Time Matters: a Timeline for VA Benefits

You got a favorite comedian?  Somebody who always makes you laugh?  Then you know how important timing is.  Ask any really good comic and they’ll tell you timing is everything.

Same thing applies to getting some of your VA benefits.  The biggies, medical, disability compensation and disability pension, you don’t have to worry about.  But others do have time windows before they expire, and some of them aren’t such that you can just ignore them.  Like, for instance, dental.  The benefits on your chompers expire 6 months (OK, 180 days) after your separation date.  

If you’re a combat vet who served in a combat theatre after November 1998 and you were discharged before January 28, 2003 and you haven’t enrolled yet, you got no time to waste. Your health care benefits expire on January 27, 2012. That’s a week from this Thursday, soldier.  If you were discharged on or after January 28, 2003, then you have until five years after your discharge date.  Still not a lot of time!

Another short one is reemployment. Say you left a job to serve and were away over 180 days.  You got 90 days to apply for reemployment with your employer.  If you served less than 180 days, you have less time.  You can find more information on your situation at the Department of Labor.  Look up your benefits under the state you live in.

Education and training benefits range from 12 to 15 years. Likewise vocational rehabilitation and employment.  But don’t just take my word for it.  You can find a chart with these timelines here.

I saved the best one for last:  home loans. They never expire. Pay a visit to your local VA office or call 1-800-827-1000.

You got any questions, you know who to call, right?  The guys at the NVF.  888.777.4443. They’re all vets just like you and they got plenty of experience fielding questions.  Just ask ‘em.

Dave Culmer, Semper Fi