Tax-free monetary benefit for wartime veterans with limited income who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 and older. Not the same as military retirement pay. Based on financial need. 2024 maximum annual pension rate:

· Veteran with no dependents — $16,551

· Veteran with one dependent — $21,674

· Housebound veteran — $20,226

· Aid and Attendance — $27,609

Tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of veterans who died from a service-related condition or while on active duty. 2024 base rate:

· Surviving spouse — $1,612.75 per month

· Additional amounts for dependent children

· Transition assistance rate for first two years

Multiple VA life insurance programs available:

· SGLI — Servicemembers Group Life Insurance — active duty

· VGLI — Veterans Group Life Insurance — after separation

· S-DVI — Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance

· VALife — Veterans Affairs Life Insurance — for veterans with service-connected disability

Additional pension benefit for veterans who need help with daily activities or who are housebound. You may qualify if you:

· Need help with eating, bathing, or dressing

· Are bedridden

· Are a patient in a nursing home

· Have limited eyesight

· Are housebound due to disability

Free financial counseling available to veterans and families through:

· VA Financial Counseling — va.gov/resources/va-debt-management

· National Foundation for Credit Counseling — nfcc.org

· Military OneSource — militaryonesource.mil — free financial counseling for transitioning veterans

· Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — consumerfinance.gov/servicemembers

Veterans may qualify for tax benefits including:

· VA disability compensation — not taxable income

· VA pension — not taxable income

· Combat pay exclusion

· Free tax preparation through IRS VITA program

· Free tax filing through MilTax — military OneSource

Veterans receive preference in federal government hiring:

· 5-point preference — honorably discharged veterans

· 10-point preference — veterans with service-connected disability or Purple Heart recipients

· Disabled veterans have additional protections and hiring authorities

Apply at usajobs.gov and indicate your veteran status

Mandatory program for separating service members providing:

· Job search skills and resume writing

· Interview preparation

· Education and training options

· VA benefits briefings

· Employer connections

Also available to veterans through American Job Centers

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification gives your business preferential access to federal government contracts. The federal government sets aside billions in contracts annually for SDVOSB businesses. Register at vetcert.va.gov to get certified.

The Small Business Administration offers veteran-specific programs:

· Boots to Business — entrepreneurship training

· Veteran Business Outreach Centers — free counseling

· SBA loans with veteran advantages

· SCORE mentoring — free business mentoring from experienced executives

Colorado SBDC — coloradosbdc.org — free veteran business advising

Free employment services at American Job Centers including:

· Resume writing assistance

· Job search resources

· Skills assessment

· Training referrals

· Priority service for veterans

Weld County Workforce Center: 107 8th St, Greeley, CO — 970-352-1551

Veterans who recently separated from active duty may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service Members (UCX). File through your state unemployment office. In Colorado file at coloradoui.gov. Also consider the GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance as income support while in school.

Eligible veterans and dependents may be buried in a national cemetery at no cost. Includes:

· Gravesite in a national cemetery

· Opening and closing of the grave

· Liner for the casket or urn

· Grave marker or headstone

· Perpetual care of the gravesite

Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver serves Colorado veterans

VA may pay a burial allowance to help cover burial and funeral costs for eligible veterans:

· Service-connected death — up to $2,000

· Non-service-connected death — up to $300 burial and $900 plot allowance

· Veterans receiving VA pension or compensation — up to $796

Must file within 2 years of burial

VA provides headstones and markers at no cost for eligible veterans buried in any cemetery — national, state, tribal, or private. Also provides:

· Bronze medallion to attach to privately purchased headstone

· Presidential Memorial Certificate — signed by the President

· Military funeral honors — bugler and flag folding

All honorably discharged veterans are entitled to military funeral honors including:

· Folding and presentation of the American flag

· Playing of Taps — live or recorded

· Two uniformed military members

Contact your local funeral director to request military honors. Also contact American Legion Post 18 — we provide honor guard services for Weld County veterans.

Main VA website — access all VA benefits, apply for healthcare, check claim status, manage your VA account

My HealtheVet — manage VA prescriptions, view health records, schedule appointments, message your VA care team

eBenefits — manage VA benefits, access military records, obtain Certificate of Eligibility for home loan

Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs — all Colorado state veteran benefits and programs

VA Benefits Administration — disability, education, housing, pension, and other benefit programs

MilConnect — access military records, obtain DD-214, verify military service, manage DEERS enrollment

National Archives — request military service records, medical records, and other official documents

Federal jobs — apply for federal government positions with veteran hiring preference