Congressional Research Service

A broad range of benefits are offered to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and to certain members of their families by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Among these benefits are various types of financial assistance, including monthly cash payments to disabled veterans, health care, education, and housing benefits. Basic criteria must be met to be eligible to receive any of the benefits administered by the VA. This report examines the basic eligibility criteria for VA administered veterans’ benefits, including the issue of eligibility of members of the National Guard and reserve components. *** The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is Congress’s nonpartisan think tank and produces over 3,000 reports and studies per year for Congress. They include lawyers, economists, reference librarians, and scientists. CRS reports are highly regarded as in-depth, accurate, objective, and timely. They are not routinely made available to the public and are highly coveted by researchers.