Educational Benefits. Educational assistance benefits are available to spouses who have not remarried and children of members who died from a service-connected injury or illness. Benefits may be awarded for pursuit of associate, bachelor or graduate degrees at colleges and universities, including independent study, cooperative training and study abroad programs. Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical or vocational schools also may be taken. Benefits may be awarded for apprenticeships, on-the-job training programs and farm cooperative courses. Benefits for correspondence courses under certain conditions are available to spouses only. Secondary-school programs may be pursued if the individual is not a high-school graduate. An individual with a deficiency in a subject may receive tutorial assistance benefits if enrolled half-time or more. Deficiency, refresher and other training also may be available. Eligible persons may receive educational assistance for full-time training for up to 45 months or the equivalent in part-time training. Schooling must be in VA-approved schools and colleges. Payments to a spouse end 10 years from the date the individual is found eligible or from the member’s date of the death. The VA may grant an extension. In addition to the Dependents Educational Assistance program, various programs are available to help children reach their education goals. For more information, contact the nearest VA office.
Scholarship Information. Many states, universities, and other groups sponsor scholarship programs for the children of deceased service members, particularly those with wartime service. Contact your high school guidance counselor and local library for further information.
Home Loan Guaranteed by the VA. An unremarried spouse of a Service member who died from a service-connected injury or illness may be eligible for a government-insured home loan benefit. To determine your eligibility, apply to the nearest VA office.
Credit Unions, Banks, and Charge Accounts. Contact all financial institutions concerning transfer of accounts to the survivor's name. Also, ask about any insurance associated with the accounts.
Lapel Button for Next of Kin. The military provides this button to the NOK of members who lost their lives while serving on extended active duty or while assigned to an Air National Guard or military Reserve unit in a drill status. Contact your CAR to obtain a lapel button.
Gold Star Lapel Button for Next of Kin. The military furnishes this button to the NOK of members who lost their lives while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States or while serving with a friendly foreign force engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Contact your CAR to obtain a gold star lapel button.
Support Agencies
Family Support Center (FSC). This is a service organization for military families and a focal point for family matters. They provide immediate, short-term support to help families with challenging life situations. They help family members identify and clarify needs, determine appropriate forms of assistance and provide linkage to those resources. Appropriate referral is ensured through follow-up. They provide information and assistance to the installation commander and unit leadership to address family concerns. In addition, they provide a range of prevention and enrichment services designed to help family members adapt to current and future changes in their lives. These programs are presented at the FSC by staff members, other base agencies, or by agencies from the local civilian community.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). TAPS is a non-profit organization and is America’s national peer support organization that cares about and supports all “survivors” including spouses, significant others, children, parents, siblings, coworkers, and friends affected by a death in the armed forces. TAPS operates a national toll-free crisis and information line 24-hours a day, 7 days a week with help available through TAPS’ Board of Advisors of leading experts in grief, trauma, and critical incident stress. For more information you may write to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, National Headquarters, 2001 S Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009, http://www.taps.org, or call them toll free at 1-800-959-8277.
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. A non-profit national military widows service organization that provides support and information to widows of service members who die on active duty or as a result of service-connected disabilities. They respond to all non-monetary requests for assistance. For additional information or assistance, you may write to the Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., P.O. Box 361986, Birmingham, Alabama 35236, http://www.goldstarwives.org, or call them toll free at 1-888-751-6350.
