Areas of Help

AREAS THE LAKE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE CAN HELP VETERANS

Compensation:   VA can pay you monthly compensation if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service

Pension: You can receive a monthly pension if you are a wartime veteran with limited income, and you are permanently and totally disabled or at least 65 years old.

 Death Pension:  is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans. The benefit is based on financial need.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): is payable to certain survivors of:

• Service members who died on active duty
• Veterans who died from service-related disabilities
• Certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at time of death

Parent DIC:  is payable to some surviving parents. The benefit is based on financial need.

VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA):  shares the cost of medical services for eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.

Dependents & Survivors Education and Training:   Some family members of disabled or deceased veterans are eligible for education and training benefits.

Burial:  VA offers certain benefits and services to honor our Nation's deceased veterans.

• Headstones and Markers: VA can furnish a monument to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC): VA can provide a PMC for eligible recipients.
• Burial Flag: VA can provide an American flag to drape an eligible veteran's casket.
• Reimbursement of Burial Expenses: Generally, VA can pay a burial allowance of $2,000 for veterans who die of service-related causes. For certain other veterans, VA can pay $300 for burial and funeral expenses and $300 for a burial plot.
• Burial in a VA National Cemetery: Most veterans and some dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.

Who Is Eligible:  You may be eligible for VA benefits if  you are:

• a veteran
• a veteran’s dependent
• a surviving spouse, child or parent of a deceased veteran
• an active duty military service member
• a member of the Reserve or National Guard

What VA Offers:  VA benefits and services are in these major categories:

• Compensation
• Pension
• Health Care
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
• Education & Training
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Dependents & Survivors
• Burial

FILING OF DISCHARGE RECORDS- FORMS  (DD-214 or equivalent)

• The Veterans Discharge form (DD 214) is the most important document a veteran will receive when discharged from Active Duty. 

• Keep the Original copies is a Safe and Secured placed.  NEVER send the original to the VA or other organization.  Send only Certified Copies of the original.

• This document should be filed at the County Record of Deeds or County Record of Vital Statistics within the county that you live in after you are separated from active duty.  If you later move to another state or county this document should be refilled in the new county.  This is a free service in the state of South Dakota.

• DD 214s that are lost or destroyed can be requested from the National Personnel Records Centers either on-line or by mailing a Standard Form (SF) 180.  This process delays the veterans or dependents ability to apply for VA benefits up to 4-6 weeks.

• Certified Copies of the DD 214 are required for most initial Claims, Benefits, and Bonus programs.  Normally it may be 30 or more years before the DD 214 is required again for Social Security and other Benefits.  South Dakota Veterans can file and obtain Certified copies of there discharge form at any time at no cost.