A $600 Buy-up program allows certain service persons and reservists to contribute up to $600 to the GI Bill and receive extra benefits up to $5,400. Veterans Education Assistance Program is for veterans who first entered service between 1977 and 1985 who made contri- butions to this program from their pay. The Government will contribute $2 for every dollar and the money can be used for various courses. The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program pays for education and training of dependents of those who died on active duty, or died or became totally disabled due to a service-related condition. Special restorative or vocational training may be available. 4. Vocational rehabilitation. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program assists veterans with a service-related disability to prepare for work, find a job, and keep it. This includes services such as an evaluation to determine a veteran’s abilities and skills, learning job seeking skills and resume writing, help finding a job, on the job training, and tertiary training at a college or a vocational or business school.
Free vocational education counseling is available to veter- ans and dependents. Services might include aptitude and inter- ests testing, exploring different occupations and setting goals, and examining education or training options. 5. Home loans. A Veterans Affairs Home Loan is available to eligible
veterans. This includes those who served in World War II, or the
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Korean, Vietnam, or Gulf wars for at least 90 days, or less than 90 days if discharged due to disability. It also includes those who served at least 180 days during peacetime. A departmental loan counselor can be appointed to a veteran who is experiencing mortgage difficulties. Services to help avoid foreclosure include a repayment plan, special forbearance, loan modification, extra time to arrange a sale, short sale, and a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A Veterans Affairs Home Loan to a surviving spouse may offer a better interest rate than other home loans. Under the Home Loan Guaranty, a spouse may be able to secure a guaranteed loan through a private lender. This could be for a new or existing home, or reno- vations, or to refinance an existing mortgage. 6. Life insurance. Veterans Affairs offer life insurance benefits to veterans who cannot get private cover due to a service-related disability. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) members who are discharged due to totally disability may be able to stay cov- ered for up to two years without cost.
All SGLI members automatically qualify for the Traumatic Injury Protection program. This is effective from 1 December 2005, and applies retrospectively to 7 October 2001 for injuries sustained in the Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom operations. Payments are available to spouses of deceased veterans un-
der SGLI. The maximum amount is $400,000 and is not taxable. Payment can be a lump sum or 36 equal monthly instalments. Family SGLI provides a further amount of up to $100,000 for a spouse and $10,000 for each child.
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