06/06/2026
Aside from healthcare, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various state programs offer a robust suite of high-value benefits designed to assist with financial security, housing, education, and civilian life.
The top veteran benefits outside of healthcare include:
1. Financial Compensation & Tax Exemptions
VA Disability Compensation: A monthly, tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with illnesses or injuries that occurred or worsened during active service. Payments scale up significantly based on your overall disability percentage (from 10% to 100%).
Wartime & Survivors Pensions: Monthly cash payments for low-income wartime veterans who are at least 65 years old or permanently disabled.
Property Tax Exemptions: Many states offer substantial property tax discounts—and in some states, a 100% exemption—for disabled veterans.
2. Housing Benefits
The VA Home Loan: One of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to veterans. It allows you to buy a home with 0% down payment, competitive interest rates, and no private mortgage insurance (PMI). Furthermore, if you have a disability rating of 10% or higher, the standard VA funding fee is entirely waived.
Housing Adaptation Grants: Programs like the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant provide cash to help disabled veterans buy, build, or remodel a home to accommodate mobility needs.
3. Education & Career Advancement
The Post-9/11 GI Bill: Covers up to 100% of tuition and fees at public colleges (or a capped amount at private institutions), plus a monthly housing allowance (BAH) and a book stipend. In many cases, this benefit can also be transferred to a spouse or children.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E): Formerly known as VocRehab, this program helps veterans with service-connected disabilities explore career tracks, get job training, draft resumes, and secure employment.
Federal Hiring Preference: Veterans receive a 5-point or 10-point preference advantage when applying for competitive federal government jobs.
4. Family & Long-Term Support
Student Loan Discharge: Veterans who receive a 100% permanent and total (P&T) disability rating can have all of their federal student loans completely discharged (forgiven) tax-free.
Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowance: An increased monthly pension amount for veterans or surviving spouses who require the daily assistance of another person (for eating, bathing, or dressing) or are largely confined to their home.
Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA / Chapter 35): Monthly coaching or schooling stipends for the children or spouse of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition.
5. Quality of Life & Travel Perks
Lifetime National Parks Pass: Free access to all national parks and federal recreational lands via the America the Beautiful Access Pass.
Commissary and Exchange Privileges: Honorably discharged veterans and disabled veterans have lifelong access to tax-free military exchanges and commissaries, both in-person and online.
