Education Benefits
Legal Information
Information and resources about Education Benefits for Veterans and Military personnel in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Pension Poaching - Know the Signs
Informational brochure outlining how to identify dishonest financial planners and advisors who target veterans and their families, offering assistance with filing paperwork or claiming they can help veterans qualify for supplemental benefits. [PDF]
Educational and Career Counseling (VA Chapter 36)
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs about Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG), or VA Chapter 36, which offers free educational and career guidance, planning, and resources to Veterans and their dependents who are eligible for a VA education benefit. Find out how to apply for this program if you’re leaving active service soon or have been discharged within the past year.
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government whose mission is to increase citizen access to benefit information, while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. It is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Disability Compensation
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on Disability Compensation, which is a tax free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Compensation may also be paid for post-service disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service.
Stateside Legal
Stateside Legal is a national resource for members of the military, veterans, their families and advocates. It goal is to help you access benefits, find free legal help, and better understand your legal issues. This site indexes the best legal information available in one easy-to-use website that includes interactive forms, videos, and legal analysis.
Veterans Legal Help Navigator
This online tool from Stateside Legal helps veterans' caseworkers and advocates across the country find the right fit legal help for veterans. The Navigator will ask a series of questions about the veteran's income, household size, location and legal issue. Using this information, it will provide the right fit legal help for the veteran. The Navigator will also suggest resources to learn about the veteran’s legal issue and self-help materials for the veteran.
Veterans Benefits Applications
Online applications for various veterans benefits were previously available through the VONAPP (Veterans On Line Applications) website. That website has been retired and is no longer available, but links to online applications are still available here.
Are You a Veteran Needing Help With a Legal Question? - ABA Free Legal Answers
Information from the American Bar Association Military and Veterans Legal Center about Federal ABA Free Legal Answers, a website where you can submit your questions about civil legal issues pertaining to veterans, including VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and similar veterans’ legal issues, and receive answers from pro bono lawyers.
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government whose mission is to increase citizen access to benefit information, while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. It is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
Educational and Career Counseling (VA Chapter 36)
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs about Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG), or VA Chapter 36, which offers free educational and career guidance, planning, and resources to Veterans and their dependents who are eligible for a VA education benefit. Find out how to apply for this program if you’re leaving active service soon or have been discharged within the past year.
Education and Training
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs about education benefit programs administered by the Education Service including programs under the GI Bill.
Education Programs
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on VA education benefits that help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with education needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling. Learn how to apply for and manage the education and training benefits you've earned.
Transition Guide for Education and Civilian Employment
Informational brochure from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office offering information to military personnel transitioning to college, a job training program, or a civilian career.
Disability Compensation
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on Disability Compensation, which is a tax free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Compensation may also be paid for post-service disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service.
Handouts and Forms
Listing of handouts and forms from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs concerning education benefits under the GI Bill and other education and training benefits.
Filing Your Appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Information from the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program about filing an appeal from the denial of a VA claim from the Board of Veterans Appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. You can get the Notice of Appeal on the Court's web site at http://www.uscourts.cavc.gov.
The Board of Veterans Appeals
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (also known as "BVA" or "the Board") is a part of the VA, located in Washington, D.C. Members of the Board review benefit claims determinations made by local VA offices and issue decision on appeals. This is a gateway to information about the Board of Veterans' Appeals and the appeals process.
VA decision reviews and appeals
Information on the Veterans Affairs appeals process and the three decision review options (Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal) that are available.
Your Appeal for Veterans Benefits to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Information on filing an appeal of a decision of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides free attorneys to veterans and their qualifying family members who have an appeal pending at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). If an appellant has filed an appeal with the Court and has been unable to obtain his or her own attorney he or she can request assistance from the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program.
Transition Assistance Programs and Resources
Information from Military OneSource for military personnel who will be leaving the military and will be transitioning to a return to civilian life.
VA Welcome Kit
Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, this VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.
Organizations Offering Assistance to Veterans
Essential List of Organizations Helping Military Families in Need--This is a compilation of organizations from Veterans United for Truth that provide help with disability claims, discharge disputes, VA guidance and legal conflicts. Some provide job training, continued education and connections to employers. Others offer medical care, psychological treatment, crisis counseling and emotional healing. [PDF]