Information and resources about Health Care and Disability Issues for Veterans and Military personnel in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
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. Use the benefit finder tool or search by category to learn which benefits you and your family may be eligible for and learn how to apply for what you qualify for.
Blind Veterans Pension
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) recognizes that many servicemembers pay a huge physical loss in their service to our nation. In some cases, that loss is their eyesight. That is why the Department offers and administers the Blind Veterans Pension. This program provides eligible veterans with a monthly pension of $150.
Burial and Memorial Benefits
Information from the Department of Veterans' Affairs National Cemetery Administration's web site about who is eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery or to receive VA burial allowances.
Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors - Social Security Administration
Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Benefits available through us are different from those available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members whose disability occurred while on active military duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. (2026)
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.
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.
VA Pension Benefits
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs about Pension Benefits, including who is eligible, how to apply and how to manage your benefits. VA helps Veterans and their families cope with financial challenges by providing supplemental income through the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension benefit programs.
Mercy Medical Angels - Angel Wings for Veterans
The Angel Wings for Veterans program provides wounded, ill and injured veterans and active duty service members along with their families with free travel to clinical care on the ground and in the air with gas cards, bus and train tickets, general aviation flights, and commercial airline tickets. Their mission is to ensure that no veteran in need is denied clinical care because of a lack of transportation. Angel Wings for Veterans has worked with thousands of Veterans and active duty military members to provide transportation to distant medical care. Apply to request assistance for air or ground transportation or contact them to learn how they may be able to assist you in getting needed transportation to medical care or service dog acquisition.
PTSD: National Center for PTSD
The National Center for PTSD is dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder resulting from exposure to an extreme traumatic stress involving direct or indirect threat of death, serious injury or a physical threat. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.
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. Use the benefit finder tool or search by category to learn which benefits you and your family may be eligible for and learn how to apply for what you qualify for.
How to apply for VA health care
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or service member.
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.
Blind Veterans Pension
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) recognizes that many servicemembers pay a huge physical loss in their service to our nation. In some cases, that loss is their eyesight. That is why the Department offers and administers the Blind Veterans Pension. This program provides eligible veterans with a monthly pension of $150.
Burial and Memorial Benefits
Information from the Department of Veterans' Affairs National Cemetery Administration's web site about who is eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery or to receive VA burial allowances.
Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors - Social Security Administration
Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Benefits available through us are different from those available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members whose disability occurred while on active military duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. (2026)
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.
PA ABLE Savings Program for Disability-Related Expenses
A PA ABLE account gives individuals with qualified disabilities (Eligible Individuals), and their families and friends, a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses, while maintaining government benefits. Federal and state law authorized the creation of PA ABLE accounts.
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.
PTSD: National Center for PTSD
The National Center for PTSD is dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder resulting from exposure to an extreme traumatic stress involving direct or indirect threat of death, serious injury or a physical threat. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.
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.
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 Pension Benefits
Information from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs about Pension Benefits, including who is eligible, how to apply and how to manage your benefits. VA helps Veterans and their families cope with financial challenges by providing supplemental income through the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension benefit programs.
Veterans Health Administration
Website of the Veterans Health Administration. The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,380 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,193 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9.1 million enrolled Veterans each year.
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.
PTSD: National Center for PTSD
The National Center for PTSD is dedicated to research and education on trauma and PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder resulting from exposure to an extreme traumatic stress involving direct or indirect threat of death, serious injury or a physical threat. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.
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.