Reserve and National Guard

Reserve and National Guard Eligibility for VA Benefits

National Guard members can establish eligibility for VA benefits if activated for federal service during a period of war or domestic emergency. Activation for other than federal service does not qualify guard members for all VA benefits. Claims for VA benefits based on federal service filed by members of the National Guard should include a copy of the military orders, presidential proclamation or executive order that clearly demonstrates the federal nature of the service.

Qualifying for VA Health Care

Effective Jan. 28, 2008, Veterans discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 28, 2003, are eligible for enhanced enrollment placement into Priority Group 6 (unless eligible for higher Priority Group placement) for 5 years post discharge. Veterans with combat service after Nov. 11, 1998, who were discharged from active duty before Jan. 28, 2003.

Activated reservists and members of the National Guard are eligible if they served on active duty in a theater of combat operations after Nov. 11, 1998, and, have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

Veterans who enroll with VA under this “Combat Veteran” authority will retain enrollment eligibility even after their five-year post discharge period ends. At the end of their post-discharge period, VA will reassess the Veteran‘s information (including all applicable eligibility factors) and make a new enrollment decision. For additional information, call1-877-222-VETS (8387).

Reservists who serve on active duty establish Veteran status and may be eligible for the full–range of VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and a discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. In addition, reservists not activated may qualify for some VA benefits.

Disability Benefits

VA  pays monthly compensation benefits for disabilities incurred in Reserves and National Guard

Reserve and National Guard Eligibility for VA Benefits  

aggravated during active duty and active duty for training as a result of injury or disease, and for disabilities due to injury, heart attack, or stroke that occurred during inactive duty training. For additional information about this, call 1-800-827-1000, and ask about “Veterans with Service-connected Disabilities“.

Montgomery GI BiII- Selected Reserve Members of reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, may be entitled to up to 36 months of educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) –

Selected Reserve. To be eligible, the participant must:

1. Have a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve or National Guard signed after June 30, 1985, or, if an officer, agree to serve six years in addition to the original obligation.
2. Complete initial active duty for training.
3. Have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before applying for benefits.
4. Remain in good standing in a Selected Reserve or National Guard unit.

Reserve components determine eligibility for benefits. VA does not make decisions about eligibility and cannot make payments until the reserve component has determined eligibility and notified VA.

Period of Eligibility:

Benefits generally end the day a reservist or National Guard member separates from the military. Additionally, if in the Selected Reserve and called to active duty, VA can generally extend the eligibility period by the length of time on active duty plus four months for each period of active duty. Once this extension is granted, it will not be taken away after leaving the Selected Reserve.

Eligible members separated because of unit deactivation, a disability that was not caused by misconduct, or otherwise involuntarily separated during Oct. 1, 1991, through Dec. 31, 2001, have 14 years after their eligibility date to use benefits. Similarly, members involuntarily separated from the Selected Reserve due to a deactivation of their unit between Oct. 1,2007, and Sept. 30, 2014, may receive a 14-year period of eligibility.

Reserve and National Guard Eligibility for VA Benefits

Payments:  The rate for full – time training effective Oct. 1, 2011, is $345 a month for 36 months. Part-time benefits are reduced proportionately. For complete current rates, visit

www.gibill.va.gov/.DOD may make additional contributions.

Training:  Participants may pursue training at a college or university, or take technical training at any approved facility. Training includes undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate courses; State licensing and certification; courses for a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; cooperative training; apprenticeship or on-the-job training; correspondence courses; independent study programs; flight training; entrepreneurship training; remedial, deficiency or refresher courses needed to complete a program of study; or preparatory courses for tests required or used for admission to an institution of higher learning or graduate school.

Accelerated payments for certain high-cost programs are authorized effective Jan. 28, 2008.

Educational and Vocational;“Transition Assistance”, for detailed information on available services. Call 1-800 – 827 – 1000 .

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP):

This program provides educational assistance to members of National Guard and Reserve components – Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) – who are called or ordered to active duty service in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress. Visit  www.gibill.va.gov/ for more information.

Eligibility:  Eligibility is determined by DOD or the Department of Homeland Security. Generally, a Service member who serves on active duty on or after Sept.11, 2001, for at least 90 consecutive days or accumulates a total of three or more of years of service is eligible.

Payments: Reserve or National Guard members whose eligibility is based upon continuous service receive a payment rate based upon their number of continuous days on active duty. Members who qualify , after the accumulation of three or more years of aggregate active duty service receive the full payment allowable.

 

 

 

Benefit Compensation contact the VA National Information Network 1.800.827.1000
Any questions about your benefits have your question written down for reference during phone interview

Reserve and National Guard Eligibility for VA Benefits

Training: Participants may pursue training at a college or university, or take technical training at any approved facility.  Training includes undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate courses; state licensing and certification courses; courses for a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools; cooperative training; apprenticeship or on–the-job training; correspondence courses; independent study programs; flight training; entrepreneurship training; remedial, deficiency, or refresher courses needed to complete a program of study; or preparatory courses for tests required or used for admission to an institution of higher learning or graduate school. Accelerated payments for certain high-cost programs are authorized.

Period of Eligibility:  Prior to Jan. 28, 2008, members of the Selected Reserve called to active duty were eligible as long as they continued to serve in the Selected Reserve. They lost eligibility if they went into the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR). Members of the IRR called to active duty were eligible as long as they stayed in the IRR or Selected Reserve.

Effective Jan. 28, 2008, members who are called up from the Selected Reserve, complete their REAP-qualifying period of active duty service, and then return to the Selected Reserve for the remainder of their service contract, have 10 years to use their benefits after separation.

In addition, members who are called up from the IRR or Inactive National Guard (ING), complete their REAP-qualifying period of active duty service, and then enter the Selected Reserve to complete their service contract, have 10 years to use their benefits after separation.

 Reserve and National Guard Eligibility for VA Benefits 

Work-Study Program: Educational and Vocational Counseling: “Transition Assistance“,for detailed information, on these available services, for Reserves and National Guard : Contact Toll-Free, 1-800- 827-1000.

Home Loan Guaranty

National Guard members and reservists are eligible for a VA home loan if they have completed at least six years of honorable service, are mobilized for active duty service for a period of at least 90 days, or are discharged because of a service-connected disability.

Reservists and National Guard,who do not qualify for VA housing loan benefits may be eligible for loans on favorable terms insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), part of HUD. Additional information can be obtained through you calling, 1-800-827-1000, and ask about Reserve and National Guard, “Home Loan Guaranty.”

Life Insurance

National Guard members and reservists are eligible to receive Service members‘ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and Family Service members‘ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI). They may also be eligible for SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection if severely injured and suffering a qualifying loss, Service disabled Veterans Insurance if they receive a service-connected disability rating from VA, and Veterans‘ Mortgage Life Insurance if approved for a Specially Adapted Housing Grant. For complete details you can call: 1-800 -827- 1000, and ask more questions about,“VA Life Insurance.”

Burial and Memorial Benefits

VA provides a burial flag to memorialize members or former members of the Selected Reserve who served their initial obligation, or were discharged for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or died while a member of the Selected Reserve. Information about other benefits that may be available call: 1-800-827-1000, and ask about Reserve And National Guard, “Burial and Memorial Benefits.”

Re-employment Rights

A person who left a civilian job to enter active duty in the armed forces is entitled to return to the job after discharge or release from active duty if they:

1. Gave advance notice of military service to the employer.
2. Did not exceed five years cumulative absence from the civilian job (with some exceptions).
3. Submitted a timely application for re-employment.
4. Did not receive a dishonorable or other punitive discharge.

Reserve and National Guard Eligibility for VA Benefits 

The law calls for a returning Veteran to be placed jn the job as if hel she had never left, including benefits based on seniority such as pensions, pay increases and promotions. The law also prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion or other advantages of employment on the basis of military service. Veterans seeking re-employment should apply, verbally or in writing, to the company‘s hiring official and keep a record of their application. If problems arise, contact the Department of Labor‘s Veterans‘

Employment and Training Service (VETS) in the state of the employer.

Federal employees not properly re-employed may appeal directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Non-federal employees may file complaints in U.S. District Court. For information, call 1-800-827-1000

National Guard and VA Partnership to Assist Veterans

The Transition Assistance Adviser (TAA) program within the National Guard (NG) Office of Warrior Support places a NGNA trained expert at the NG Headquarters in each of the 50 states and PR, GU, VI and District of Columbia, as an advocate for Guard members and their families as well as other geographically dispersed military members and families. In collaboration with state directors of Veterans Affairs and other state and local coalition partners, the Transition Assistance Adviser provides enrollment, referrals and facilitates access for Veterans through the overwhelming maze of programs, with the compassion of someone who knows what it’s like to transition from Guard to active duty and to civilian status.

Transition Assistance Advisers receive annual training by VA experts in VA health care and benefits to assist Guard members and their families with access to VA health care facilities and TRICARE facilities within their network. To find a local Transition Assistance Adviser call 1 877577-6691 or go tohttp://www.taapmo.com/

Outreach for OEFIOIF (New Dawn) Veterans

VA‘s OEF/OIF New Dawn Outreach Teams focus on improving outreach to members of the National Guard and Reserve by engaging Guard members throughout the deployment cycle with targeted messages and face-to-face encounters with VA staff. These Teams are located at VA Medical centers to help ease the transition from military.

Special Note: If you have any/ and or all types of questions about Reserves and National Guard VA Benefits and/ or rights, call: 1-800-827-1000.

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