A little-known benefit from the Interior Department gives military veterans with any disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs a free lifetime pass to national parks and other recreation areas, as well as discounts on some fees. The lifetime Access Pass is advertised as available to those who “have been medically determined to have a permanent disability … does…
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) gives military members a wide range of legal protections not available to the general public. SCRA Eligibility The SCRA covers all active duty service members, reservists and the members of the National Guard while on active duty. The protection begins on the date of entering active duty and generally terminates within…
Most veterans say that some of the more confusing aspects of qualifying for a VA home loan are the occupancy requirements. This usually stems from when a service member gets their PCS orders and has to move. Will they be able to rent the house? Will they be able to get a second VA loan…
If your GI Bill is about to run out or is already gone, you are enrolled in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) program, or you have a STEM degree and are trying to get a teaching certification, you may want to investigate a new GI Bill program coming this fall. The Department of Veterans Affairs will begin…
Troops to Teachers (TTT) was established in 1994 as a Department of Defense program. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 transferred the responsibility for program oversight and funding to the U.S. Department of Education but continued operation by the Department of Defense. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 provided for the…
The Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. If you first enroll in classes on or after August 1, 2018 you are entitled to a maximum of 36 months of benefits. These benefits may be…
With America’s fourth-largest city under water, up to 13 million people impacted across Texas and Louisiana and at least 15 deaths, Hurricane Harvey is wreaking havoc across the southern U.S. While the Texas National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard have joined local, state and federal agencies in responding to what could be the worst natural disaster to ever strike Texas,…
If you are in the market for a home loan and have been awarded a Purple Heart you may be able to save thousands of dollars on your loan thanks to a new law that takes effect early next year. Purple Heart recipients will be exempt from the funding fee that the Department of Veterans Affairs charges on…
Those leaving the military have several choices. For many, the Post-9/11 GI Bill makes heading back to school a very attractive choice. But even if college sounds good, you might still be struggling to make the decision. How do you choose what to do? How do you know what school to attend? It’s important to…
A college degree may lead to better job opportunities and better pay. In fact, earning a bachelor’s or graduate degree increases one’s average hourly wage compared to those with only a high school diploma, according to a Rand Corp. survey. However, going back to school for military spouses is a sizable time commitment and an…
