U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was founded in 1930 as a government administration. We provide care and benefits to Veterans, service members, and their families through the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. We employ over 10,001 people.

Our website, VA.gov, is the central place to find, apply for, and manage your benefits and care. You can create an account to manage your information from anywhere. The VA Health and Benefits App also lets you refill prescriptions, message your care team, and check benefit statuses on your smartphone.

We offer many services. For health care, you can apply, find access information, and manage your health online. For financial support, we help file claims for service-related disability compensation and manage these benefits. Education benefits include applying for and managing the GI Bill and other college or training programs. Our career services cover vocational rehabilitation, support for Veteran-owned small businesses, and general career resources.

Additional financial aid is available as monthly payments for wartime Veterans and survivors who meet age, disability, and income requirements. Housing assistance includes determining eligibility for VA-backed home loans and applying for housing grants for those with service-connected disabilities to live independently. We also offer life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and their families, with online policy management and claim filing.

For end-of-life planning, we assist with burials in national cemeteries and offer options for headstones or memorial items. We also manage survivor and dependent benefits. Our administrative services include applying for Veteran ID cards, getting VA benefit letters and medical records, and learning about discharge upgrade processes. We also provide information on benefits for active service members, time-sensitive benefits for those separating or retiring, and benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, or caregivers of Veterans.