Resources providing a variety of General Information for Veterans in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Benefit Fact Sheets
This is a listing of Veterans Benefits Administration Fact Sheets from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on numerous issues which are of interest to veterans, servicepersons (including Reserve and National Guard members), and their dependents and survivors.
Correcting Military Service Records
Information on the process to correct military records that contain inaccurate information.
Free legal services for Veterans, service members
This article from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs outlines some options for obtaining legal assistance available to veterans and service members. Having legal challenges can get in the way of living the life you want to live. Ignoring legal difficulties tends to make them worse; however, there are free and low-cost resources available to service members and Veterans that can make legal concerns less burdensome.(October 3, 2022)
Legal Assistance for Military Personnel Available in Pennsylvania
Summary of programs providing legal assistance to military personnel, veterans and their families in Pennsylvania from Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Veterans and Military Right and Resources
Informational Booklet on the most common consumer issues, including idetity theft; Education and Civilian Employment; Home Ownership Issues, Pension Poaching; and Scams and Fraud impacting veteran and military communities.
DoD Safe Helpline
DoD Safe Helpline is the sole secure, confidential, and anonymous crisis support service specially designed for members of the Department of Defense community affected by sexual assault.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Website of The Department of Veterans Affairs. Whether you’re a Veteran, service member, or family member, The VA is available to help you get the care and benefits you deserve.
Veterans Benefits Administration
Information on benefits and services administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration for veterans, their dependents and survivors, including, but not limited to: Compensation; Education & Training; Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment; Home Loans; Life Insurance; Pension; Transition, Employment, and Economic Impact.
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.
How to apply for VA health care
Information on how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or service member.
Interactive Forms from Stateside Legal
Stateside Legal, a website providing legal help for military members, veterans and their families, has partnered with several organizations to bring free interactive legal forms to individuals with military connections. The interactive forms are available free of charge to all persons. The system is easy to use and provides several sample forms and letters in a number of legal areas.
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 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.
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.
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.
Burial Benefits
Information from the Department of Veterans' Affairs National Cemetary Administration's web site about who is eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Website of The Department of Veterans Affairs. Whether you’re a Veteran, service member, or family member, The VA is available to help you get the care and benefits you deserve.
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.
DoD Safe Helpline
DoD Safe Helpline is the sole secure, confidential, and anonymous crisis support service specially designed for members of the Department of Defense community affected by sexual assault.
Free legal services for Veterans, service members
This article from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs outlines some options for obtaining legal assistance available to veterans and service members. Having legal challenges can get in the way of living the life you want to live. Ignoring legal difficulties tends to make them worse; however, there are free and low-cost resources available to service members and Veterans that can make legal concerns less burdensome.(October 3, 2022)
Headstones, Markers and Medallions
Information from the Department of Veterans' Affairs National Cemetery Administration's web site about who is eligible for Headstones, Markers and Medallions based on military service.
PA VETConnect
PA VetConnect is the commonwealth’s premier information and referral network compiled specifically for service members, veterans, and their families. Resource areas include: unemployment, homelessness, mental wellness, substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and dozens more.
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Website of the PA Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs. The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs serves together as a diverse team of professionals providing innovative care and outreach services to nearly 700,000 veterans. DMVA partners with governmental and non-governmental agencies to ensure the health, safety, and care of veterans and their families. Simultaneously, it works to recruit, retain, and invest in a diverse physically and mentally resilient workforce (civilians and service members) to ensure the readiness of the Pennsylvania National Guard in order to respond the needs of the Commonwealth and Nation when called upon.
Pension
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs about Pension Benefits, including who is eligible and how to apply. VA helps Veterans and their families cope with financial challenges by providing supplemental income through the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension benefit programs.
Survivors Benefits Plan (Department of Defense)
Information from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, which provides payment services for the U.S. Department of Defense, about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) provides financial support to military spouses and/or children when a military member dies while on duty or after retirement. SBP provides eligible beneficiaries with a monthly payment known as an annuity. The amount of the SBP benefit is a percentage of retired pay. The percentage depends upon whether the member chooses full or reduced coverage at the time of election (generally at retirement or at 20-year qualification). SBP provides up to 55 percent of a service member's retired pay to an eligible beneficiary upon the death of the member. After the service member passes away, the SBP annuity is paid out monthly to the surviving spouse, or to the child or children of the member.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Information from Military OneSource on the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which replaced and expanded the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940. The Act protects active-duty service members, including National Guard and reserve members who have been activated by the federal government, and provides financial and legal protections to service members including caps on interest rates, stays of certain legal proceedings, protection from eviction and termination of leases without repercussions. Because the details of the SCRA are complicated, service members and their families are encouraged to contact the nearest legal assistance office if they need help meeting their financial obligations.
Transition Assistance Program
Information on the Transition Assistance Program from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides information, resources, and tools to service members and their loved ones to help prepare for the move from military to civilian life. Service members begin TAP one year prior to separation, or two years prior to retiring.
VA Housing Assistance
VA housing assistance can help Veterans, service members, and their surviving spouses to buy a home or refinance a loan. Benefits and services are offered to help you build, improve, or keep your current home. Find out how to apply for and manage the Veterans housing assistance benefits you’ve earned.
Veterans and Military Right and Resources
Informational Booklet on the most common consumer issues, including idetity theft; Education and Civilian Employment; Home Ownership Issues, Pension Poaching; and Scams and Fraud impacting veteran and military communities.
Veterans Benefits Administration
Information on benefits and services administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration for veterans, their dependents and survivors, including, but not limited to: Compensation; Education & Training; Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment; Home Loans; Life Insurance; Pension; Transition, Employment, and Economic Impact.
Filing 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.
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. There is also information on Clinical Appeals; Family caregiver program decision reviews and appeals; Contested claims; Insurance claims; and Fiduciary claims.
Transition Assistance Program
Information on the Transition Assistance Program from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides information, resources, and tools to service members and their loved ones to help prepare for the move from military to civilian life. Service members begin TAP one year prior to separation, or two years prior to retiring.
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. Based on where you are in life, your VA benefits and services can support you in different ways. Keep your welcome kit handy so you can turn to it throughout your life—like when it’s time to go to school, get a job, buy a house, get health care, retire, or make plans for your care as you age.