To
provide all necessary information and assistance to potential claimants
and other interested parties about veterans benefits and to provide
locations within each State where this assistance can be obtained.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Advisory Services and Counseling. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Department
of Veterans Affairs personnel provide information and assistance
on all benefits legislated by the Congress for veterans of the active
military, naval or air service of this country (to include the Public
Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
and certain World War II Merchant Marines). These include compensation,
pension, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment,
and education, insurance, hospitalization, domiciliary care, outpatient
medical and dental treatment, automobiles and specially adapted
houses for disabled veterans, burial and survivor's benefits. They
help the veteran and dependents file claims, secure supporting evidence
and, on request, represent the claimant to the VA adjudicative or
medical authorities. Special outreach emphasis is placed on specific
target populations. These include the aged, the ill, former prisoners
of war, women veterans, recently separated veterans, survivors of
service members killed on active duty, and the homeless. Service
includes providing information and personal service on matters which
affect veterans, but are under the jurisdiction of other Federal,
State, county or local agencies.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Generally, veterans, their dependents
and beneficiaries, their representatives or other interested parties.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Eligibility for the benefits
is controlled by specific legislation, but the assistance is available
to all.
Credentials/Documentation:
None for assistance, although various proofs are needed for the
benefits.
Pre-application
Coordination: All recently discharged or separated
veterans are furnished a package of informational materials on the
full range of veterans benefits. This program is excluded from coverage
under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Phone, write or visit the nearest
VA regional office, Center or VA Office listed in Appendix IV
of the Catalog.
Award
Procedure: Veterans and dependents are provided
with necessary applications for benefits and are assisted in the
preparation of the applications, which are then forwarded to the
appropriate units within VA for development.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Personnel provide assistance with development of appeals for basic
benefits.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Not applicable.
Audits:
Not applicable.
Records:
Not applicable.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: Not identified separately.
Obligations:
(Salaries and Expenses) Not Separately Identifiable. (NOTE: The
responsibility for assistance and funds has been spread to the
five direct programs to facilitate GPRA implementation.)
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
During fiscal year 2001, more than 11 million contacts were completed.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
"Federal
Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00,
available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh,
PA 15250-7954. The stock number is: 051-000-00220-2. "A Summary
of VA Benefits," VA Pamphlet 21-00-1; "Un Resumen De Beneficios
Del VA," VA Pamphlet 27-82-2(S); "Veterans Benefits for Older Americans,"
VA Pamphlet 27-80-2; "Veteran-Student Work-Study Programs," VA Pamphlet
27-80-3.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Application and contact should
be made with the Veterans Benefits Administration field offices
as shown in Appendix IV of the Catalog under Veterans Benefits Administration.
Headquarters
Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington,
DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 273-7210.
