Veteran Benefits in Ohio
Ohio VA benefits are available under the state Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). OH veterans benefits include application assistance at 88 County Veterans Service Offices (CVSOs) in the state, employment resources and nursing home care.
Additional veterans administration benefits are available through the VA, including disability compensation, home loans, tuition assistance and pension programs. Other veterans assistance programs involve burial benefits, pensions and life insurance policies. To learn more about the benefits available to veterans and how to access them, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
Eligible servicemembers may apply for VA disability pay in Ohio if they have service-connected disabilities. Different OH VA disability benefits may have different application requirements.
For general disabled veterans benefits, service members should complete form 21-526EZ. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) requires veterans to complete form 21-534EZ, while Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) requires veterans to complete form 21-2680.
The following VA life insurance policies are also available to qualifying service members:
- Veterans’ Group Life
- Servicemembers’ Group Life
- Family Servicemembers’ Group Life
- Servicemembers’ Group Life (Traumatic Injury Protection)
- Veterans’ Mortgage Life
- Service-Disabled Veterans’ Life
For assistance in applying for veterans life insurance or making disability claims, visit a CVSO.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
Federal VA health care includes access to a network of 153 medical centers throughout the country, including community living centers, outreach clinics and Vet Centers.
Service members who meet VA health insurance qualifications may apply for health insurance to receive coverage at VA medical facilities throughout the state. Ohio VA medical benefits are also available.
These programs include community-based mental health providers and the Ohio Cares organization, a local agency working to assist National Guard members with behavioral health issues.
To apply for veterans health insurance, veterans must apply in person at a medical facility, online, by telephone or by mailing an application (10-10EZ or 10-10EC) to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Note: Alternately, service members may apply for medical benefits in Ohio by calling 1-877-222-8387.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
Low-income veterans may apply for a VA pension in Ohio through the special veterans pension programs, while surviving spouses or family members may apply for survivors benefits.
Additional OH VA pension benefits include Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound allowances. To apply for veterans pension benefits in Ohio, servicemembers must complete an Application for Pension (VA Form 21P-527EZ), or an Application for DIC, Death Pension and/or Accrued Benefits (21P-534EZ).
To apply for the A&A pension program or to receive Housebound allowances, claimants must send medical evidence to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attn: Milwaukee Pension Center P.O. Box 5192 Janesville, WI 53547-5192
Note: Veterans with service-related disabilities may apply for a one-time, tax-exempt payment under the Military Injury Relief Fund. Additionally, servicemembers may qualify for a Veterans Bonus of up to $1,500 if they served during the Afghanistan conflict. To apply for either of these VA benefits, veterans must contact 877-644-6838.
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
Several Ohio VA housing programs are available to servicemembers and their families. These veterans housing assistance programs include shelters for homeless or at-risk veterans, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Heroes Program and state Veterans Homes.
A homeless VA housing assistance program is available to servicemembers at risk of losing their homes. Other veteran housing assistance program options include long-term nursing care at either of the two Veterans Homes in Georgetown or Sandusky.
To apply, patients must complete an Admission Application and submit it to the home of their choice with all required documentation. To learn more about preventing VA Foreclosures and homelessness, veterans may contact 1-877-424-3838, or they may visit a local VSO.
The Heroes Program provides low VA home loan rates to first-time homebuyers who meet income and sales price restrictions.
Veterans can learn more about current VA mortgage rates by calling 888-362-6432, or they may apply for a federal VA home loan by submitting a Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Cleveland Regional Loan Center 1240 East Ninth Street Cleveland, OH 44199
Note: Additional housing assistance for veterans in OH includes the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and short-term financial assistance. To learn more about HEAP, contact 614-644-6600. To learn more about obtaining short-term financial assistance, veterans must contact their local VSO office at 877-644-6838.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
State and federal VA education benefits are available to servicemembers and their eligible dependents. For instance, federal veterans education benefits include programs under the GI bill and other related bills intended to help veterans with their educational expenses.
To apply for the post 911 GI bill program or to receive benefits under other similar bills, students must complete an Application for Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990).
Scholarships for veterans are also available, as well as those war orphans. Other educational benefits include the following:
- Fast Track to College Credit
- The Ohio GI Promise
- Tuition waivers and college grants under the Safety Officers Memorial Fund
- The Military Interstate Children’s Compact
- National Guard scholarships
- Honorary high school diplomas
To learn more about these VA college benefits, veterans may contact a local VSO.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
Veterans seeking Ohio VA jobs assistance can make use of the many federal and state resources available to them as they transition into the workforce. To help applicants find for jobs for veterans, the following federal resources are available:
- Troops to Energy Jobs
- Helmets to Hardhats
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
- Feds Hire Vets
- Apprenticeships and on-the-job training (OJT)
- Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL)
Additionally, OH veteran jobs resources include access to OhioMeansJobs Centers and an online database of available jobs. Other veteran employment services include the Fast Track to Professional Licenses and Insuring Ohio Futures programs.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Ohio
Ohio VA death benefits are available to eligible servicemembers as well as their spouses and dependent minor children.
These VA burial benefits include interment at a national cemetery, a gravesite and liner, a headstone or marker, and the opening and closing of the grave. Other veterans death benefits include perpetual care of the grave.
To learn more about these death benefits, service members may contact their local VSO.