Benefits word list

Plain-language meanings of words you will see on VA letters and forms, the staff you may meet, and the programs that can help. Every word links to its official source.

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66 words

Accredited claims agent or attorney: A person the VA has approved to help with claims. Unlike VSOs, they may charge a fee, but only for some work after the VA makes a first decision. They cannot charge to file your first claim.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Aid and Attendance: Extra money added to a VA pension for veterans or surviving spouses who need help with daily tasks like bathing or dressing, or who live in a nursing home.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
C&P exam (Compensation and Pension exam): A health exam the VA may ask you to attend after you file a disability claim. The doctor reports on your condition to help the VA decide your claim.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Caregiver Support Team: VA staff at every medical center who help family caregivers of veterans. They explain caregiver programs, offer classes, and link you to respite care.; Source: caregiver.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
CBOC (Community-Based Outpatient Clinic): A smaller VA clinic closer to where veterans live. Most offer primary care and mental health care. For bigger needs, they send you to a VA medical center.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Certificate of Eligibility (COE): A paper that proves you qualify for a benefit. For a VA home loan, it shows the lender you qualify. For the GI Bill, it shows how much school benefit you have.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
CHAMPVA: A health care program that helps pay medical costs for some spouses, surviving spouses, and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who died from a service-connected condition.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Character of discharge: The type of discharge you got, like honorable or other than honorable. If your discharge is not honorable, the VA can do its own review to decide which benefits you can get.; Source: benefits.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Claim shark: A person or company that is not accredited by the VA but charges veterans high fees to "help" with claims. This is not allowed. Free, accredited help is always available.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Community care: Care from a doctor outside the VA that the VA pays for. In most cases, the VA must approve it before you go.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Copay: A set amount you may pay for some VA care or prescriptions. Care for service-connected conditions has no copay. Many veterans pay no copays at all.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO): A local government worker who helps veterans file VA claims and find local benefits for free. Not every county has one.; Source: nacvso.org(opens in a new tab)
CRRC (Community Resource and Referral Center): A walk-in VA center in some cities where veterans who are homeless or at risk can get help with housing, health care, jobs, and other services in one place.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
CWT (Compensated Work Therapy): A VA health care program that helps veterans with health challenges get back to work through paid work experience and job support.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
DAV Transportation Network: Free rides to VA medical appointments given by volunteer drivers from the DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Book through your VA medical center.; Source: dav.org(opens in a new tab)
DD214: Your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. It shows your dates of service and type of discharge. Most VA benefits ask for it.; Source: archives.gov(opens in a new tab)
Decision review (Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, Board Appeal): The 3 ways to ask the VA to look at a decision again. A Supplemental Claim adds new evidence. A Higher-Level Review has a senior reviewer look again. A Board Appeal goes to a Veterans Law Judge.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation): A tax-free monthly payment for some surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members or veterans who died from a service-related cause.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Disability rating: A percentage from 0% to 100%, in steps of 10, that the VA gives to show how much a service-connected condition affects your health and ability to work. A higher rating usually means a higher monthly payment.; If you have more than one condition, the VA combines them using its own math. It does not simply add them up.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Fiduciary: A person the VA picks to manage VA payments for a veteran or survivor who cannot manage their own money. Fiduciaries are checked by the VA and must use the money for the person’s needs.; Source: benefits.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
GI Bill: A set of VA programs that help pay for college, trade school, apprenticeships, and job training. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most used one today. Some benefits can be shared with a spouse or child.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
GPD (Grant and Per Diem): A VA program that funds community groups to offer short-term housing and support for veterans who are homeless.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
HCHV (Health Care for Homeless Veterans): VA outreach teams who find and help veterans living on the street or in shelters. They connect veterans to health care, housing, and other services.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
HISA grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations): A VA health care grant that helps pay for medically needed home changes, like ramps, wider doors, or a walk-in shower.; Source: prosthetics.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
HUD-VASH: A program that pairs a HUD rent voucher with a VA case manager for veterans who are homeless. You get a referral through the VA.; Source: hud.gov(opens in a new tab)
Intent to File: A notice that tells the VA you plan to file a claim. It can save an earlier start date for your payments. You then have up to 1 year to send your full claim.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
MilTax: Free tax software and help from Military OneSource for service members, their families, and veterans up to 365 days after leaving service.; Source: militaryonesource.mil(opens in a new tab)
Minority Veterans Program Coordinator: A VA staff member who helps make sure minority veterans know about and can use VA benefits and services.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
MST Coordinator: A staff member in every VA health system who helps survivors of military sexual trauma find care. They can answer questions privately.; Source: mentalhealth.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
MyVA411: The VA’s main phone line, 800-698-2411. It is open 24/7 and can connect you to the right VA office if you are not sure who to call.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team): Your VA primary care team. It usually includes your main provider, a nurse care manager, a clinical helper, and a clerk. Some teams also have a social worker or pharmacist.; This is not the same as the PACT Act, which is a law about toxic exposure.; Source: patientcare.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
PACT Act: A 2022 law that expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Patient Advocate: A staff member at every VA medical center who helps when you have a problem or complaint about your care. They listen, look into it, and help find a fix.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
PCAFC (Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers): A VA program that gives extra support to family caregivers of veterans with serious service-connected needs. It can include a monthly payment, training, and health coverage for the caregiver.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Peer Support Specialist: A veteran who works for the VA and has lived through their own recovery. They use their experience to support other veterans in mental health care.; Source: veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Pre-need burial eligibility: A way to find out, before death, whether you qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery. It makes planning easier for your family.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Presumptive condition: A health condition the VA assumes was caused by your service if you served in a certain place or time. You do not have to prove the link yourself.; Under the PACT Act, some cancers and breathing problems are presumptive for veterans who served near burn pits.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Priority group: A number from 1 to 8 the VA gives you when you enroll in health care. It is based on things like your disability rating and income. It affects whether you pay copays.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
SAH and SHA grants (Specially Adapted Housing): VA grants that help veterans with certain serious service-connected disabilities buy, build, or change a home so they can live more independently.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
School Certifying Official (SCO): A staff member at your school who sends your class and enrollment details to the VA so your GI Bill can pay.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Service connection: When the VA agrees that a health problem was caused by, or made worse by, your military service. Your condition must be service connected for you to get disability compensation.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
SNAP for veterans: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) gives monthly money for groceries. Veterans apply the same way as anyone else, through their state SNAP office. Rules about how VA payments count as income are set by SNAP, so ask your state office.; Source: fns.usda.gov(opens in a new tab)
SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families): A VA program that pays local nonprofits to help very low-income veteran families keep their home or quickly find a new one. It can help with rent, deposits, utilities, and moving costs for a short time.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
State Veterans Home: A nursing home or care home run by a state for veterans. The VA helps pay for care in some cases. Each state sets its own rules.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Suicide Prevention Coordinator: A VA staff member at every medical center who makes sure veterans at risk get follow-up care and support. They also work with the Veterans Crisis Line.; Source: veteranscrisisline.net(opens in a new tab)
TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability): Lets the VA pay you at the 100% rate even if your rating is lower, when your service-connected conditions keep you from holding a steady job.; Usually you need one condition rated at least 60%, or a combined rating of 70% with one condition at 40% or more. The VA makes the final call.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Toxic exposure screening: A short set of questions the VA asks enrolled veterans about exposure to things like burn pits or Agent Orange. It is free and takes about 5 to 10 minutes.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Travel pay (Beneficiary Travel): Money back from the VA for miles driven or other costs to get to VA or approved community care appointments. You must file within 30 days.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA funding fee: A one-time fee most people pay when they get a VA-backed home loan. Veterans who get VA disability pay usually do not have to pay it.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA home loan: A home loan from a private lender, like a bank, that the VA partly backs. This often means no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. You still have to meet the lender’s credit and income rules.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA Medical Center (VAMC): A large VA hospital. It offers primary care, specialists, emergency care, mental health care, and services like social work and patient advocates.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA national cemetery: A cemetery run by the VA where eligible veterans, and often their spouses, can be buried at no cost.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA pension vs. VA compensation: Compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for service-connected conditions. It is not based on income. Pension is a monthly payment for wartime veterans with limited income who are age 65 or older, or who have a permanent and total disability. Pension does not need a service-connected condition.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA Regional Office: A VA benefits office, not a clinic. This is where claims for disability pay, pension, and other benefits are handled. You can visit for help in person.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VA social worker: A trained helper on your VA care team. Social workers connect you to housing, food, money help, caregiver support, and community services. Just ask your clinic for one.; Source: socialwork.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Vet Center: A small, local VA office that offers free, private counseling to eligible veterans, service members, and their families. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care.; Source: vetcenter.va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VetCert: The free SBA program that certifies veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses so they can compete for set-aside federal contracts.; Source: veterans.certify.sba.gov(opens in a new tab)
Veteran job specialists (DVOP and LVER): Staff at American Job Centers who help veterans find work. DVOP specialists focus on veterans with extra barriers. LVER staff work with local employers to hire veterans.; Source: dol.gov(opens in a new tab)
Veterans’ preference: Extra points or priority many veterans get when applying for federal government jobs. There is 5-point and 10-point preference.; Source: fedshirevets.gov(opens in a new tab)
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance): An IRS-backed program where trained volunteers prepare tax returns for free for people with low to moderate income, people with disabilities, and others.; Source: irs.gov(opens in a new tab)
VJO Specialist (Veterans Justice Outreach): A VA staff member who helps veterans involved with police, courts, or jails get VA care and services. They often work with veterans treatment courts.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC): Your counselor in the VR&E program. They help you pick a job goal, plan training or school, and find work that fits your disability.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment): A VA program, sometimes called Chapter 31, that helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for and find jobs. It can pay for training and school.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
VSAFE (Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion): A VA program that helps veterans and families spot, avoid, and report scams. You can call 833-38V-SAFE (833-388-7233).; Source: vsafe.gov(opens in a new tab)
VSO (Veterans Service Officer or Organization): A trained person or group approved by the VA to help you file claims and appeals. Their help is free.; Source: va.gov(opens in a new tab)
Women Veterans Program Manager: A staff member at every VA medical center who helps women veterans get the health care and services they need.; Source: womenshealth.va.gov(opens in a new tab)

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