Resources
Free Resources for Seniors & Families
Everything here is free to read and share. Take your time - the guides, benefits knowledge base, glossary, checklist, and trusted links below are made to be easy to follow.
Browse every benefit by topic
Clear explanations of the VA benefits we help families understand - for veterans, survivors, and caregivers. Pick a topic to read the details. Everything here is free.
Topics with this icon include a free calculator to estimate your benefit amount
Benefits for Veterans
Monthly compensation, pension, and income you may have earned.
Medical Benefits for Veterans
Health care, dental, mental health, and everyday medical care.
Additional Benefits for Veterans
Housing, education, records, insurance, and more earned through service.
- Housing Assistance
- Adaptive Housing Grants (SAH, SHA & HISA)
- Automobile Allowance & Adaptive Equipment
- Life Insurance
- Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI)
- Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
- GI Bill Education Benefits (Post-9/11, Montgomery & Transfer to Family)
- Veterans' Preference in Federal Hiring
- Discharge Upgrades & Character-of-Discharge Review
- Correcting Your Military Records (BCMR / DD Form 149)
- State & Local Veterans Benefits (Property Tax & More)
- VA Disability & Social Security (SSDI/SSI) Together
- Housing Help for Homeless & At-Risk Veterans
- Veteran ID Card & Commissary, Exchange & MWR Access
- Spina Bifida & Birth-Defect Benefits for Children
- Presidential Memorial Certificate & Military Funeral Honors
Survivors, Family & Caregivers
Support for spouses, children, and the people who care for a veteran.
- Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
- Survivors Pension
- Accrued Benefits & Substitution
- Education & Career Benefits
- Housing Assistance for Surviving Spouses
- Health Care (CHAMPVA)
- Life Insurance for Family Members
- Burial & Memorial Benefits
- Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
- General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)
- Respite Care
- Health Coverage & Counseling for Caregivers
Download the VA forms you need
These are the official VA forms we help families with most. Each link opens the official VA.gov page, where you can download the PDF or apply online - always free.
For veterans
Health care, disability, pension, and housing.
For survivors & family
DIC, pension, education, housing, and burial.
Not sure which form is right for you? Ask our free assistant - it can point you to the exact form and walk you through it. All forms open on the official VA.gov website.
Start with a plain-language guide
Each guide is written to be easy to read, with no jargon and no pressure. Read it here, or print it to share with family.
Benefits glossary
A few terms you may run into - in everyday words.
- Disability Compensation
- A tax-free monthly payment for a current illness or injury that is connected to your military service.
- VA Pension
- A monthly benefit for wartime veterans with limited income who are age 65+ or permanently disabled.
- Aid & Attendance (A&A)
- An added amount on top of a pension for veterans or survivors who need daily help or are housebound.
- DIC
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - a tax-free monthly benefit for eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents.
- DD-214
- Your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty - the key document that proves your service.
- Accredited Representative
- A VA-recognized person (such as a VSO, agent, or attorney) authorized to help you prepare and present a claim.
Documents checklist
Gathering these ahead of time makes any claim smoother.
- Your DD-214 (discharge papers) or other proof of service
- A current photo ID and your Social Security number
- Medical records and doctor letters that support your condition
- Marriage and dependent records (for spouse or family benefits)
- A death certificate and marriage certificate (for survivor claims)
- Bank details for direct deposit of any benefit payments
Answers to common questions
Straight answers about cost, records, and getting started.
The right department, one call away
These official government lines are free to contact. Tap a number to call directly from your phone. The Aging Veteran is a private service and is not part of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
MyVA411 - Main VA Information Line
One number for anything VA. If you are not sure who to call, start here - they will point you to the right place.
1-800-698-2411Visit websiteDD-214 / Military Records
Request discharge and service records (National Archives).
1-866-272-6272Visit websiteStill have a question?
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