Veteran Benefits in Utah
Utah VA benefits are available under the state Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (UDVMA), an organization working to connect servicemembers to the many programs and services available to them.
These UT veterans benefits include services professional nursing home care, burial honors, employment centers and training opportunities. However, federal veterans administration benefits are also available under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These veterans assistance programs include home loans, disability pay, pensions, and life insurance options. To learn more about the benefits available to veterans, read the sections below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Service members may apply for VA disability pay in Utah if they have service-connected disabilities or diseases, including mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
To apply for service-related VA disability benefits, veterans must complete an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (Form 21-526EZ). Alternately, disabled veterans benefits are available under Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
To make disability claims through DIC or SMC, servicemembers must complete Form 21-534EZ or 21-2680.
Veterans may enroll in VA life insurance in addition to disability compensation. Available veterans life insurance policies include Veterans’ Mortgage Life, Veterans’ Group Life and Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance.
Additional life insurance for veterans includes Family Servicemembers’ Group Life, Servicemembers’ Group Life and Servicemembers’ Group Life (Traumatic Injury Protection).
Note: For assistance in obtaining these benefits, claimants may contact the UDVMA at 801-326-2372.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Veterans may apply for federal VA health care to receive coverage for services such as health exams, immunizations, medical treatments, mental health services and prescription drug coverage.
Service members who meet VA health insurance requirements receive access to local benefits as well, including long-term nursing home care at the state Veterans Homes in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Payson and Ivins.
Additional VA medical benefits include access to the state’s VA medical center, three Vet Centers and six Outpatient Clinics. To apply for veterans health insurance in Utah, service members must call 1-877-222-8387 to enroll by telephone, or they may visit a veterans medical facility to apply in person.
Alternately, patients may apply for health insurance online or by completing VA Form 10-10EZ and mailing it to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Low-income veterans may apply for a VA pension in Utah if they meet income, age and/or disability qualifications. Available veterans pension options include survivors or service members, Aid and Attendance (A&A) or Housebound allowances.
To apply for VA pension benefits, claimants must complete VA Form 21P-527EZ to apply as a servicemember, or 21P-534EZ to apply as a surviving family member.
To enroll in the A&A veterans pension benefits or to receive Housebound allowances, claimants must submit medical evidence to the Pension Management Center (PMC) at the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attn: St. Paul Pension Center P.O. Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Note: For assistance in filing a claim, contact the UDVMA at 801-326-2372.
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Several Utah VA housing benefits are available to servicemembers and their families, including long-term nursing care at State Veterans Homes, transitional housing. VA home loan options, Property tax abatement and exemptions are other ways in which veterans may receive housing assistance.
To apply for long-term veterans housing assistance through state nursing homes, patients must contact the facility directly using the telephone numbers below:
- Salt Lake Veterans Home: 801-584-1900
- George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home: 801-334-4300
- Central Utah Veterans Home: 801-465-5400
- Southern Utah Veterans Home: 435-634-5220
Additional veterans housing assistance program options include the Homeless Veterans Fellowship, a program providing homeless vets with transitional housing, food bags and personal hygiene items for up to 18 months. To learn more about the program, veterans must call 801-392-7662.
Other VA housing assistance in UT includes property tax abatement for veterans with disabilities or property tax exemptions for active members of the Armed Forces.
To apply for the property tax abatement veterans housing assistance program, servicemembers must request a Summary of Benefits from the VA. Then, they must submit the letter and an Application for Property Tax Abatement to their County Treasurer or Tax Assessor.
To learn more about applying for the property tax exemption, servicemembers must contact the UDVMA.
Furthermore, veterans may obtain affordable VA home loan rates by applying for a federal Purchase Loan, Native American Direct Loan or Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan. To learn more about current VA mortgage rates, service members must contact the Loan Guaranty Office at 1-877-827-3702.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Utah VA education benefits include tuition waivers, in-state college tuition rates, scholarships and honorary high school diplomas.
Additionally, federal scholarships for veterans are available under the GI bill, an educational assistance program providing servicemembers and their families with college funding.
The post 911 GI bill, which is a variant of this bill, can provide other types of educational benefits, too. Other educational benefits include the following:
- The Veterans Tuition Gap Program
- In-state tuition rates
- The Purple Heart Tuition Waiver
- The Scott Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver
- Honorary high school diplomas
- Veterans Upward Bound
- The Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Note: To learn more about these benefits, students may contact the State Approving Agency (SAA) at 801-584-1973.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Utah VA jobs resources include several programs to assist service members to find employment. To find jobs for veterans, service members can take advantage of the Accelerated Credential to Employment (ACE) program, Veteran-Friendly Employers, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) and online tools.
Additional UT veteran jobs benefits include hiring preference, reemployment rights, and career counseling under the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP).
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Utah
Service members receive VA death benefits in Utah through the state Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale.
As part of these VA burial benefits, military members receive a headstone, Presidential Memorial Certificate, burial flag and military funeral honors (if requested). In some cases, veterans death benefits include an additional allowance to cover funeral home expenses.
These benefits are available to eligible servicemembers as well as their spouses and dependent children. To learn more, contact the cemetery directly at 801-254-9036.