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NAVIGATING VA resources for veteran spouses

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a variety of resources specifically tailored to support military and veteran spouses. These resources encompass health care, education, financial assistance and more.

Note from the Department of Veterans Affairs: We encourage military veterans to register with the Department of Veterans Affairs first to streamline access to all resources and benefits available to veterans and family members.

COUNSELING & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The VA Welcome Kit: your first step to accessing the benefits and services you have earned.

VA Resource Navigator—NEW: access many of the most sought-after resources and programs. 

Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, and Survivors: information on all VA benefits available to spouses, dependents and survivors, including healthcare, education and financial benefits. 

VA Benefits Hotline: assistance about VA benefits and services, available 24/7. Call: 800-698-2411. 

COUNSELING & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Vet Centers: a broad range of counseling, outreach and referral services available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members and their families.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

VA Education and Training Benefits: access benefits for service members and qualified family members, including college tuition payments, assistance choosing schools and training programs, and career counseling. Learn how to apply for and manage the benefits you've earned.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program (Chapter 35): provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans, including degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship and on-the-job training.

Fry Scholarship: offers Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to surviving spouses and children of service members who died in the line of duty.

EMPLOYMENT

Veteran and Military Spouse Talent Engagement Program (VMSTEP): employment readiness assistance and outreach to transitioning service members, veterans, and eligible spouses while advocating the use of special hiring authorities, employment programs, and veteran retention strategies to help VA become the employer of choice for veterans and military spouses. Military Spouse Training and Resources. 

Financial Assistance

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): provides a monthly benefit to eligible surviving spouses, children and parents of service members who died in the line of duty or from service-related injuries or diseases. 

Survivors Pension

Offers a needs-based benefit to the un-remarried surviving spouses and children of wartime veterans. 

Health Care

CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs): provides comprehensive health care benefits, including medical services and supplies to eligible spouses and dependents of veterans.

VA Caregiver Support Program: resources for spouses who are caregivers to veterans, including training, peer support and respite care. 

Housing Assistance

Home Loan benefits and services, including VA-backed loans for surviving spouses of veterans who died in-service or from a service-connected disability.

Memorial Benefits

Memorial and Services at USNA: Available assistance and information include advance planning, how to get the word out to classmates, preparing an obituary, choosing memorial tribute gifts, and honoring those lost in the service of our country. 

VA Burial Benefits and Memorial Items: VA burial benefits can help service members, Veterans, and their family members plan and pay for a burial or memorial service in a VA national cemetery

Bereavement Counseling: available to surviving family members of service members who died serving in active duty. Offerings include grief counseling, outreach and referral services.