Life Insurance For The Honorably Discharged: What You Need To Know

If you have been honorably discharged from the military, you may be eligible for a variety of veterans benefits. These include educational assistance, health care, home loans, disability compensation, burial benefits, and more. An honorable discharge is the highest form of discharge a service member can receive and reflects dedication and proper conduct during their time of service. It is given to those who have met or exceeded the standards of conduct and performance expected of them.

However, eligibility for benefits depends on the type of discharge received. While an honorable discharge provides access to a wide range of benefits, other types of discharges, such as general discharge, other than honorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, and dishonorable discharge, may have restricted or limited access to certain benefits. It is important to understand the specific benefits available to those with different types of discharges.

VA life insurance benefits

To receive VA benefits, the Veteran's character of discharge or service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g. honorable, under honorable conditions, general). However, individuals receiving undesirable, bad conduct, and other than honorable discharges may qualify for VA benefits depending on a determination made by the VA.

• Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI): A low-cost group term life insurance program for servicemembers. Coverage can be extended for up to two years if the servicemember is totally disabled at separation. SGLI coverage is automatic for most active-duty servicemembers, Ready Reserve, and National Guard members scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive training per year.
• Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI): Allows veterans to convert their SGLI to a civilian program of lifetime renewable term coverage after separation from service.
• Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI): Insures spouses and children of servicemembers with SGLI coverage. Spousal coverage may not exceed the servicemember's coverage. Dependent children are automatically covered at no charge.
• Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI): An automatic feature of SGLI that provides payments to servicemembers who suffer losses, such as amputations, blindness, and paraplegia, due to traumatic injuries that occur in service.
• Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI): Provides mortgage life insurance protection to disabled veterans who have been approved for a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant. VMLI is available to veterans who received an SAH grant, have title to the home, and have a mortgage on the home.
• Service-Disabled Veterans' Life Insurance (S-DVI): Closed to new enrollment after December 31, 2022.
• Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife): A new guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance program for all service-connected veterans aged 80 and under. VALife offers up to $40,000 in whole life insurance coverage in $10,000 increments. There is no time limit to apply, and coverage starts two years after enrollment as long as premiums are paid during that period.

Burial benefits

DoD Burial Benefits

The DoD ensures that service members who die while on active duty receive recognition and dignified burial services. Mortuary services provided for active-duty deaths include:

• Recovery, evacuation, transportation, and identification of remains
• Return of personal effects to a legal representative or next of kin
• Preparation and casketing of the service member
• Transport of the deceased service member's remains to the burial site
• Transport of immediate family members to the burial site
• Burial in a gravesite in a national or private cemetery (dependent on available space)
• Military funeral honors, including at least two service members present at the service, ceremonial folding and presentation of the U.S. flag to the next of kin, and the playing of taps

VA Burial Benefits

The VA provides burial benefits for honorably discharged veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements. These benefits include:

• Burial and funeral costs: The VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $1,500 for deaths prior to that date. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed. For deaths unrelated to military service, the VA will pay up to $978 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2024, and a $978 plot-interment allowance if not buried in a national cemetery.
• Plot or interment allowance: The VA provides an allowance for the cost of the gravesite or interment.
• Transportation reimbursement: The VA will reimburse the cost of transporting the veteran's remains to the final resting place.
• Headstone or marker allowance: The VA will provide a free headstone or marker for the grave of the deceased veteran, even if buried in a non-VA cemetery. The VA also offers urns and commemorative plaques to families who choose not to bury their veteran but will not receive a government-issued headstone.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate: The VA provides a gold-embossed paper certificate, signed by the President of the United States, to the next of kin and loved ones of deceased service members.

To be eligible for VA burial benefits, the veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge, and one of the following circumstances must be true:

• The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability.
• The veteran died while receiving VA care, either at a VA facility or a contracted facility.
• The veteran died while traveling with proper authorization and at VA expense to or from a facility for an examination, treatment, or care.
• The veteran had an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending at the time of death, and they would have been entitled to benefits.
• The veteran died while receiving a VA pension or compensation, or was eligible for compensation or a VA pension but chose to receive full military retirement or disability pay instead.

There are also specific eligibility requirements related to the person claiming the burial benefits, such as being the veteran's surviving spouse, surviving child, parent, executor of the estate, or another family member or friend. Additionally, there are time limits for filing claims for burial benefits, which vary depending on the circumstances of the veteran's death.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

VR&E offers five different tracks to help veterans and service members with their employment needs:

• Job training: VR&E can help veterans identify job training opportunities to learn new skills and prepare for a new career.
• Education: VR&E provides educational counseling to help veterans pursue higher education or training to achieve their employment goals.
• Employment accommodations: VR&E assists veterans in finding employment that accommodates their disabilities or special needs.
• Resume development: VR&E offers resume writing assistance to help veterans effectively showcase their skills and experiences to potential employers.
• Job-seeking skills coaching: VR&E provides coaching on job-seeking skills, such as interview preparation, networking, and job search strategies.

In addition to these tracks, VR&E also offers independent living services for veterans who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment. This includes assistance with starting their own businesses or accessing other non-traditional work opportunities. Family members of veterans may also qualify for certain benefits, such as educational and career counseling, readjustment counseling, and dependent educational assistance.

State-specific benefits

In addition to these state-specific benefits, honorably discharged veterans are also eligible for several other benefits at the federal level. These include:

• VA disability compensation benefits: Veterans who suffer from a disease or injury as a result of their active military service may receive tax-free payments.
• VA health-care benefits: Health care is free for conditions related to military service and for veterans with "catastrophic disabilities" and disability ratings of at least 50%.
• Education benefits: Veterans can receive help under the GI Bill, which can cover tuition, housing, and other educational expenses, as well as choosing a career.
• VA home loans: Veterans with an honorable discharge may qualify for VA home loans, offering favorable terms and lower interest rates for home purchases.
• Employment opportunities: Many employers highly value the discipline and skills acquired during military service, making honorably discharged veterans attractive candidates in the job market.
• VA life insurance benefits: Several programs are available, tailored to the unique needs of veterans and their families.
• Burial benefits: Generally, an honorably discharged service member may receive Defense Department or VA funeral and burial benefits.

It is important to note that the type of discharge received by a veteran determines their eligibility for certain benefits. Honorable discharges are given to veterans who have met or exceeded the military's standards for performance and personal conduct. To qualify for an honorable discharge, service members must complete their enlistment or contract time commitments and other obligations in a satisfactory manner, maintaining high standards of conduct, duty performance, and discipline.

Access to military installations

Veterans who have been honorably discharged from the military are often eligible for a range of benefits, including access to certain military installations. This access is typically granted to honorably discharged veterans who meet specific eligibility criteria and can vary depending on the installation or base in question.

Eligibility Criteria:

The eligibility criteria for accessing military installations after an honourable discharge can include factors such as the length of service, type of discharge, and specific installation policies. In most cases, veterans with an honourable discharge can expect to retain some level of access to military installations.

Types of Access:

The extent of access for honorably discharged veterans can vary. In some cases, they may have access to commissaries, exchange facilities, and other amenities within the installation. However, certain sensitive areas or facilities may have restricted access, and each installation has the right to determine the specific privileges granted to eligible veterans.

Verification and Identification:

To facilitate access to military installations, honorably discharged veterans typically need to present valid identification that confirms their veteran status. This could include a veteran ID card, discharge papers, or other relevant documentation. It is essential for veterans to carry the required identification when visiting a military installation to avoid any issues gaining entry.

Installation-Specific Policies:

It is important to note that access policies can vary between different military installations. Veterans and their eligible family members should contact the specific installation or base they wish to visit to inquire about the most up-to-date access policies and requirements. Each installation may have unique procedures or requirements that veterans need to be aware of before their visit.

Additional Benefits:

In addition to accessing military installations, honorably discharged veterans may also be eligible for other benefits, including VA health care, educational assistance, home loans, and more. These benefits are designed to support veterans as they transition to civilian life and recognise their dedicated service to their country.

Frequently asked questions