Top 5 VA Benefits You Probably Didn’t Know You Have (But Should!)

VA benefits are pretty great, am I right? Health care, education assistance, home loans, life insurance…if you aren’t already taking advantage of these, you’re missing out. But chances are, you are benefiting from the widely known services provided to Veterans.

What you might be missing, however, are some lesser known perks for Veterans. Here are the top five services available to you that you might never knew existed:

Free Tax Prep - It’s that time of year…when you check the mailbox daily hoping for a Valentine from a long lost love but instead find a W-2 or a 1099 for the IRS. Little did you know, those forms are almost as special as greeting cards! Ok, maybe not, but instead of looking at the mail and seeing a hefty tax preparation bill, know that you can have your taxes prepared for free just by being a Vet. TurboTax and H&R block offer free access to tax prep software for Veterans but you can also get in-person services. Check out the following links to take advantage of your benefit:
https://militarybenefits.info/free-tax-filing-preparation-services/
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/information-for-veterans
https://themilitarywallet.com/free-tax-preparation-for-military-members/

Discounts - Who doesn’t love a good discount? There are so many to be had as a Veteran, from home improvement retailers (Lowe’s, Home Depot) to cell phone providers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc), car manufacturers (foreign and domestic - some of the largest from GM and Chevrolet), restaurants, travel…all you have to do is ask! Many amusement parks, museums, zoos and aquariums offer discounts on admission, the Armed Forces Vacation Club has resort deals, R&R packages and last minute travel and many ski resorts offer reduced prices for Veterans. Gunstock Resort in Gilford, NH offers 25% off to Vets! Find more info here:
The Military Wallet https://themilitarywallet.com/military-discounts/
AFVC https://rly.pt/3L9HAHS

Service Dogs - Did you know that a service dog can cost anywhere between $15,000-$50,000. That’s one expensive pooch! The VA offers free service dogs to those veterans that qualify through the VA Veterinary Health Benefit. Learn more here: https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/ServiceAndGuideDogs.asp

Small Business Assistance - Interested in starting your own business? The VA can help with that too! The Office of Veterans Business Development provides numerous resources to help veterans and their families learn about entrepreneurship through workshops and training programs, provides access to funding assistance through the Small Business Association, and even offers programs designed to help Veteran entrepreneurs secure government contracts.
OVBD: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/veteran-owned-businesses
Boots to Business: https://sbavets.force.com/s/
Veteran Assistance Programs: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-assistance-programs

Free Burials - Not to get all macabre here, but the truth is that the cost of dying is immeasurable in terms of the personal loss but quite measurable financially. Generally speaking, burial fees range between $7,000-12,000 (varies greatly by state). The VA offers burial benefits that include a plot in a “National cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker, or medallion, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.” This benefit even extends to the spouse and family members of the Veteran, with the Veterans headstone being etched with the family members names and dates of birth and death, even if they predesease the Vet. Find out more here: https://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/

Being a Veteran certainly has its advantages. You served our great nation, let the VA show its appreciation by utilizing all the benefits provided to you, not just the most popular options.