Don’t let benefits you’ve earned slip through your fingers just because you’re in the National Guard or reserve. Guard or reserve members can take advantage of benefits and services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, just like their active-duty counterparts. The VA can help Guard and reserve members cover the cost of school, secure a home loan or acquire life insurance. Whether you’re preparing for life after military or you’ve already made the military to civilian transition, it's a good idea to learn what VA benefits are out there.
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Here are the VA benefits for which Guard and reserve members are eligible:
- Education benefits — If you're currently serving you may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill®. - Selected Reserve. If you were called to active duty for at least 90 days since Sept. 11, 2001, you may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Reserve Education Assistance Program.
- Home loan guaranties — Guard and reserve members are eligible for a VA loan guaranty after you have completed six years of service in the Selected Reserve or if you've been on active duty for 90 days. For more information, visit the VA's Home Loan Guaranty website, or call the Loan Eligibility Center at 888-244-6711.
- Homelessness prevention programs — If you or a veteran you know are struggling to find permanent housing or facing eviction or foreclosure, make the call to 877-4AID-VET (424-3838), or chat online to learn more about the support services the VA offers. Learn about all the programs that can help you overcome or prevent homelessness on the VA website.
- Life insurance — To qualify, you must be assigned to a unit in which you are required to perform active duty or active duty for training, and will be scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive duty creditable for retirement. You can also get life insurance for your family and convert your life insurance to Veterans' Group Life Insurance. Learn more about coverage at the VA's Life Insurance website.
- Medical care — You may be eligible for Veterans Affairs medical centers, clinics, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, which are the core of the VA's services. Veterans with service-connected disabilities get the highest priority at a VA medical facility, while other veterans receive care based on availability.
- Disability compensation — If you're a veteran with injuries or illnesses resulting from active-duty military service, you may be eligible for disability compensation. The amount is based on the severity of the disability.
- Rehabilitation — If you have a service-connected disability, the VA's Rehabilitation and Employment Program can help you transition out of the military. The program offers counseling services, education and training, job assistance and financial aid. Visit the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment resources for more information.
- Survivor benefits — Spouses and dependent children of service members who died on active duty or as a result of service-related disabilities may be eligible to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Other survivor benefits include the Civilian Health and Medical Program and the Dependents' Education Assistance Program. For details on any of these survivor benefits, visit the VA's Veterans Benefits website.