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.
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. CHAMPVA Supplemental Insurance Program The CHAMPVA Supplemental Insurance is a private supplement insurance plan, not affiliated with CHAMPVA. It is designed to wrap around your CHAMPVA benefit insurance coverage, so that in most cases, you will obtain reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses not paid for by CHAMPVA. The supplement, like the CHAMPVA health insurance program itself, assists the spouses and dependents of 100% Service Related Disabled Veterans.
Chapter 35 DEA
The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.
Burial
Veterans and family members may qualify for a several 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. Please contact the VSO for more information and assistance.
Honor Guard/ Color Guard
The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is a way to show the nation’s deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country. This ceremonial paying of respect is the final demonstration a grateful nation can provide to the veteran’s family. By law, military units are required to provide, at a minimum, a two-person uniformed detail to present the core elements of the Funeral Honors ceremony to include the playing of Taps, Flag Folding and Flag Presentation.
Tricare
Tricare is the medical insurance provided to Active Duty service-members and their dependents. Tricare is also available for Retirees, National Guard and Reserve Members and their families, surviving dependents, and Medal Honor Recipients.
CAL VET Tuition Fee Waiver
The College Tuition Fee Waiver for Dependents of Service Connected Veterans waives mandatory systemwide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. This program does not cover the expense of books, parking or room and board. There are four plans under which dependents of veterans may be eligible. Veteran must be service connected (0-100%) for their dependents to be eligible.
Federal Benefits Book
The 2021 version of the Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents and Survivors.
Dependency and Indemnity (DIC)
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.
Death 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.
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.”