Guilford County, NC
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Frequently Asked Questions
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- Normal business hours for the Greensboro location are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excepting holidays.
- 1203 Maple Street, Room 128, Greensboro, NC 27405.
- You can contact the Guilford County Veterans Service Office by calling (336) 641-2957 or (336) 641-2958 in Greensboro or in High Point at (336) 641-7929.
- Original or certified DD214 (Discharge Papers), Social Security numbers of spouse and children, dates and place of birth, Date/ place of marriage. Prior marriage information (date of prior marriage, place of prior marriage, date the marriage ended, place marriage ended and how the marriage ended death or divorce) Death certificate if appropriate for widows filing for widows benefits. If applying for Non Service Connected Benefits then all income information money in the bank, interest/dividend information- net worth and monthly income. Amount of money being paid out of pocket for medical expenses…. ie. Health Insurance premiums, monthly nursing home cost to name a few.
- Claims can take between 9-12 months. Depending on specifics of the claim processing time may be shorter. We will discuss this time frame at the time of application.
- Members of the armed forces are provided a discharge record, DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, on completion of total military service, including active and reserve service. Your discharge (DD214 or equivalent) is a very important document, because your eligibility for all VA benefits is determined by it. There are a number of sources from which you may be able to get certified copies or photo-copies your discharge papers. You can obtain a copy of your DD214 from http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs or contact the County’s Veterans Services Office and we will assist you with your request.
- All veterans should apply to use the VAMC. This benefit is sometimes based upon income and sometimes not, several different categories for eligibility and if interested in seeing if veteran is eligible then he/she should apply.
- If the veteran is found eligible then yes. Veteran’s eligibility can be based upon when they served, where they served, how much income they have, whether or not they have a service connected disability (even 0% in some cases). You must apply and find out if you are eligible.
- You must be enrolled in the VA healthcare system and be followed by a VA healthcare provider who prescribes your medication that may be obtained from a VA pharmacy. Co-pays may apply.
- A service-connected rating is an official ruling by a VA Regional Office that your illness or condition is directly related to your active military service. VA Regional Offices are also responsible for administering educational benefits, vocational rehabilitation and other benefit programs, including home loans. To obtain more information, or to apply for any of these, contact your nearest VA Regional Office at 1-800-827-1000 or visit them online at www.va.gov.
- Guilford County Veteran Services does not provide transportation to the VA Medical Centers, however for veterans who are unable to transport themselves, transportation service may be available through other veteran agencies. Contact our office to learn about transportation options for medical appointments.
- VA Compensation Benefits may be paid to an eligible veteran who has a disabling physical or mental condition which was incurred or aggravated during military service. The degrees of disability are determined by the VA and represent, as far as can practicably be determined, the average loss in wages resulting from such diseases and injuries and their complications in civil occupations. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are also designed to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses. You should contact your County Veterans Services Officer for an interview to determine eligibility and for assistance in applying for these benefits.
- ring your discharge papers (DD Form 214) to your County Veterans Service Office. They will complete a form and send it in to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) office to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. You will present the Certificate of Eligibility to your lender when applying for a home loan. It is important to compare rates, fees and programs offered by your lender. For more information please refer to Home Loan Guaranty Services – Dept of Veterans Affairs at https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/.
- Your DD214 (Discharge Paper) is the key document that determines your eligibility for burial benefits. It is important to secure this document and make sure your family is able to locate it. Burial benefits provide for an allowance that may be authorized for the reimbursement of the funeral and burial expenses of an eligible veteran and limited benefits for a spouse. The following allowances fall under this category: burial or cremation allowance, plot or internment allowance, transportation of remains, burial in a national or state cemetery, memorial plots, headstones and markers, United States Flag, Presidential Memorial Certificates. There are many factors or criteria that determine what burial allowances you may qualify for, so it is imperative that you contact your veterans’ service officer for guidance and application of these benefits. We also work closely with local funeral homes and cemeteries. We strongly recommend that you find out about your VA burial benefits and options before committing to a pre-paid funeral package. Information is available at http://www.cem.va.gov/.
- Possibly. There are multiple sub-categories that fall under the umbrella of Death benefits. Information concerning each program has its own specific criteria and is summarized here. Some of the programs are:
Death Gratuity: lump sum when a service member dies while on active duty.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP): a monthly annuity paid to the spouse or dependent of a retired military service member-who has elected this option and paid into the program. Information concerning survivor benefits is available at http://www.vba.va.gov/survivors/index.htm.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): a monthly benefit paid to a spouse, children, or parents, if the proximate cause of death is due to a service connected disability. See http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/dependents/index.htm
Widows Pension: a monthly benefit payable to a spouse of a wartime deceased veteran. You may be entitled to VA Widows’ Benefits if your spouse served in the military for at least three months, and if he was in uniform for at least one day during a period of war. He did not have to have served overseas or in battle, but he must have been in service. The Widows’ Pension is dependent on your income. Only those with an income below certain limits will qualify. If you believe that you qualify (and husbands of wives who served are also eligible if they meet the guidelines), contact your County Veteran Service Office for an application.
Veterans Final Expenses: unreimbursed expenses from the veterans last illness and burial. Special provisions apply. - Veterans Administration Life Insurance/Servicemen’s & Veterans Group Life Insurance: There are multiple insurance policies that were issued under different laws and provisions. Benefits are determined by the policy and status at the time of death. Contact your County Veterans Service Office for detailed information and to apply for these benefits. Information is also available at http://www.va.gov/explore/life-insurance.asp
- A veterans ID card can on only be issued under the following circumstances:
Veteran must be enrolled into VA healthcare. After enrolling an a veteran is registered a picture ID card will be given to the veteran for access to use VA healthcare. This is an ID card that is recognized nationally.
Veteran is retired military. After 20 or more years in active duty military or retired reservists or National Guard can obtained this ID. This ID can be obtained from any military base or by contacting the Triad Armed Forces Reserve Center in Greensboro at (336)668-0053. This ID card is recognized nationally.
Veteran is 100% Permanent and Total Disabled by VA. This ID can be obtained from any military base or by contacting the Triad Armed Forces Reserve Center in Greensboro at (336)668-0053. This ID is recognized nationally.
You may also take your DD214 or military discharge papers to the Division of Motor Vehicles and have a NC Drivers’ License issued with the word VETERAN recognizing that you indeed a veteran.
“THANK A VET” PROGRAM
You may obtain a Veterans Discount Card with your picture through the Guilford County Register of Deeds office . You must bring your picture ID and original or certified copy DD214 or Discharge Papers to the Register of Deeds Office and have it filed there in order to receive your Veterans Discount Card. Veterans who have already have there DD214 or discharge papers on file with Register of Deeds can go there to obtain there discount card. The discount card is recognized at numerous establishments throughout Guilford County and will offer special discounts to veterans who present them.