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All information & resources here are free. Optional accredited representation is a paid service - and upfront fees for an initial VA claim are never allowed.

Crisis Line: 988702-992-4883
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Resources

Free Resources for Seniors & Families

Everything here is free to read and free to share, with no login and no catch. Take your time, because the guides, benefits knowledge base, glossary, checklist, and trusted links below are all made to be easy to follow. Read one section or read the whole thing, in whatever order makes sense for you. If a term or a step ever trips you up, our free assistant can explain it in plain language.

A diverse group of senior veterans and family members reviewing benefit resources together
Benefits knowledge base

Browse every benefit by topic

Clear explanations of the VA benefits we help families understand, written for veterans, survivors, and caregivers alike. Pick a topic to read the details, from disability compensation to pension, survivor benefits, and health care. Each one is written to answer the questions veterans actually ask, without the jargon. Everything here is free, and nothing asks you to sign up or hand over your information.

Topics with this icon include a free calculator to estimate your benefit amount

A senior Asian American veteran carefully organizing his benefit and service documents at home

Additional Benefits for Veterans

Housing, education, records, insurance, and more earned through service.

See all veteran benefits
Forms Library

Download the VA forms you need

These are the official VA forms we help families with most, gathered in one place so you are not hunting across the internet. Each link opens the official VA.gov page, where you can download the PDF or apply online, always free. There is never a charge to get or file these forms yourself, and you do not need anyone's permission to start. If a form looks confusing, ask us, because we walk families through these every day.

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.

Free Guides

Start with a plain-language guide

Each guide is written to be easy to read, with no jargon, no legalese, and no pressure. Read it here on the page, or print it to share with family at the kitchen table. These are the same explanations we give the veterans we work with every day. Come back to them as often as you need, because there is no limit and no cost to learning what you earned.

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.
A diverse group of senior veterans and family members reviewing benefit resources together

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
Questions & Answers

Answers to common questions

Straight answers about cost, records, and getting started, without the run-around. These are the questions veterans ask us most before they feel ready to move. Every answer here is plain, honest, and free of fine print. If something you are wondering about is not covered, just ask, and a real person will get back to you.

Who to Contact

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 website

VA Benefits Hotline

Compensation, pension, and general benefit questions.

1-800-827-1000Visit website

VA Health Benefits

Enrolling in and questions about VA health care.

1-877-222-8387Visit website

Education / GI Bill

GI Bill, DEA (Chapter 35), and the Fry Scholarship.

1-888-442-4551Visit website

National Cemetery Scheduling

Schedule a burial in a VA national cemetery.

1-800-535-1117Visit website

VA Caregiver Support Line

Support and guidance for family caregivers.

1-855-260-3274Visit website

Veterans Crisis Line

Free, confidential crisis support, 24/7.

988 (then press 1)Visit website

DD-214 / Military Records

Request discharge and service records (National Archives).

1-866-272-6272Visit website

Two ways to move forward — both free

Still have a question?

Our free assistant can help you find the right resource or explain anything you have read here. Tell it what you are trying to figure out, and it will point you to the section that fits. If you would rather talk to a person, a real accredited agent is one message away. There is no cost to ask, and no pressure to go any further than you want to.

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.

Call 702-992-4883

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.

It is not too late

There is no age limit. You are not out of the game.

Far too many veterans - older veterans most of all - decide on their own that they are too old, that they waited too long, or that because nobody ever gave them the information they must be out of the game. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you file a disability claim, the VA does not look at your age. There is no age limit and no deadline on filing a first claim, and veterans in their fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond are approved every single day.

That is the entire point of this website: to make you aware of the benefits you are entitled to right now, as an aging veteran, so you can protect your health, protect your family, and protect your benefits. So do not give up, do not talk yourself out of it, and do not wait until you are no longer able to seek care. The best day to start was years ago. The next best day is today.

A veteran in his seventies sitting at his kitchen table with coffee and a legal pad, calmly thinking through his VA benefits

“I’m too old for this.”

There is no age limit on a VA claim. The VA does not look at your age - it looks at whether your condition is connected to your service.

“I waited too long, so I missed my chance.”

There is no deadline to file a first claim. You can file decades after you separated, and your effective date starts protecting you the day you file.

“I never got the information, so I’m out of the game.”

Nobody handed most veterans a list of what they earned. That is exactly why this site exists - the facts are here, in plain language, at no cost.

“I’ll deal with it when I really need care.”

Do not wait until you are too sick to fight for it. Filing while you can still gather records and attend exams is the single biggest advantage you have.

Both options are free · No obligation

Two ways to work with us — both free

Talking to a VA-accredited claims agent costs nothing either way. Pick the one that fits: get answers to your questions, or register to hire us to take on your claim.

Free information — just ask

Tell us what’s going on or what you’d like to know. We’ll read your question and get back to you personally — no cost, no obligation.

A diverse support group of senior veterans meeting together

Ready to hire us? Register with us

For veterans who’ve decided they want us on their claim — registering is free too, and it does not make you our client or obligate you to anything. Here is exactly how it works:

  • You register. This simply starts the conversation — you are not our client yet, and you owe us nothing.
  • You sign and return VA Form 21-22a. It appoints us as your accredited representative and gives us access to your VA file.
  • Once we have your signed 21-22a and access to your case, we verify everything is in order.

It involves the registration form and signing VA Form 21-22a — by law we can’t accept your claim, work on it, or contact the VA for you until that power of attorney is signed. You decide whether to move forward.

Call us: 702-992-4883

An accredited agent personally reviews every request — we’ll reach out within 48 hours.