Veteran Benefits In Colorado
Available VA benefits in Colorado are overseen by the state Division of Veterans Affairs (CVA), an agency under the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. As such, veterans benefits include service compensation, pensions, education, employment resources, home loans and life insurance.
Other veterans administration benefits include health care, vocational rehabilitation, counseling and burial services. Additional federal veterans assistance programs are available under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To learn more about benefits for veterans in CO and how to apply, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
Available VA disability benefits include general compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
To apply for VA disability pay, veterans who meet eligibility requirements may file a claim online or by completing a paper application.
To apply for VA disability compensation, service members must complete Form 21-526EZ, or Form 21-534EZ for DIC. To file SMC VA disability claims, applicants must complete Form 21-2680. Alternately, candidates who wish to obtain disabled veterans benefits may file a Fully Developed Claim (FDC) online or by calling 1-800-827-1000.
Additionally, veterans may apply for VA life insurance, including Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) or Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI).
Other veterans life insurance options include Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI).
To learn more about obtaining life insurance for veterans in CO, candidates may call 1-800-669-8477.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
Federal VA health care coverage is available to eligible veterans and their families, including services like preventative care, inpatient hospital procedures, emergency aid, prescription medications and mental health assistance.
Service members who meet VA health care eligibility may also receive care at any of the state’s five Community Living Centers.
To apply for VA medical benefits in CO, patients must complete an Application for Health Benefits (Form VA 10-10EZ) and submit it in person at a VA medical center or by mailing the application to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Rd., Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329
Note: For assistance in applying for veterans health insurance, claimants may contact 1-877-222-8387.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
Federal VA pension benefits in Colorado include Veterans Pension, Survivors Pension, Housebound benefits and Aid and Attendance (A&A).
To apply for Veterans Pension benefits, claimants must complete an Application for Pension (Form 21P-527EZ), or an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (Form 21P-534EZ) for survivor benefits.
In addition to applying for a VA pension, claimants may apply for Housebound benefits or A&A as well. To apply, candidates must submit medical documentation to the Pension Management Center (PMC) at the address below:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attn: St. Paul Pension Center P.O. Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Qualifying applicants may receive veterans pension benefits in addition to Housebound or A&A pensions.
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
To provide veterans with VA housing services, Community Living Centers are available to veterans, Gold Star parents and surviving spouses. Services include long-term VA health care in CO, short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, memory and hospice care.
Patients in need of long-term veterans housing assistance may apply for admission at any of the five homes in Aurora, Rifle, Florence, Walsenburg and Monte Vista. To apply, candidates must complete an Admission Form for Colorado State Veterans Nursing Homes.
Additionally, servicemembers may apply for a VA home loan if they plan to purchase or build a home. To determine VA home loan eligibility, veterans must complete a Request for Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) and mail it to the following address:
Atlanta Regional Loan Center Attn: COE (262) P.O. Box 100034 Decatur, GA 30031
Note: To learn more about VA home loan rates and how to apply, servicemembers may call 1-888-244-6711.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
Servicemembers may apply for VA education benefits in Colorado under the GI bill, a program providing veterans with education and employment-related assistance.
Under the post 911 GI bill, military members receive benefits such as payments for college tuition and fees, annual book allowances of up to $1,000 and monthly housing allowances.
The VA GI bill offers other benefits, as well, including tutorial assistance, correspondence training or distance learning. To apply for VA school benefits under the Post-911 or Montgomery GI bill, candidates must complete an Application for Education Benefits (Form 22-1990) and mail it to the following address:
VA Regional Office P.O. Box 32432 St. Louis, MO 63132-0832
Note: To learn more about veterans education benefits, service members may contact 1-888-442-4551.
Additionally, scholarships for veterans and their surviving family members include the following:
- The Matthew Freeman Project
- Aspire
- National Military Family Association
- Pat Tillman Foundation
- Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
- Freedom Alliance
- Heroes Legacy Scholarship
- Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
- Special Ops Warrior Foundation
- Folds of Honor
Eligibility requirements for veteran scholarships vary by grant, so you should research each grant to see what benefits each one provides.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
Colorado VA jobs services include useful employment resources, such as career assistance at workforce centers throughout the state. In addition to helping find jobs for veterans in CO, workforce locations offer training and placement services. Furthermore, GI bill benefits offer employment services, as well, including entrepreneurship and vocational training, licensing, and certification reimbursement.
Note: If applicants cannot gain VA employment after returning home from service, they may apply for unemployment compensation. To learn more about unemployment insurance, veterans may contact 303-318-9000.
Additional veteran jobs services are available to Active Duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers.
The state Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) provides veterans and their families with professional licenses for more than 50 professions in the state, including careers in nursing, pharmacy, dental and psychology. To learn more about DORA, veterans may contact the department at 303-894-7855.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Colorado
Service members receive VA death benefits and burial allowances to cover funeral costs after they die. However, allowances for VA burial benefits vary depending on whether veterans die in a service-related or non-service-related death.
Veterans death benefits include burials at state or national cemeteries, including the Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado or the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.
To apply for veterans burial benefits in Colorado, surviving family members must complete an Application for Burial Benefits (Form 21P-530) and submit the form along with all supporting documentation.