Veteran Benefits in Texas

Texas VA benefits are available under the state Veterans Commission (TVC), an agency working to connect military members to the many services available to them. These local veterans benefits include education and employment resources, housing assistance and burial allowances for servicemembers and their families.

Additional veterans administration benefits include the Women Veterans and Health Care Advocacy programs. Additional benefits include health insurance, disability compensation, home loans and pensions. To learn more about veterans assistance in TX, review the information below.

Disability Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Servicemembers may apply for VA disability pay in Texas if they meet the eligibility requirements for disability compensation, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

To apply for TX VA disability benefits, veterans must complete an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (Form 21-526EZ), or 21-2680 to apply for SMC.

To make DIC disability claims, veterans must complete an Application for DIC, Death Pension and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21-534EZ).

To learn more about disabled veterans benefits, service members may contact a Veterans County Service Officer (VCSO) for assistance.

Service members may also apply for VA life insurance by completing the following forms:

  • Form SGLV 8286 for Servicemembers’ Group Life
  • Form SGLV 8714 for Veterans’ Group Life
  • Form SGLV 8286A for Family Servicemembers’ Group Life
  • Form SGLV 8600 for Servicemembers’ Group Life (Traumatic Injury Protection)
  • Form VA 29-4364 for Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance
  • Form VA 29-8636 for Veterans’ Mortgage Life

Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Service members who meet VA health care qualifications may apply for health insurance online, in person, by mail or by telephone to receive coverage for preventative and emergency medical services.

To apply for VA health insurance in person, servicemembers must visit a local veterans medical facility, or they may apply by telephone at 1-877-222-8387.

To apply for VA medical benefits by mail, veterans must complete an Application for Health Care (Form 10-10EZ) and mail it to the following address:

Health Eligibility Center
2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30329-1647

After enrolling in veterans health insurance, service members receive several federal and state benefits. Health insurance for veterans includes the following benefits:

  • Assistance through the Health Care Advocacy Program
  • Services under the Veterans Mental Health Program (VMHP)
  • Services under the Women Veterans Program
  • 24-7 crisis line counseling
  • Nursing care through State Veterans Homes

Note: To learn more about healthcare options for veterans, patients may contact 1-800-252-8387.

Pension Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Federal VA pension programs are available to low-income servicemembers and their families. These veterans pension programs include survivors and veterans benefits, Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound payments.

To apply for VA pension benefits in Texas, claimants must complete an Application for Pension (VA Form 21P-527EZ), or Form 21P-534EZ to apply as a surviving spouse.

To enroll in Housebound veterans pension benefits or to receive A&A benefits, claimants must submit medical evidence to the following address:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
Attn: St. Paul Pension Center
P.O. Box 5365
Janesville, WI 53547-536

While the TVC does not grant funds directly to financially-needy servicemembers, many other local organizations do offer financial assistance to veterans and their families. Several of these organizations include the Alamo Area Council of Governments, Center Point, the Citizens Development Center and Meals on Wheels.

Housing Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Texas VA housing benefits include property tax exemptions, long-term nursing care, home improvement programs and mortgage assistance. Veterans housing assistance includes total or partial property tax exemptions for servicemembers with disabilities, as well as their surviving spouses.

To learn more about property tax exemptions, veterans may contact the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division at 512-305-9999.

Texas VA housing assistance includes long-term nursing care for servicemembers, eligible spouses and Gold Star parents. Patients may enroll in the veterans housing assistance program at any of the facilities in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen, Temple and Tyler.

To learn more about State Veterans Homes, servicemembers may contact the Veterans Land Board (VLB) at 512-463-5060.

Additional housing assistance for veterans in TX includes programs and services aimed towards helping veterans purchase or repair their homes. The VA home loan, one of the most common of these programs, includes Purchase Loans, Interest Rate Reduction Loans and Native American Direct Loans.

Help in avoiding VA foreclosures is another service that is available to veterans. Other types of assistance include the following:

  • The Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP)
  • The Veterans Housing Assistance Program (VHAP)
  • The Land Loan Program
  • Adapted Housing Grants
  • Mortgage servicing assistance

Note: To learn more about VA home loan rates or to receive financial assistance, veterans may contact the Loan Guaranty Office at 1-877-827-3702.

Education Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Eligible veterans may apply for VA education benefits in Texas under the federal GI bill and its variants or under the state’s Hazlewood Act.

The post 911 GI bill can help veterans pay for most or all of their educational costs. Under the Hazlewood Act, veterans education benefits include up to 150 hours of tuition exemption at public institutions throughout the state.

These scholarships for veterans are available to eligible military members and their dependent children and spouses. To apply for these benefits, students must complete a Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption Application (TVC‐ED‐1a) and submit it to the college or university they wish to attend.

Other educational benefits include the following:

  • The Fry Scholarship
  • On-the-job training (OJT)
  • Tuition deferment

Note: To learn more about these educational benefits, call 1-800-252-8387.

Employment Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Texas VA jobs assistance through the TVC provides veterans with employment services such as job matching and referrals, employer outreach, vocational guidance, job search workshops and training opportunities.

Additionally, the TVC posts jobs for veterans online for veterans to access and apply to. Federal veteran jobs resources are available to help servicemembers find suitable veteran jobs. These va employment resources include Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Texas

Texas VA death benefits are available to eligible servicemembers and their families at any of the state cemeteries in Abilene, Corpus Christi, Killeen, or Mission.

These VA burial benefits include a grave plot and concrete liner, burial flag, military honors, headstone or marker, Presidential Certificate, perpetual care of the grave and a gun salute.

Under these veterans death benefits, there is no charge for the interment of veterans or their spouses and dependents; however, these allowances do not cover funeral home costs.

If a death is service-connected, veterans burial benefits may include an allowance of up to $2,000 to cover the costs of funeral expenses.

Last updated on Friday, February 28 2020.