarcerated in local jails. The VA publishes a detailed handbook on benefits, in both English and Spanish that is available for free at www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp. You can also call 1-800-827-1000 (TDD: 1-800-829-4833) and speak with a VA Regional Office representative. If your question is about education benefits, call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

If you have questions about your military records, or want a copy of your records, visit the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) website at www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records or call 1-866-272-6272 (TDD: 301-837-0482). You may also send a letter requesting your records to:

National Archives Personnel Records Center

1 Archives Drive

St. Louis, MO 63138

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Veterans’ benefits include burial, pension, health, home loan, education, life insurance, and vocational rehabilitation. If you are a veteran and want to find out if you are eligible for benefits, contact the VA on their toll-free telephone number at 1-800-827-1000.

For a free pamphlet, Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, contact the Veterans Administration, Office of Public Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20420. You can also inquire about benefits at the same address.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment is the VA program that assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve employment or to enhance their ability to function independently at home and in the community.

To Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living Services call the toll-free telephone number, 1-800-827-1000 to request VA Form 28-8832

Other Services Provided and Their Application Procedures:

Vocational and educational guidance and counseling to assist service-members, veterans, and certain dependents of veterans to select appropriate career goals and training institutions that use VA educational benefits are available. Call the nationwide VA toll-free telephone number, 1-800-827-1000 to request VA Form 28-8832, Application for Vocational-Educational Counseling.

Veterans’ Employment & Training Services

The Veterans’ Employment & Training Services program is administered by the Department of Labor through the One-Stop Career Center system. Comprehensive One-Stop Centers will usually have staff called Disabled Veteran Outreach Program specialists (DVOPs) and/or Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERs). If you are a military veteran you can qualify for a number of services, including first access to new job listings. If you are a veteran, you should say so when you contact the local One-Stop Center. The DVOP/LVER will take it from there. If you are an ex-service member with a bad paper discharge you should still contact the DVOP/LVER. They may be able to assist you upgrade your discharge status.

Veterans may be eligible for a variety of health care services, information and benefits. For information and locations, visit www.va.gov, call 800-827-1000 or check the government section of your local phone book under Veterans Affairs.

Prescriptions

Prescription assistance programs help people who cannot afford to buy their medicine get their prescriptions free or nearly free.

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: www.pparx.org or 888-4PPA-NOW (888-477-2669)

• RxAssist: www.rxassist.org

• NeedyMeds: www.needymeds.org