17 VA benefits most veterans never use (and the 2 calls that check them all)

If you served, there’s a good chance the VA already has a file with your name on it—and benefits attached that no one has ever walked you through. Not because you don’t qualify, but because the system mostly sits and waits for you to ask.

In this guide, I want to put 17 of the biggest VA benefits in plain English, and then boil everything down to two phone calls you can make to see which ones apply to you or your family.

Whether you’re a veteran who has never filed a claim, or you filed years ago and assumed your file was “done,” there’s probably more on the table than you think.

Before you start: who this applies to

This applies to two big groups:

1. Veterans with no rating on file. Maybe you got out, built a life, and nothing felt urgent enough to file for. Under today’s rules—especially after the PACT Act greatly expanded presumptive conditions—things that would have been denied 10–15 years ago may now be assumed service-connected.

2. Veterans who already have a rating. A rating from years ago doesn’t automatically update for new conditions, worsening conditions, a spouse who now needs care, or state-level benefits like property tax breaks. A yes years ago isn’t the final yes. A no years ago isn’t the final no.

And if you’re a spouse, widow, widower, or adult child of a veteran, several of these benefits are for you directly—not just the veteran.

Two myths that quietly cost veterans thousands

Myth #1: “Benefits are for someone worse off than me.”

This isn’t charity. You paid for these benefits with your service. Even a 10% disability rating can unlock real monthly money and other perks—it’s not “100% or nothing.”

Myth #2: “If I qualified for more, the VA would have told me.”

There is no office whose job is to call you when rules change or when your condition gets worse. New presumptive conditions get added. Ratings can be increased. New programs appear. None of that triggers an automatic phone call. The system waits for you to ask, every time.

1. VA disability compensation (including PACT Act changes)

What it is: Monthly tax-free payments for conditions that are service-connected. That doesn’t just mean combat wounds. It can be knees from years of rucks, hearing loss from the flight line, back issues from deployments, or now, a long list of cancers and respiratory conditions tied to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other exposures.

If you were denied years ago: That decision was made under old rules. You can file a supplemental claim—it reopens your case without starting from scratch, and it costs nothing to do.

If your condition has gotten worse: Worsening alone is grounds to request an increase, even if you don’t have any new conditions. A “worse old condition” and a “new condition” move through the system differently, so don’t assume one filing covers everything.

2. VA pension (not the same as disability)

What it is: A needs-based monthly benefit for wartime veterans who are 65+ or permanently disabled and whose income is under a limit—even if nothing is service-connected.

Key point: The income limit is based on your countable income, which subtracts things like medical expenses, Medicare premiums, and long-term care costs. On paper, you may look “over income,” but after these deductions, you may fall under the line and qualify.

So don’t disqualify yourself based on your gross income. Ask to be checked against the pension rules with your actual expenses.

3. Aid and Attendance and Housebound (extra money on top of pension)

What it is: Extra monthly money added to a VA pension if you or your spouse needs help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, managing meds) or are substantially confined to your home.

Aid and Attendance is for hands-on help with daily living. Housebound is for veterans largely confined to home, even without hands-on help.

Why this matters: For couples paying out of pocket for in-home care, this can be the single biggest line-item change in the entire budget. Many families quietly pay for home health aides for years while qualifying for help the whole time.

If you already get pension, this isn’t a brand-new application—just an additional form.

4. State-level veteran benefits (your county office, not the VA)

On top of federal VA benefits, almost every state runs its own package of veteran programs. These do not show up on federal VA forms, which is why they get missed.

Common examples:

• Property tax exemptions or reductions for veterans with a disability rating (sometimes full exemption at 100%, sometimes partial based on your percentage)
• Free or reduced hunting and fishing licenses
• Tuition waivers or discounts at state colleges for veterans or their dependents
• Preference points on state civil service exams
• Free admission to state parks

The details vary wildly by state.

Action step: Call your county veteran service office and ask them to screen you for every state and county veteran benefit where you live.

5. CHAMPVA health coverage for spouses and children

What it is: Health coverage for the spouse and children of:

• A veteran rated permanently and totally disabled, or
• A veteran who died from a service-connected condition, or
• A veteran who was totally disabled at the time of death.

This is separate from the veteran’s own VA health care. It often works alongside Medicare for the spouse, helping cover what Medicare doesn’t.

Many widows assume their coverage died with their spouse. If you’re a spouse or dependent, ask specifically about CHAMPVA; your eligibility is checked separately from the veteran’s.

6. HUD-VASH housing help (before you’re on the street)

What it is: A program that combines a HUD rental voucher with VA case management for veterans who are homeless or at serious risk of becoming homeless.

That “at risk” part matters. You don’t have to be living on the street. Losing a job, falling behind on rent, or bouncing between family members can qualify.

If housing is becoming unstable, ask about HUD-VASH before things hit crisis stage.

7. Grants to adapt your home for a disability

What it is: VA grants to help pay for home changes needed because of a service-connected disability—ramps, widened doors, roll-in showers, and other modifications.

The two main programs are Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Home Adaptation (SHA). The amounts and rules get updated over time.

If you were denied years ago, don’t treat that as permanent. If your rating or circumstances have changed, the answer might change too. Pull out your old paperwork, compare it with your current rating, and ask to be screened again.

8. Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)

What it is: A program for veterans with a service-connected disability that creates a barrier to work. It can pay for:

• Education or retraining
• Tools and support to start a small business
• A monthly living stipend while you’re in the program
• Career counseling and resume help

VR&E is not the GI Bill and doesn’t use up your GI Bill months. If you think your GI Bill is gone, VR&E may still be wide open.

If a service-connected condition is standing between you and the work you want, ask about VR&E (Chapter 31) by name.

9. Education benefits for spouses and children (Fry and Chapter 35)

There are two big programs here:

• Fry Scholarship: For the spouse and children of a service member who died in the line of duty.
• Chapter 35 – Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA): For dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled, or who died from a service-connected condition.

These can cover college or training for surviving spouses and children. They’re often overlooked because families are dealing with grief, funeral arrangements, and paperwork all at once.

There’s also a separate option where some service members can transfer unused GI Bill months to a spouse or child while still in service—worth asking about if you’re still in uniform.

If education could matter to your family, write down Fry Scholarship and Chapter 35 and make a point to ask, even if a year or two has passed.

10. Stipends and support for family caregivers

What it is: The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) provides a monthly stipend to a family caregiver of a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability who needs ongoing personal care.

This can also include:

• Training and support for the caregiver
• Respite care
• Health coverage in some cases

There’s also a broader, less strict program called the General Caregiver Support Program that offers training and respite care even if you don’t qualify for the stipend.

Important: “Not eligible for the stipend” is not the same as “no caregiver help at all.” Ask about both programs and write down which one you’re being evaluated for.

11. Free help filing claims: Veterans Service Officers (VSOs)

What they are: Accredited Veterans Service Officers who help you file claims and appeals at no cost—ever. They work through counties and veteran organizations like DAV, VFW, and American Legion.

By law, most accredited reps cannot charge you to prepare or file an initial claim. If someone wants money up front to file a claim, that’s your sign to walk away and find a VSO instead.

Free does not mean “unofficial.” VSOs are exactly who you want when the paperwork feels overwhelming.

12. VA home loans and funding fee waivers

What it is: The VA home loan guaranty lets eligible veterans buy a home with:

• No down payment (in many cases)
• No private mortgage insurance (PMI)
• Competitive rates

It doesn’t expire and you can use it more than once.

If you have a service-connected disability rating, the usual funding fee (a big cost at closing) can be waived. That can save thousands of dollars on day one.

There’s also a streamlined refinance option if you already have a VA loan and your rate is higher than today’s rates.

Check this before you close: If you’re using or considering a VA loan, ask the lender directly about the funding fee waiver based on your disability rating. Don’t assume they know your full VA history.

If you’re weighing renting vs. buying, it can also help to understand the broader costs of homeownership; I walk through those tradeoffs in more detail in this guide on how big, one-time purchases really work in practice.

13. Life insurance after service

What it is:

• SGLI → VGLI conversion: If you had Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) while in service, you generally have 1 year and 120 days after separation to convert it to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) without a medical exam. Miss that window and later health issues can make coverage more expensive or harder to get.
• Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI): For veterans with a service-connected disability rating who want additional coverage.

Pull out your separation date. If you’re within 1 year and 120 days, ask about VGLI now. If you’re outside that window and have a disability rating, ask about disability-based life insurance instead.

14. Burial and memorial benefits

What it is: For eligible veterans, the VA offers:

• Burial in a national cemetery at no cost
• A headstone or marker
• A burial flag
• A presidential memorial certificate
• A burial allowance that helps offset funeral costs (higher if the death is service-connected)

Funeral homes do not automatically file this for you. A family member has to ask.

This is one of those conversations that’s easier to have before you need it. Let your family know these benefits exist and where to find your DD214 and VA paperwork.

15. Vet Centers for counseling and readjustment

What they are: Community-based Vet Centers that offer free readjustment counseling for:

• Combat veterans
• Veterans and service members who experienced military sexual trauma
• Their families

You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care, and you do not need a disability rating to use them. Counseling is confidential and separate from the main VA medical system. Family counseling is included.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis. If you or your family is struggling with the transition home, it’s worth asking about.

16. Free rides to VA medical appointments

What it is: The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) runs a volunteer driver program in many areas to take veterans to and from VA facilities at no cost.

If transportation is the thing standing between you and your appointment, don’t cancel before asking about this. Call your local DAV chapter or your VSO, explain that getting to the VA is the barrier, and ask if a volunteer driver is available.

17. Veterans’ preference in federal hiring

What it is: Preference points in federal hiring for many veterans and, in some cases, their spouses. In a competitive applicant pool, those points can be the difference between getting an interview and getting passed over.

Combined with VR&E (Chapter 31) for training or career changes, this can open doors to stable government jobs that come with solid benefits and retirement plans.

If you’re applying for federal jobs, check the veterans’ preference rules for that position before you submit your application.

The one number that checks most of this in one call

All 17 of these programs run through the same front door.

VA benefits number:
Call 1‑800‑827‑1000.

When you call, have your service dates and your current disability rating (if you have one) handy. Ask the representative to check you by name for:

• VA disability compensation
• VA pension
• Aid and Attendance / Housebound
• CHAMPVA
• HUD-VASH
• VR&E (Chapter 31)
• Fry Scholarship
• Chapter 35 (DEA)
• PCAFC and the General Caregiver Support Program
• VA home loan funding fee waiver
• Life insurance options (VGLI and disability-based insurance)

Then ask for the phone number of your county veteran service office so you can check:

• Property tax exemptions or reductions
• Tuition waivers or discounts
• Any other state or county-specific veteran programs

Two calls, one simple habit

If you remember nothing else, make it this:

Step 1: Call 1‑800‑827‑1000 and ask to be screened for pension, Aid and Attendance/Housebound, CHAMPVA, HUD-VASH, VR&E (Chapter 31), Fry, Chapter 35, PCAFC, and life insurance options.

Step 2: Call your county veteran service office and ask about property tax exemptions, tuition waivers, and any other state or local veteran benefits.

On both calls, write down:

• The name of the person you spoke with
• The date
• Any programs they said they checked

Not because you expect a problem—because it saves you from re-explaining everything if you need to follow up later.

Every benefit on this list has the same pattern underneath: you already earned it the day you served. The system just won’t chase you down to hand it over. You have to raise your hand once, ask the questions, and let the answers come back in writing.

And if you’re working on tightening your overall finances while you sort this out—things like car purchases, credit, and monthly cash flow—pairing these benefits with smarter everyday decisions can multiply the impact. For example, understanding what really happens when you make a big purchase like a car can keep more of those VA dollars in your pocket.