Veteran Community Partnership (VCP/WHV)

GHPCO Veteran Resource Guide:

State and Local Veterans Resources

Each state has its own department of veterans affairs and many counties have county veteran service officers to assist with both state and federal veterans benefits. Both of these state and county resources can be extraordinarily helpful.

The Georgia Department of Veteran Services is a tremendous resource for Georgia veterans!

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Veterans Administration Toll Free Phone Numbers

VA Benefits – 1-800-827-1000

Healthcare Benefits and Enrollment – 1-877-222-8387

Status of Headstones and Markers – 1-800-697-6947

Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Special Issues (Gulf War-Agent Orange-Ionizing Radiation etc) – 1-800-749-8387

Veteran Service Organizations

Veterans service organizations are non-government organizations that support veterans and promote their interests in communities and with local, state and federal governments.

There are dozens of VSOs, and some are chartered by the VA to provide benefits assistance. Many unite veterans who served in particular wars or come from a similar ethnic background or region. You can access the VA’s comprehensive directory of VSOs by visiting the website below.

GHPCO can help you find VSOs that may be able to assist you. While our list is not all-inclusive, we have listed on the following page several of the larger and more active organizations that will likely have a presence in your local community. You can go to their websites to find further contact information.

The following pages contain helpful contact information for a variety of veterans services. If you need assistance, GHPCO can help you find the appropriate web address or phone number, as well as help you fill out any necessary forms.

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Important Websites

General Veteran Information
The VA website provides resources, benefits, and services to support U.S. veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Veteran Benefits Information
The VA Benefits website offers detailed information on benefits available to veterans, service members, and their families, including education, healthcare, and disability support.

Burial and Memorial Benefits
The VA National Cemetery Administration website provides information on burial benefits, services, and locations to honor and memorialize U.S. veterans and their families.

VA Healthcare Information
The VA Health Care website offers information on medical services, resources, and support available to veterans through the VA health care system.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The VA PTSD website provides resources, treatment options, and support for veterans and others dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Vet Center Program
The Vet Center website offers counseling, support, and outreach services to veterans, service members, and their families for mental health and readjustment after military service.

Other VA Benefit Forms

VA Pension, Aid, Attendance and Medical Expense
VA Form 21P-527EZ, 21P-8416, 21-2680

VA Health Enrollment
VA Form 10-10EZ

Spousal Pension, Aid and Attendance
VA Form 21-22, 21P-534EZ, 21P-8416, 21-2680

DIC or Accrued Benefits
VA Form 21-22, 21P-534EZ

Compensation for Service-Connected Injury
VA Form 21-22, 21-526EZ

Burial and Funeral Allowance
VA Form 21P-530

Advance Directive and Living Will
VA Form 10-0137

Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party
VA Form 21-0845

Statement in Support of Claim
VA Form 21-4138

Intent to File a Claim for Compensation/Pension
VA Form 21-0966

Veterans organizations

Disabled American Veterans:
Founded in 1920, the DAV is dedicated to disabled veterans and their families.

American Legion:
The American Legion was founded in 1919 as a patriotic organization for wartime veterans.

Veterans of Foreign Wars:
The VFW dates to 1899 and pledges to “honor the dead through helping the living” through service.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America:
The IAVA is the first VSO devoted to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

National Association for Black Veterans:
NABVETS addresses issues concerning black and minority veterans.

Vietnam Veterans of America:
The VVA is devoted exclusively to Vietnam-era veterans and their families.

American Veterans for Equal Rights
AVER informs, supports and advocates for LGBTQ veterans nationwide.

VA Benefits

Visit Website

To obtain correct forms use

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Obtain DD-214

Military Separation Papers

National Archives Website-

Visit Website

Form SF-180 is required documentation for all other benefits

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Replacing Lost Medals

Request medal replacement by using the eVetRecs online application –

Visit Website

For online SF-180 application-

Visit Website

For paper application use SF-180 and mail or fax.

Burial Information:

Burial in a VA National Cemetery

Eligible veterans, spouses and minor children may be buried at any of the 131 national cemeteries at no cost to the family.

National Cemetary Administration Website
For eligibility check website – Generally, veterans who die on active duty or veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible. Spouses and minor children may also be eligible.

Eligibility
Your funeral director will often be able to help schedule a burial. Your funeral director will often be able to assist.

Burial Benefits
Your funeral director will often be able to assist.

Private Burial Allowance

Military Funeral Honors

Families or funeral directors may request military funeral honors on behalf of a deceased veteran. Department of VA National Cemetery Administration staff can also assist in arranging military funeral honors at a VA National Cemetery.

Check website for eligibility. Generally, veterans who die on active duty or veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible.

Link Coming soon!

Headstones or Markers

The VA furnishes upon request and at no charge a government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world.

Headstones, Markers, and Medallions
Check website for eligibility. Generally, veterans who die on active duty or veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible.

File a claim for a standard headstone-

CLAIM FOR STANDARD GOVERNMENT HEADSTONE OR MARKER
VA 40-1330 is submitted by the next of kin or representative.

United States Flags

A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased eligible veteran. Generally, the flag is given to the next of kin after its use.

Explore eligibility and request a flag
Check website for eligibility. Generally, veterans who die on active duty or veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible.

You may apply by completing VA form 27-2008. Generally, your funeral director will be able to assist you.

Presidential Memorial Certificates

The Presidential Memorial Certificate is signed by the current president and provided to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans.

Presidential Memorial Certificates
Eligible recipients include the next of kin and loved ones of honorably discharged diseased veterans. More than one certificate may be issued.

You may apply by completing VA Form 40-0247 and mailing or faxing as indicated on the form. Funeral directors will often be able to provide assistance.

Veteran Community Partnership:

This page provides information to and about veterans of the United States armed services in search of resources related to care at the end of life.

This page was created by the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Hospice Veteran Partnerships of Augusta, Greater Atlanta, Central Georgia and Savannah and is divided into distinct sections designed to help you in your search for information and support.

Section 1

Provides information to VETERANS and FAMILIES of VETERANS and includes information about VA Benefits, VA services, Hospice, Palliative Care and the We Honor Veterans Program.

Section 2

Provides information specific to the We Honor Veterans Program, a partnership between the VA and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. GHPCO is an active partner in We Honor Veterans and supports the efforts of hospices statewide in developing programs and care delivery models which improve access to hospice and the quality of care provided to veterans and their families at the end of life.

Section 3

Provides resources to hospice providers specific to the care of patients who served in America’s military including special population needs, specific disease states and information about the Hospice Veteran Partnerships available in the various areas of the state.

Section 1:

What is hospice care?

What is palliative care?

How do veterans access hospice?

The veteran must have a life-limiting illness.

The veteran must be seeking comfort rather than curative treatment interventions.

The veteran expects to live less than six months if the illness runs its normal course.

The veteran must want hospice care.

The veteran can ask for an evaluation of hospice eligibility from a local hospice provider.

The veteran can seek guidance and information from their VA benefits coordinator, if they have one.

If the veteran is enrolled in the VA, then the VA must coordinate hospice care.

If the veteran is eligible for Medicare Part A, the veteran may elect the Hospice Medicare Benefit and work directly with a hospice provider.

Basic Eligibility:

A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits. Reservists and National Guard members may also qualify for VA health care benefits if they were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a Federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty.

Minimum Duty Requirements:

Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Enrollment

For most Veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins by applying for enrollment. To apply, complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, which may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office, online or by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Once enrolled, Veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.

Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are afforded privacy rights under federal law. VA’s Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes how VA may use and disclose Veterans’ medical information, is also available online.

The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll, but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more.

Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.

Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only.

Veterans seeking registry examinations (Ionizing Radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom and Depleted Uranium).

Women Veterans

Women Veterans are eligible for the same VA benefits as male Veterans. Comprehensive health services are available to women Veterans including primary care, specialty care, mental health care and reproductive health care services.

VA Community Living Centers:

Community Living Centers (CLC) provide a dynamic array of short stay (less than 90 days) and long stay (91 days or more) services. Short stay services include but are not limited to skilled nursing, respite care, rehabilitation, hospice, and maintenance care for Veterans awaiting placement in the community. Short stay services are available for Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care and require CLC services. Long stay services are available for enrolled Veterans who need nursing home care for life or for an extended period of time for a service-connected disability, and those rated 60 percent service-connected and unemployable; or Veterans or who have a 70 percent or greater service-connected disability. All others are based on available resources.

Non-Institutional Long-term Care Services:

In addition to nursing home care, VA offers a variety of other long-term care services either directly or by contract with community-based agencies. Such services include adult day health care, respite care, geriatric evaluation and management, hospice and palliative care, home based skilled nursing, and home based primary care. Veterans receiving these services may be subject to a co-pay.

Section 2:

Section 3:

State and Local Veterans Resources:

Each state has its own department of veterans affairs and many counties have county veteran service officers to assist with both state and federal veterans benefits. Both of these state and county resources can be extraordinarily helpful. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service is an agency of state government created for the purpose of advising, counseling, and assisting Georgia’s veterans and their families in receiving their rightful benefits under the vast and complex framework of veterans’ laws.

Visit Website

Veterans Service Organizations

Veterans service organizations are non-government organizations that support veterans and promote their interests in communities and with local, state and federal governments. There are dozens of VSOs, and some are chartered by the VA to provide benefits assistance. Many unite veterans who served in particular wars or come from a similar ethnic background or region.

Link coming soon!

AboutFace-USA Veteran Ride Service Program:

GHPCO is excited to help introduce the AboutFace-USA® Veteran Ride Service Program, one of the newest initiatives dedicated to supporting our esteemed veterans and their families. This program offers free transportation services to ensure veterans can easily access vital healthcare appointments.

What is the Veteran Ride Service Program?

Who is eligible?

What does the program cover?

How to Apply:

Additional Support Services:

WHV/VCP Resources:

Honoring Those Who Served: Empowering Care through the "We Honor Veterans Program"!

Learn about the We Honor Veterans program and how it supports veterans in hospice care.

Veteran Community Partnership (VCP/WHV)

GHPCO Veteran Resource Guide:

Burial Information:

Veteran Community Partnership:

AboutFace-USA Veteran Ride Service Program:

WHV/VCP Resources:

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