5 VA Benefits You May Not Know About

 Being a servicemember often means putting parts of your life on hold to serve the American people. At times, it means juggling military responsibilities on top of your expenses and home life or struggling to get back into the workforce after service. There are numerous benefits available to veterans to help them with their struggles, such as disability compensation, pensions, education programs, etc.

Even then, it is quite unfortunate to know that many veterans come home without ever knowing their options. Naturally, these heroes never get to use their benefits. Whether you are a millennial or an old veteran, you need to read this if you hope to use your veteran benefits and save time and money. These benefits include more than what a VA loan broker can offer you.

1. Retirement Savings

Retirement savings were only applicable to veterans who have served for 20 years, but as of January 1, 2018, the retirement program has become much more attractive for people who have served for shorter periods. Now, veterans can take advantage of the Uniformed Service Blended Retirement System (BRS), which facilitates an automatic and matching contribution to your Thrift Savings account, and after two years, you become fully vested.

2. Resources to Find Employment

If you are one of those veterans who are unsure of where to begin to find a good career after your service, there are benefits that can help. The Veterans Employment Center is a government site that connects veterans to job opportunities and career resources, such as help creating a resume.

3. Veterinary Benefits for Service Dogs

A VA loan broker will not be able to help a service dog, but these animals deserve as much attention as the people they work with. Dogs are an important part of many veterans’ lives. Apart from the companionship provided by a normal pet, service dogs provide physical support and are often used to aid veterans with disabilities. VA offers medical benefits to support service dogs. While food and normal living expenses will not be paid, you can get support for veterinary care and equipment.

4. Help with Tax Preparation

Tax returns tend to overwhelm a lot of people, but you and your family may have access to some resources to help you with tax preparation for free. There is an on-base site you can look into. It is called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, and it is an excellent resource. They have volunteers trained by the IRS specifically in how to deal with military-related tax details. You can also file electronically for free through VITA.

5. Education & Certification Benefits

The GI Bill was introduced after World War II to help veterans have a good education. If your service was after 9/11, you have access to three years of education funded by the government and can even apply for help with housing and additional fees. You have 15 years after you are discharged to take advantage of this program. If you do not use it, it can even go to your dependents in some cases.

Mortgage Benefits & Aid

Finally, veterans can avail of lucrative mortgage benefits and aid. A VA loan broker can offer special mortgages with better terms and rates than conventional mortgages. No down payment or private mortgage insurance is needed, and they are easier to qualify for than conventional mortgages. Additionally, if you are struggling to make mortgage payments, the VA can help you.

Location: Santa Ana, CA, USA

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