VA disability compensation is a monthly, tax-free payment to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Ratings range from 0% to 100% in increments, with 2026 monthly rates ranging from $175.51 (10%) to $3,831.30 (100% without dependents), per the VA's annually updated pay tables.
claim.vet focuses specifically on VA disability claims — helping veterans understand their ratable conditions, build strong evidence packages, and navigate the claims process at no cost. For other benefit types, the resources below point you to the right places.
Your VA disability rating unlocks access to many other benefits. A 50%+ rating can qualify you for premium-free healthcare (Priority Group 1). A 100% P&T rating waives VA home loan funding fees, opens Dependents Educational Assistance, and may qualify you for Special Monthly Compensation. Start with your disability rating — it multiplies everything else.
VA healthcare is organized into 8 priority groups. Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or higher receive Priority Group 1 — the highest priority — with no copays for most services. Veterans with 10–40% ratings fall in Priority Groups 2–3, with reduced copays. Veterans with no service-connected disabilities may enroll based on income limits (Priority Groups 7–8).
Free help enrolling in VA healthcare is available at any VA medical center patient advocate office, through VSOs, or online at va.gov/health-care/apply.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits, including tuition and fees (up to the in-state public school rate), a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents, and an annual books and supplies stipend. Entitlement is based on active duty service since September 10, 2001.
Veterans can transfer unused GI Bill benefits to dependents if they served at least 6 years and commit to 4 more years of service — subject to DoD approval. Free GI Bill counseling is available through any VSO or your school's Veterans Certifying Official (VCO).
VR&E — sometimes called Voc Rehab — provides education, training, and employment services to veterans with service-connected disabilities that create an employment handicap. Unlike the GI Bill, VR&E is needs-based and can provide housing allowance, books, and supplies even for veterans who have exhausted their GI Bill. Free VR&E counseling is available at all VA regional offices.
The VA home loan guaranty allows eligible veterans to purchase, build, or refinance a home with no down payment required, no private mortgage insurance (PMI), and competitive interest rates. There is a VA funding fee — ranging from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount depending on service and down payment — but this fee is waived entirely for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of any percentage.
Free VA home loan counseling is available through the VA's Regional Loan Centers (RLCs), HUD-approved housing counselors (free), and VSOs. Veterans can find VA-approved lenders through the VA Lender Search at va.gov.
VA pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans who have limited income and net worth and are age 65 or older, or are permanently and totally disabled from a non-service-connected condition. It is distinct from disability compensation — you do not need a service-connected disability to qualify.
Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a pension enhancement for veterans who require help with daily activities or who are housebound. A&A significantly increases the maximum pension amount. Free pension and A&A help is available from VSOs, many of whom have specialists in pension claims. Be cautious of private "pension planning" companies that charge fees — VSOs provide this help free.
The PCAFC provides a monthly stipend to family caregivers of eligible post-9/11 veterans (and, as of October 2022, certain pre-9/11 veterans) with serious injuries requiring in-person personal care services. The stipend is based on the average hourly rate for personal care services in the caregiver's geographic area, multiplied by the number of hours of care provided weekly.
PCAFC also provides access to health insurance (through CHAMPVA if the caregiver has no other coverage), mental health services, caregiver training, and respite care. Free PCAFC application help is available through VA Caregiver Support Coordinators at every VA medical center, or by calling the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Every state maintains its own veterans benefits program with dedicated staff to help veterans access both federal VA benefits and state-specific programs:
Find your state's benefits through your State Department of Veterans Affairs. County veterans service officers (CVSOs) are often the most accessible local resource for navigating both state and federal benefits.
Beyond government programs, several private nonprofits offer free VA benefits help:
claim.vet specifically focuses on VA disability compensation — helping veterans file stronger claims, understand their conditions, and prepare their evidence. It doesn't cover GI Bill applications, home loan certification, or pension — those require dedicated VSO help or contact with the relevant VA office. But for disability claims specifically, claim.vet provides free AI-guided assistance that's available immediately, with no appointment.
Explore free VA claim help or start your disability claim process at claim.vet now.
claim.vet provides free AI-powered guidance for VA disability compensation claims. Identify your ratable conditions, understand the evidence you need, and file with confidence.
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