VA Benefits and Services: What You Need to Know
1. Who Can Get VA Benefits?
You might qualify for VA benefits if you:
- Served in active military service
- Were not dishonorably discharged
For most Veterans who joined after September 1980, you need at least 24 months of service. But there are exceptions, like if you:
- Were discharged due to a service-related disability
- Got an early discharge for hardship
- Served before September 7, 1980
For National Guard and Reserve members: You need to have been called to federal active duty (Title 10 Deployment) and completed your service period. Training duty alone doesn't qualify.
Want to check if you qualify? Visit Eligibility For VA Health Care | Veterans Affairs
Important: Setting Up Your VA Account
Why this matters to you?
You only have 2 secure sign-in account options (Login.gov and ID.me) for all VA websites and apps. We’ll remove the My HealtheVet option after March 4, 2025, and the DS Logon option after September 30, 2025. You’ll still be able to use your My HealtheVet health portal to access all of your VA information and records—you’ll just need to sign in to it with a Login.gov or ID.me account. Prepare For VA’s Secure Sign-In Changes | Veterans Affairs
- Go to Sign in or create an account | Veterans Affairs
- Choose either Login.gov or ID.me to create your account
- Once verified, you can access:
Pro tip: Set up your account now, even if you don't need it right away. It'll save you time later!
2. "I Don't Want to Take Resources from Other Veterans"
You are not taking anything away from anyone. Think of VA benefits like your paycheck – you earned them through your service and being service connected for any injuries occurring during service. When you signed up to serve, these benefits became part of your contract with the military. Every Veteran deserves the care they earned, including you.
The VA is set up to help ALL eligible Veterans, not just some. Your needs matter, from head to toe.
3. What Benefits Can Veterans Get?
The VA offers a variety of support, including:
Ready to learn more? Create an account at VA.gov to:
- Apply for benefits online
- Track your applications
- Access health records
- Schedule appointments
- Message your healthcare teams
4. From your perspective, what are some of the common issues that Veteran Affairs assists the first responder community with?
Through my experience working in the mental health field with Veteran’s and First Responders building a trusting relationship is one of the core challenges that is detrimental to the healing process. Despite the continued effort and progress for a cultural shift there is still a stigma (belief system) when it comes to Mental Health within the Military and First Responders’ communities. The subtleties of how a person talks about themselves or another in a critical stress incident speaks volumes to the amount of work still needed. A common stuck point with both career fields is statistically both are more likely than the general public to experience a traumatic event throughout their career. When you add the belief system of “I shouldn’t need help” or “Everyone has problems” and the increased risk of trauma exposure you run the risk of having higher rates of substance abuse, particularly alcohol misuse because it’s easier to hide and often times encouraged, developing PTSD due to a variety of reasons, and ultimately having higher rates of individuals that experience Suicidal Ideation.
Chronic Pain is another consistent concern brought in. When the body is the primary tool utilized to complete a mission/job there is wear and tear. In my experience mental and physical wellness it taught but not always from the perspective of career longevity or optimal operational performance. The VA has a variety of services available to support maintaining your body (i.e. massage, chiropractor, TBI clinic, etc.).
5. Mental Health Support and Resources
The VA offers comprehensive mental health services for Veterans. You can get:
Need to talk to someone right now? Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line or you can chat online and even text 838255 to get connected to someone now!
Visit www.VA.gov/mental-health/ to learn more about available services and how to access them.
Remember: The VA is here to serve YOU. Don't hesitate to reach out and claim the benefits you've earned through your service. Only with your help and working with the VA can the VA continue to grow and maintain culturally appropriate healthcare for Veterans.
