Am I Eligible?
An Honest Eligibility Check
No false hope, no runaround. Answer a few plain questions and we will tell you honestly what you likely qualify for, what may not apply and why, and the free way to file it yourself. You stay in control the whole way, and nothing here commits you to anything. It takes a few minutes, we do not save your answers, and it does not cost a dime.
What this eligibility check actually does
This is not a VA decision, and it never will be. Only the VA decides a claim. What this tool does is walk you through the same questions an experienced accredited agent would ask, and give you an honest read on which benefits likely apply to your situation, which might, and which probably do not, with a plain reason for each. Think of it as a starting map, not a verdict, so you know what to look into before you ever file.
What it does
- Asks plain-language questions about your service, conditions, and situation
- Maps your answers against the real VA eligibility rules
- Shows which benefits likely apply, which might, and which do not
- Gives you the exact VA form to file each benefit yourself, for free
What it does not do
- It is not a VA decision and does not file anything on your behalf
- It does not store your answers or create an account
- It cannot replace a full C-file review or a medical nexus opinion
- It will never promise you a specific rating or dollar amount
What you might qualify for
VA benefits are not one thing, and that trips up almost everyone. They are several separate programs, each with different rules, different forms, and different eligibility tests. A veteran can qualify for one and not another, or for several at once without ever knowing it. The screener below checks all four so nothing that may be yours slips by unnoticed.
Disability compensation
Tax-free monthly payments for conditions connected to your service - physical or mental. You can apply at any age, and conditions that got worse over time still count. A single condition at 10% starts at about $180/mo; at 100% with a spouse you receive roughly $4,158/mo.
Any veteran with a service-connected condition
Veterans pension
A needs-based, tax-free monthly payment for wartime veterans age 65 or older (or permanently disabled) whose income and net worth fall below the VA limits. This is not about a service-connected injury - it is about helping you live on a fixed income. Aid and Attendance can be added on top if you need daily help.
Wartime veterans with limited income
Survivor and family benefits
If a veteran has passed, the surviving spouse may be owed DIC (about $1,699/mo), a survivors pension, accrued benefits the veteran earned but was never paid, CHAMPVA health coverage, and education benefits for children. Caregivers of living veterans may qualify for a monthly stipend and health insurance.
Surviving spouses, children, dependent parents, and caregivers
VA health care
Enrollment in VA health care is open to most veterans and is completely separate from a disability rating. You do not need a rating to see a VA doctor. A rating of 10% or higher eliminates most copays. The PACT Act expanded eligibility for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins.
Most honorably discharged veterans
About you
First, who are we helping today?
This is a plain-language estimate, not a VA decision. We do not save your answers, and there is never a charge to file an initial claim yourself.
Two ways to move forward — both free
Get free answers, or hire us to work your claim
There is no cost either way. If you just have questions, get free information from an accredited claims agent with no obligation. If you are ready to move forward, register to hire us — registering is free, and we cannot begin work until you sign VA Form 21-22a.
Free information — just ask
Ask a question, learn what you may be owed, or find out where you stand. Confidential, free, and no obligation to go any further.
Ready to hire us? Register
Decided you want us to work your claim? Registering is free — we match you with an accredited advocate and get you started. Fees, if any, are always disclosed up front.
Six things people believe that are not true
Every one of these myths keeps veterans from filing for benefits they earned. Every one of them is wrong, and we hear them repeated every single week. They usually come from a buddy, a rumor, or a bad experience someone had decades ago. Read the truth next to each one, because believing the myth is what costs families the most money.
“I was denied years ago, so the door is closed.”
A prior denial does not prevent you from filing again. The PACT Act made dozens of conditions presumptive that were not covered before. New evidence, a better medical opinion, or a change in the law can turn a past "no" into a "yes."
“I am retired and on Social Security, so I cannot get VA disability.”
Social Security retirement and VA disability compensation are two separate federal programs. Neither reduces the other. You can collect both, in full, at the same time. This is one of the most expensive myths in veterans benefits.
“My condition is just from getting old, not from service.”
If a condition began in service or was made worse by service, it can be compensated even if age is also a factor. Hearing loss, tinnitus, joint damage, and PTSD are all common in aging veterans and frequently service-connected.
“I did not serve in combat, so nothing applies to me.”
Combat is not required. Injuries from training, toxic exposure on a stateside base, conditions that developed during any active-duty period, and mental-health conditions from military service all qualify. The standard is service connection, not combat.
“If I file for VA benefits, I will lose my Social Security disability (SSDI).”
No. VA disability compensation does not affect SSDI. They use different definitions of "disabled" and are administered by different agencies. You can hold both simultaneously - every dollar of each.
“It is too late to file. There must be a deadline.”
There is no statute of limitations on an original VA disability claim. You can file at 25 or 85. The only clock that matters is the one-year window after a VA decision if you want to appeal - and even then, you can start over with a new claim.
What happens with your results
The screener is the starting line, not the finish line. It tells you where to look, but the real work is gathering evidence and filing it the right way. Here is what comes next, laid out in plain steps so you are never guessing. And you never have to walk it alone, because a free conversation is always one click away.
Review your results honestly
The screener tells you what likely applies, what might apply, and what probably does not - with a plain reason for each. No false hope, no sales pitch. If nothing fits, we say so.
Know your free options
Every VA claim can be filed by you, for free, at va.gov. Your results include the exact form number for each benefit. You never have to hire anyone - an accredited representative is an optional, paid service, and by law no one may charge you an upfront fee on an initial claim.
Understand the real timeline
A typical VA disability claim takes roughly four to five months. Filing an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) first locks in your effective date - that single step can be worth thousands in back pay.
Decide your next move
Talk to Albert for free (call, chat, or request a callback) and get a real read on your situation from an accredited agent - or take the self-file steps yourself. Either way, the screener gave you a map.
This eligibility check is free. No sign-up, no catch.
Most people in this business hide tools like this behind a paywall or a sign-up form. We don’t. Use it as much as you need. And if you want a real accredited agent to look at your actual claim, we’re one call away — it’s free to talk, and free to file your claim.
Albert L. Thombs Jr. — VA-accredited claims agent (#45147), a disabled veteran with a team of advocates who do this every day.
Two ways to move forward — both free
Questions about your results?
Our free assistant can walk through what your answers mean, which forms fit, and what to gather before you file. Ask it to explain any result in plain language, as many times as you need. If your situation is complicated, a real accredited agent can review it with you at no cost. No pressure, ever, and nothing you share is saved or sold.
Have a question? Get free information
Ask a question, learn what you may be owed, or find out where you stand. Confidential, free, and no obligation to go any further.
Ready to hire us? Register
Decided you want us to work your claim? Registering is free — we match you with an accredited advocate and get you started. We cannot begin until you sign VA Form 21-22a, and fees, if any, are always disclosed up front.
