Please select from the list of benefits below:
For questions regarding your benefits, please call San Mateo County Veterans Services Office at (650) 802-6598.
Compensation
A disability can apply to physical conditions, such as a chronic knee condition, as well as a mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The benefit amount is graduated according to the degree of the Veteran's disability on a scale from 10 percent to 100 percent (in increments of 10 percent). Compensation may also be paid for disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service. Disability Compensation is a monthly tax-free benefit paid to Veterans who are at least 10% disabled because of injuries or diseases that were incurred in or aggravated during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
VA Claim Exam
VA claim exams are a critical part of the claims process and VA wants to help you understand this process. VA’s updated websites provide answers about why a claim exam may or may not be needed, who contacts you about scheduling exams and how you may be contacted. These new webpages contain answers to additional questions such as: • What to do if an exam is missed; • How to reschedule an appointment; • What to bring to the exam and how to prepare for it; • Who completes the exam; • Costs or travel expenses and so much more.
Enrolling in Healthcare
VA provides world-class health care to eligible Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,200 sites of care, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s top healthcare providers. Visit our Healthcare page to get an in-depth look at all of the available resources and providers.
Non-Service Connected Pension (NSC)
Non Service Connected Disability Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are no longer able to work.
Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
A tax free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI BILL
The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides active duty and veteran service members with education benefits for their military service. Eligibility includes those who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001. The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides 36 months of educational benefits. These benefits may cover up to 100% of tuition, fees, and book cost in addition to a housing allowance based upon the total time spent in military service (36 months of service or more for 100% eligibility). This service time can include Title 10 mobilizations and some Title 32 duty for Reservists & National Guard members.
Records Request
Every veteran needs their DD-214 to receive any type of benefit from any provider. In addition veterans may want their OMPF (Official Military Personnel File), STR's (Service Treatment Records), and awards and decorations. The VSO Office is available to assist with these requests.
Burial
Veterans and family members may qualify for a multitude of burial benefits. These include: headstone or marker, presidential certificate, burial flag, honor guards, and National and State Cemeteries. For service-connected and some non service-connected deaths, the VA can reimburse burial expenses. Contact the VSO Office for more information and assistance.
eBenefits (Va.GoV)
eBenefits is a web portal managed jointly by the VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide Servicemembers, Veterans, and eligible dependents the ability to manage their VA and DoD benefits, claims and military documents online.
Vet Court
If you served in the United States Military (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy or Marines) you may be eligible for alternative sentencing programs and additional treatment at no cost to you. It does not matter how long you served, whether or not you served in combat, or what your discharge characterization was.
CHAMPVA
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. To be eligible the recipient must be one of the following: The spouse or child of a veteran who the VA has rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability. Contact the VSO Office for more information and assistance.
Veteran Owned Small Business
Annually, the State of California contracts billions of dollars for goods and services to ensure California's economy stays healthy, strong, and prosperous and promotes business opportunities and participation for all of its citizenry. Small businesses, including veterans, disabled veterans, and disabled veteran business enterprises are instrumental to the good health of the State's economy and a principal source of new jobs in California.
Benefits By Rating (0%-100%)
Veterans in receipt of compensation have additional benefits based on their overall rating. Click on the buttons below to find what additional resources may be available to you or your dependents. Contact the VSO Office to learn more. Additional monetary benefits are paid to veterans service connected 30% and higher. For a list of Compensation rates click on the button below.
Aid & Attendance
VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors.
Dental
If you are eligible for VA dental care through Class I, IIA, IIC, or IV you are eligible for any necessary dental care to maintain or restore oral health and masticatory function, including repeat care. Other classes have time and/or service limitations.
Death Pension/ Survivor Pension
The Survivors Pension benefit: which may also be referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried children of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) commonly referred to as Voc-Rehab or Ch. 31 is a benefit available to veterans who are service connected (disabled due to time in service) and are unemployed. Services provided under Voc-Rehab may include education and career counseling, readjustment counseling, career assessments and additional VA funding to complete a degree. Among other eligibility requirements, the service member will need to have a service-connected disability of at least 10% of more from the VA.
Home Loans
VA and Cal-Vet (California Department of Veteran Affairs) provides Home Loan programs to Servicemembers, Veterans, and eligible surviving spouses. The VA provides a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy. Cal-Vet Home loans are designed to make buying a home in California much easier for veterans, and members of the National Guard or Reserves. Cal-Vet Home Loans offer some of the lowest interest rates and require no down payment in most cases. Cal-Vet Home Loans can be used for many types of property including farmland, mobile homes, home improvements, or new construction.
Cemeteries
National Cemeteries: The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains 136 cemeteries in 40 states. In California there are 9 National Cemeteries. State Veterans Cemeteries: Many states have established state veterans cemeteries. Eligibility is similar to VA national cemeteries, but may include residency requirements. State veterans cemeteries are run solely by the state.
CalVET
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) works to serve California veterans and their families. With nearly 1.8 million veterans living in the State, CalVet strives to ensure that its veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a result of selfless and honorable military service. CalVet strives to serve veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to help them achieve their highest quality of life. California Women Veterans division provides information, advocate, outreach, and support Women Veterans and their families. California has nearly 145,000 women who served in the U.S military and the number are still rising. They have served in every major U.S conflict and peacetime since the Revolutionary War and for this they are owed a great debt of gratitude. Women Veterans are family members, friends, business owners, professionals, community leaders and advocates.
Discharge Upgrade
Veterans with less than honorable discharges have options available. If you have an OTH discharge and a service related disability you can apply for a Character of Service Determination. Please contact the VSO Office for more information.
CRSC/CRDP
Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP) are programs created by Congress to allow eligible military retirees to receive monthly entitlements in addition to retired pay. CRSC is a special compensation for combat-related disabilities. It is non-taxable, and retirees must apply to their Branch of Service to receive it. CRDP is a restoration of retired pay for retirees with service-connected disabilities that was lost due to the VA compensation offset. This means that an eligible retiree's retired pay will be fully restored. CRDP is taxed in the same manner as your retired pay, and it is normally considered taxable income.
National & State Park Pass
National Park Pass is a free lifetime pass available to veterans with a minimum 10% service connected disability. State Park Pass is available to veterans who are 50% service connected and higher.
Presumptive Conditions
The VA has made a list of Presumptive conditions in which the time of service of the veteran and location is taken into account and provided a generalized minimum rating based upon those conditions.
In-Home Care
Home health care or In-home care is delivered by a community-based home health agency that has a contract with VA. The program is for Veterans who need skilled services, case management, and help with activities of daily living. Examples include help with bathing, dressing, fixing meals or medication management. The services of a Homemaker or Home Health Aide can help Veterans remain living in their own home and can serve Veterans of any age. A Homemaker or Home Health Aide can be used as a part of an alternative to nursing home care, and as a way to get Respite Care at home for Veterans and their family caregiver.
Care Giver Program
The Family Caregiver Program was established for caregivers of eligible Veterans seriously injured on or after September 11, 2001. Approved family caregivers are eligible for a monthly caregiver stipend, CHAMPVA health insurance, mental health services, Respite care, travel, lodging, and per diem during mandatory training and Veteran medical appointments, caregiver education and training and information on other VA services.
Spouse/ Dependents Benefits
Family members and dependents of Service-members who have Retired for Active Duty, are Service Connected, died while in service, or were seriously injured in the line of duty may be eligible for many types of VA benefits.
VA Work Study
The VA work-study allowance is available to any person training at ¾ time (9 units) or higher and using any form of the GI Bill including: Ch. 33 Post 9/11 Ch. 30 MGIB Ch. 31 Voc-Rehab Ch. 35 DEA.
Housing
SSVF GRANTS: Provide deposit and rent assistance to eligible homeless or at risk of homelessness veterans. Grants in Santa Cruz County are issued through the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and the Homeless Services Center (HSC). Emergency Housing (HCHV 90-day program) The Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program has a 90-day emergency housing program for eligible homeless veterans. During their stay, veterans learn to access VA resources are helped in transitioning into permanent housing. Grant and Per Diem (Transitional Housing- Up to 2 years) The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program offers up to 2 years of transitional housing resources to homeless and at risk of being homeless veterans and their families. HUD-VASH The HUD-VASH Program is a partnership between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and our local Public Housing Authorities (PHA). The program combines the Housing Choice Voucher providing rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. The Housing Choice Voucher can be used at the the rental of their choosing.
Life Insurance
SGLI (Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance) SGLI provides low cost term life insurance coverage to eligible Service members. Coverage is available in $50,000 increments up to $400,000. Covered members will receive 120 days of free coverage from their date of separation and can be extended up to 2 years if the Service member is totally disabled at separation. VGLI (Veterans' Group Life Insurance) VGLI provides life insurance coverage to veterans after separation from service. Coverage can be provided for lifetime as long as premiums are paid. Coverage is limited to the maximum SGLI the veteran was covered for upon separation, but can be decreased in increments of $10,000. Once enrolled in VGLI, there is the opportunity to increase coverage by $25,000 every 5 years until the maximum of $400,000 until age 60. In order to be eligible, Veteran MUST enroll within 1 year and 120 days from date of separation. If applied for within 240 days of date of separation, veteran does not need to answer health questions. S-DVI (Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance S-DVI is a program to meet the insurance needs of certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. S-DVI is available in a variety of permanent plans as well as term insurance. Policies are issued for a maximum face amount of $10,000.
ID Cards Veteran Designation
Eligible veterans have the opportunity to add the word “VETERAN” to the front of their DL/ID card to indicate that they have served in the U.S. Military.
Debt Management
Veterans, Service members, and family members who incur debts as a result of their participation in VA compensation, pension, education programs, and home loans have several options available to them. If you have received letter(s) from Debt Management Center notifying you of your rights as well as your obligation to reimburse the VA, you should contact the VSO Office immediately for assistance with Waiver, Compromise, or Re-payment plans.
Adding Dependents
Veterans who have a 30% or higher disability rating can add eligible dependents to their compensation benefits to get a higher payment, also known as a “benefit rate.”
Federal Resource Book
Medicare Patient Center
As a Medicare patient resource center, we’ve made it our mission to help people with disabilities to get the most out of Medicare. As I’m sure you already know, Medicare can often be complicated and designed specifically for seniors who are 65 and older. However, many are not aware that Medicare also provides benefits for people living with disabilities regardless of their age.