Vets' Corner: Wide range of benefits available to veterans and their families

Vets' Corner: Wide range of benefits available to veterans and their families

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CALVET) offer a wide range of benefits to our veterans and their families.  You may be eligible for benefits if you are a veteran, veteran’s dependent, surviving spouse or child or parent of a deceased veteran.

Benefits come in many forms and are typically based on service-connected injuries/illnesses, or may be income based.  Compensation is paid for service-connected injuries/illnesses, whereas pension is based on income.  There is no time limit to apply for compensation and pension benefits.

VA Health care is available to veterans based on their service-connected injuries/illnesses, and also is available based on income. VA also provides free health care for veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, for any illness possibly related to their service in that theater.  Eligibility for free health care is for five years from the date of discharge from active duty.

Additional Federal benefits such as Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, Education & Training, Home Loans, Life Insurance, Dependents & Survivors Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and Burial benefits are also available.  State benefits such as the College Fee Waiver Program, CALVET Home Loan Program, State Veterans Homes, Fishing/Hunting Licenses, and State Parks and Recreation Passes are available.  Additional benefits include employment and unemployment insurance assistance, business license/tax and fee waivers, property tax exemptions, and waiver of motor vehicle registration fees.

The key to receiving any of these benefits is, You Must Apply for Them!  While you can apply on your own, your local County Veterans Service Office is there to assist you and your family.  The County Veterans Service Office is trained and accredited with the VA and CALVET.  You can find your local office by visiting the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers website at www.cacvso.org, then go to the “Contact Us” pull-down menu.

The Kings County Veterans Service Office issues Veteran I.D. cards to honorably discharged veterans. Contact Joe Wright if you would like to receive periodic veteran’s information by email. There are many state and federal benefits and programs available to veterans and their dependents. To find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office.  We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms.  You can get information on the Web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office webpage at www.countyofkings.com.
Joe Wright, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Service Officer for Kings County. Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford, CA 93230; call 852-2669; or e-mail joe.wright@co.kings.ca.us.

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