When 48-year-old Carl and his wife Amanda both decided to retire from the Navy, they opted to live near their last duty station in Norfolk rather than return to their native Michigan. Part of their decision was based on the veteran’s benefits available in Virginia.
Eligibility for Benefits
According to the guide to veteran’s benefits at Virginia.gov, the eligibility for the majority of Federal and state veteran’s benefits rests on a member’s discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. It requires full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. It also applies to commissioned officers of the public health service, the Environmental Services Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some present and former members of the Selected Reserve might also be eligible for some benefits.
Military.com reports that there are several types of veteran’s benefits available in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia Veteran Long-term Care
The Commonwealth of Virginia has one state home for veterans, the Virginia Veterans Care Center (VVCC), located in Roanoke, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s considered a state-of-the-art model for long-term health care and provides comprehensive nursing and domiciliary care to eligible Virginia residents. To quality, a veteran must have an honorable discharge and be aged or infirm.
The facility has 240 beds. Laboratory, radiology, dental, physical therapy, podiatry, respiratory therapy and other ancillary medical services are available on site. A Veterans Administration (VA) medical center is located next door.
Virginia Veteran Employment Programs
The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) assists veterans in the Commonwealth with job referral and placement resources. Most VEC offices have Veterans Employment Representatives and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program staff members.
The Virginia Department of Human Resource Management also provides outreach services for employment services and assistance.
Virginia Veteran Educational Assistance Programs
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program addresses the needs of spouses and children of service members who were killed, missing in action, taken prisoner or suffered at least a 90 percent disability while on duty during an armed conflict. It covers members of the United States Armed Forces and Reserves, the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia National Guard Reserves.
This program provides tuition and fees for education at any state-supported college or university located in Virginia. Benefits can continue for up to four years.
Since 2001, the Virginia Veteran Honorary High School Diplomas program has awarded honorary high school diplomas to veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. These diplomas go to veterans who were unable to complete their secondary education because of military service during these conflicts.
Virginia License Plates
As a benefit to veterans, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers license plates with a number of themes related to veterans and military service.
Virginia Hunting and Fishing Licenses
An additional veteran’s benefit offered by Virginia is the opportunity for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries offers these licenses for $5.00 to veterans who are totally and permanently disabled due to their military service.
Sources:
Virginia.gov site
Military.com site
Reference:
- Virginia.gov site
- Military.com site
