Every military benefit, decoded.The complete guide. Cross-linked to every deep-dive on the site.
Most service members claim a fraction of the benefits they are eligible for. Not because they don't care — because the programs are spread across DOD, the VA, three Reserve components, two healthcare contractors, fifty state benefit systems, and a constellation of executive-order programs. This page is the master map. Seven categories, every major benefit, each one linked to the detailed guide that explains exactly how to claim it. Start with the category that matches where you are right now.
Source anchorAll program descriptions track to the operating agency — DOD, VA.gov, TRICARE.mil, DFAS, DODEA, and the Title 10 / Title 38 statutes that authorize them. Dollar figures change annually; verify the current rate before relying on it for a financial decision. Federal benefit policy can shift with each NDAA.
Active-Duty Benefits
The benefits in your LES, the ones near your installation, and the ones hidden in the regs
Pay, allowances, healthcare, and the on-installation services that quietly subsidize your standard of living. Most of these are visible on your Leave and Earnings Statement; some are invisible until you go looking for them.
The taxable foundation of your paycheck — rank times years of service times 1.0. Updated annually in January by DFAS.
Tax-free housing allowance set by ZIP, rank, and dependency status. Capped to local rental market rates.
Flat tax-free food allowance. Around $460/month for enlisted, $316/month for officers in 2026 (verify the current rate at defense.gov).
Jump pay, dive pay, FLPP, sea pay, submarine pay, HDIP — additive line items most people only learn about when a peer mentions theirs.
Combat Zone Tax Exclusion, Hostile Fire Pay, Family Separation Allowance, Special Duty Assignment Pay. Combined effect is often a 20-40% pay raise during deployment.
Prime, Select, Reserve Select, TRICARE for Life — comprehensive medical coverage. $0 for active-duty members and most active-duty family configurations.
The head-to-head comparison for the most common TRICARE choice families face.
On-installation grocery and retail with no sales tax and below-market prices. Typical savings 20–30% versus civilian retail per published DeCA savings reports. Tax-free pricing alone exceeds the surcharge on most items.
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs — gyms, swimming pools, libraries, golf courses, outdoor recreation rental, ITT (Information, Tickets, and Tours) discounted entertainment. Free or deeply subsidized.
Subsidized installation childcare with income-based fees. Wait lists are real; apply through Militarychildcare.com (MCC) as soon as PCS orders cut.
Free DOD-operated K-12 schools at major installations and overseas. Higher academic performance than national averages per published DoDEA test data.
Assignment coordination and family support for service members with dependents who have special medical or educational needs. Required enrollment if applicable.
BAH and BAS are not federally taxed. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion fully excludes pay earned in a designated CZTE area. SCRA caps interest at 6% on pre-service debt.
30 days annual leave accrual, plus block leave around training and deployment, plus terminal leave at the end of service. Different rules for permissive TDY (PTDY), convalescent leave, and parental leave.
Federal 401(k)-equivalent retirement account. Under BRS, the government contributes 1% automatically and matches up to 4% more. Highly tax-advantaged.
Free legal counsel from JAG attorneys for wills, powers of attorney, family law consultations, landlord-tenant issues, immigration. Active-duty, dependents, and retirees with ID card eligible.
Education Benefits
The GI Bill is one program. There are at least seven others.
The post-9/11 GI Bill gets the headlines. Tuition Assistance, SkillBridge, state-level programs, and the dependent-transfer pathway combine into far more value than most service members ever realize.
36 months of tuition (capped at in-state public rate), a monthly housing allowance based on the school's ZIP and BAH for E-5 with dependents, and a books and supplies stipend. The most generous education benefit in federal law.
See what your monthly housing payment, tuition coverage, and books stipend actually pay out for your target school.
You can transfer some or all of your Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to a spouse or dependent child — but only while you are still serving. The 4-year additional service obligation is the catch most people miss.
Older predecessor to the Post-9/11 program. Available to service members who entered before the Post-9/11 program was enacted and elected MGIB. Some still find MGIB-AD pays better for certain rural in-state programs.
Separate education benefit for drilling reservists. Lower monthly rate than the Post-9/11 program but available concurrently with drill participation.
DOD program covering up to 100% of tuition for courses taken while on active duty, capped at $250 per semester hour and $4,500 per fiscal year. Use TA in-service; save GI Bill for after separation.
Spend the last 90–180 days of your service on a paid civilian apprenticeship or internship — full military pay, full benefits, working at a partner company. The most effective transition program DOD has.
Branch-specific program that funds civilian certification exams (CompTIA, AWS, PMP, etc.) tied to your MOS. Most service members never apply.
For Post-9/11 GI Bill users attending private schools that cost more than the in-state public tuition cap, participating schools voluntarily cover part of the gap and VA matches it dollar-for-dollar.
Many states offer additional education benefits to veterans. Texas Hazlewood Act provides 150 credit hours of tuition exemption at Texas public universities; California offers a fee waiver for veterans and dependents at California public colleges; Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania have substantial programs.
For spouses and children of veterans rated 100% permanent and total, or of service members who died in the line of duty. Monthly stipend for up to 36–45 months of education depending on program.
$4,000 over 3 years for military spouses pursuing portable credentials and licenses in approved career fields.
For surviving family members of service members who died on active duty or veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Separate from DEA in some cases.
VA Benefits
Disability, healthcare, home loan, vocational rehab — the post-service safety net
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers a dense ecosystem of benefits. Filing the disability claim early is the single highest-value action most separating service members can take. Everything else cascades from there.
Monthly tax-free compensation for service-connected medical conditions. Rated 0–100% in 10% increments. Higher ratings unlock additional benefits (CHAMPVA, property tax exemptions, state-level programs).
Combined rating math (it is not additive — VA uses a "whole person" reduction formula) and compensation amounts by dependent status.
The 2022 PACT Act expanded presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits in OEF/OIF/OND and earlier conflicts. Massive eligibility expansion most exposed veterans have not filed under.
The compensation and pension exam is where your rating is set. What you say, what you bring, and what your doctor wrote matters more than most veterans realize.
The medical opinion connecting your current condition to your military service. The single most under-built piece of evidence in most VA claims.
Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, Board appeal — three lanes with three different timelines under the AMA (Appeals Modernization Act).
Priority groups 1–8 based on disability rating, income, and special circumstances. Higher rating = lower or zero copay. Apply through va.gov/health-care/apply.
No down payment, no PMI, competitive interest rate, can be reused across multiple homes. The most powerful mortgage benefit in American consumer finance.
Separate from the GI Bill. For veterans with a service-connected disability, VR&E pays for retraining toward a viable civilian career — often including grad school, certifications, equipment, and a monthly subsistence allowance.
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants, Aid and Attendance, caregiver stipends, automobile and adaptive equipment allowance, dental, vision, and the broader low-utilization programs.
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA — health insurance for spouses and children of veterans rated 100% permanent and total. Free, comprehensive, and most P&T spouses never enroll because nobody told them.
If you are a 20-year retiree with a VA disability rating, you may be eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (rated 50%+) or Combat-Related Special Compensation (combat-related disabilities at any rating). One or the other — you pick.
Eligible veterans receive burial in a national cemetery, a headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost. Surviving spouses are typically eligible to be interred with the veteran.
DAV, VFW, American Legion, and accredited claims agents file VA claims on your behalf at no cost. Sometimes excellent; sometimes uneven. Compare before committing.
Family Benefits
Coverage and support for the people who serve alongside you
Spouses and dependents are the second household in any military family, and the benefit structure recognizes that. Healthcare, education, life insurance, family relocation, and survivor protections each have their own program.
Dependents enroll through milConnect into Prime or Select. AD families pay no enrollment fee under either plan. See the detailed plan comparison.
Maternity coverage, fertility services, parental leave, IVF for service-connected infertility under 10 USC 1074f, contraception, fertility preservation before deployment.
Up to $100,000 of life insurance on your spouse and $10,000 on each dependent child. Premium deducted from your pay. Coverage is portable to civilian life through the conversion option, but only for 120 days after separation.
A DOD annuity that continues 55% of your covered retirement base to your surviving spouse for life. Premium is 6.5% of the covered base. The 2023 elimination of the SBP-DIC offset materially improved SBP economics for veterans with significant service-connected disabilities.
Run the breakeven math — premium cost, spouse annuity, dependent rules, and how the DIC offset elimination changes the calculus.
Tax-free monthly benefit to surviving spouses and dependents of service members who died on active duty or veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Paid by the VA, not DOD.
$4,000 over 3 years for spouses pursuing portable credentials. Available to spouses of E-1–E-5 and O-1–O-2 and the WO-1 equivalent.
DLA (Dislocation Allowance), TLE (Temporary Lodging Expense), per-diem, DITY/PPM weight allowance, family travel, and the moves-in-a-row caps for school-aged dependents.
Required for installation access, on-base services, TRICARE care, and commissary/exchange shopping. Renew through your installation RAPIDS office.
Required for single parents and dual-military couples — DOD-mandated formal childcare contingency plan covering deployment, training, and emergency activation.
Required enrollment for families with special-needs dependents. Coordinates assignment locations against medical and educational availability.
Free, 24/7, confidential counseling and consultation for service members and families. Up to 12 sessions per issue, NOT in your military medical record. Call 800-342-9647.
Retirement Benefits
The pension is the headline. Everything around it determines what it's worth.
Military retirement is one of the most generous defined-benefit pensions remaining in the US economy. But the surrounding decisions — TSP, SBP, state taxes, healthcare bridging — determine whether the pension stretches a long way or evaporates.
All three retirement systems side-by-side — Final Pay, High-3, BRS. TSP projection, continuation pay, SBP cost, lifetime payout, state tax treatment.
Final Pay (entry before Sep 8 1980): 2.5% × YOS × final basic pay. High-3 (entry Sep 8 1980–Dec 31 2017): 2.5% × YOS × average of highest 36 months. BRS (entry on/after Jan 1 2018): 2.0% × YOS × High-3, plus TSP match and continuation pay.
Federal 401(k) with Traditional and Roth options. Under BRS, 1% automatic agency contribution and up to 4% matching. C, S, I, F, G core funds plus lifecycle (L) funds.
The mid-career continuation pay bonus, the lump-sum at retirement option, and the math on the reduced 2.0% multiplier vs the TSP match.
Reserve retirement is calculated on retirement points, not years. A standard 20-year qualifying career produces roughly 4,000–5,000 retirement points, which translate to a pension at age 60.
Healthcare for military retirees age 65+ enrolled in Medicare Part B. TRICARE acts as secondary payer behind Medicare; combined out-of-pocket is extremely low. You MUST enroll in Part B at 65 or you lose TFL permanently.
SBP elections, Medicare Part B enrollment, VA claim filing timing, state of legal residence selection — decisions made in the first year cost or save thousands every year for decades.
As of 2026, 37 states fully exempt military retirement income from state income tax. Several other states partially exempt it. Several have no state income tax at all. Choice of state of legal residence at retirement is among the largest single decisions a retiree makes.
CRDP (50%+ disability, 20+ years service) restores full retirement pay alongside full VA disability. CRSC (combat-related, any rating) is a tax-free supplement. One or the other — pick the higher payer.
Medical retirement before 20 years is calculated differently — pension based on either YOS or disability percentage, whichever yields the larger benefit. Keeps TRICARE eligibility and may qualify for both VA and CRSC.
SGLI converts to VGLI within 120 days of separation; missing the window forces medical underwriting and likely loss of coverage. Wills, POAs, beneficiary designations should all be reviewed at retirement.
Election is irrevocable at retirement (with narrow exceptions). Spouse must consent in writing to anything less than maximum. Review SBP decoded before signing the DD Form 2656.
Reserve and Guard Benefits
Part-time service, different benefit ladders, often-overlooked entitlements
Drilling reservists and Guard members operate under a parallel benefits structure — different healthcare, different retirement eligibility, different education ladders. Some benefits are nearly identical to active duty; others are dramatically different.
Standard formula: 1 UTA (4 hours of pay) per drill period; a standard drill weekend is 4 UTAs (about 4 days of pay). Annual training (AT) typically 14–15 days at full active-duty rate.
Premium-based TRICARE for drilling reservists not on active orders. Approximately $50/month member-only and $250/month family in 2026 (verify on tricare.mil/trs). Dramatically cheaper than civilian family insurance.
Retirement is calculated on points, not years. Drill weekend = 4 points; AT = 14–15 points; correspondence courses earn limited points; active orders count day-for-day. Pension begins at age 60 (or earlier if you served on certain active orders after Jan 28 2008).
Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and military technician positions are full-time Reserve and Guard jobs with active-duty pay, full benefits, and retirement point accrual. Most never hear about them.
Education benefit specifically for drilling reservists. Lower monthly rate than the Post-9/11 GI Bill but available concurrently with drill.
Active duty time on Title 10 orders accrues Post-9/11 eligibility. Many reservists qualify after a single deployment and never apply.
Federal law protecting your civilian job during military service. Reemployment rights, no-retaliation protections, pension service credit, healthcare continuation.
The full landscape — drill, retirement, education, healthcare, VA, family, deployment-related benefits.
When activated for 30+ days, you transition to active-duty Prime, accrue full retirement points day-for-day, and may qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill, deployment pay, BAH-with-dependents recalculation, and TRICARE active-duty access.
Service-specific reintegration events for Guard and Reserve members and families before, during, and after a deployment. Information, support resources, and unit cohesion programming.
Lesser-Known Benefits
The programs most service members never claim
These are the benefits no one mentions in formation, that don't show up on your LES, and that most service members find by accident. Each one alone is small; together they add up to thousands of dollars and meaningful quality-of-life improvements.
Reimbursement for pet shipping costs on a PCS move — up to $550 CONUS and up to $2,000 OCONUS per move (verify current rates with your transportation office). New as of 2024 NDAA.
Many large installations operate a Treatment of Veterinary Services (TVET) clinic — discounted basic care, vaccinations, and some surgical services. Availability varies by installation.
6% interest rate cap on pre-service debt, lease termination rights, foreclosure protection, default judgment protection, and several other rarely-used protections.
5-point preference for honorably discharged veterans; 10-point preference for veterans with service-connected disability (or specific other categories). Applies to most federal civilian positions.
Active duty, retirees, and disabled veterans can access MWR facilities (gyms, pools, libraries, lodging) on any US installation worldwide, subject to availability and local policy.
Airport lounges, free food, Wi-Fi, family programs, deployment care packages. Free for active duty, deploying troops, and families. Run by a separate non-profit, not DOD, but ubiquitous.
Free or extremely low-cost military air travel on military aircraft when seats are available. Active duty and retirees eligible; categories prioritize by status. Pacific and European routes are routinely usable.
The Interagency Annual Pass and the Lifetime Pass for disabled veterans give free admission to National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and most federal recreation lands. Free to issue with VA ID or DD-214 verification.
Most states issue free or reduced-fee hunting, fishing, and state park access licenses to active-duty residents, veterans, or disabled veterans. Eligibility varies sharply by state.
Department of Defense provides free federal and state tax filing software through Military OneSource. Designed around military-specific situations (CZTE, multistate residence, BAH calculations).
Most major carriers offer a 10–25% discount on consumer cell and internet plans for active duty, veterans, and military families. Verify current discount with each carrier directly.
You can reuse the VA loan for a second home in some circumstances (PCS, downsizing, prior loan refinanced or paid off). The "one-time benefit" framing is a myth — the entitlement system is far more flexible.
Most states partially or fully exempt 100% disabled veterans from property tax on their primary residence. Some states extend partial exemptions to lower-rated veterans, surviving spouses, or active-duty homeowners.
How states treat military retirement and disabled-veteran property
Where you declare your state of legal residence at retirement is among the highest-leverage financial decisions you will make. This is a representative sample of high-impact states; verify the current year's law with each state's Department of Revenue and Department of Veterans Affairs before relying on it. As of 2026, 37 states fully exempt military retirement pay from state income tax; several others partially exempt; nine have no state income tax at all.
| State | Military Retirement Income Tax | Disabled Veteran Property Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Fully exempt | 100% disabled veterans property tax exempt on primary residence. |
| Alaska | No state income tax | Partial exemption for resident disabled veterans 50%+. |
| Arizona | Fully exempt (2021 law) | Disabled veteran property tax exemption with income cap. |
| Arkansas | Fully exempt | 100% service-connected disabled exempt from primary residence property tax. |
| California | Fully taxed | Disabled Veterans' Exemption on primary residence; income limits apply. |
| Colorado | Fully exempt (for retirees 55+) | 50% exemption on first $200K for 100% disabled veterans. |
| Connecticut | Fully exempt | Local-option exemptions for disabled veterans. |
| Florida | No state income tax | Full property tax exemption for 100% P&T disabled veterans. |
| Hawaii | Fully exempt | Veteran property tax exemption available. |
| Illinois | Fully exempt | Standard Homestead Exemption for veterans with disabilities. |
| Iowa | Fully exempt | Military Service Tax Exemption and disabled veteran exemption. |
| Mississippi | Fully exempt | Full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans. |
| Nevada | No state income tax | Disabled veteran property tax exemption based on rating tier. |
| New Hampshire | No earned income tax (some interest/dividends taxed) | Disabled veteran exemption set by local option. |
| New York | Fully exempt | Veterans' property tax exemption available to most veterans. |
| North Carolina | Fully exempt (5-year vesting before 1989) | Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion $45,000. |
| Ohio | Fully exempt | Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption. |
| Pennsylvania | Fully exempt | Disabled veteran real estate tax exemption available. |
| South Dakota | No state income tax | 100% P&T disabled veterans exempt from property tax. |
| Tennessee | No earned income tax | Disabled veteran property tax relief program. |
| Texas | No state income tax | 100% disabled veterans fully exempt from property tax on primary residence; partial exemption for lower ratings. |
| Washington | No state income tax | Property tax exemption for disabled veterans with income limits. |
| Wyoming | No state income tax | $3,000 property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans. |
Table reflects general state law as of 2026. State legislatures adjust military-retirement and disabled-veteran tax treatment frequently. Verify with the state Department of Revenue and Department of Veterans Affairs before establishing state of legal residence.
The biggest mistakes that cost you benefits
Eight common triggers that forfeit otherwise-earned benefits. Most are about timing — windows you didn't know existed until they closed.
Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge
What you loseGI Bill, VA healthcare (except for service-connected conditions), VA home loan, federal hiring preference, military funeral honors. Most VA benefits become discretionary or unavailable.
OTH can be upgraded through the Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military Records. See /tools/discharge-upgrade for the process.
Less than 20 years of service
What you loseDefined-benefit pension. Unless you separate under Chapter 61 (medical), early-out programs (TERA in specific windows), or Reserve retirement at 60, falling short of 20 means no military pension.
TSP balance is yours regardless of years served. Chapter 61 medical retirement bypasses the 20-year requirement.
Missing the SGLI to VGLI conversion window
What you loseAfter separation, SGLI converts to VGLI within 120 days with no medical questions. Miss the window and you fall into medical underwriting; service-connected conditions may make conversion unavailable.
Mark the 120-day deadline before you separate. VGLI premium is higher than SGLI but still reasonable for most veterans.
Failing to enroll in Medicare Part B at 65
What you loseTRICARE for Life eligibility — permanently. There is no waiver. There is no second chance. Missing Part B enrollment at 65 forecloses TFL forever.
See /tools/first-year-retirement and the TFL section of /tools/tricare-decoded. Mark the calendar years in advance.
Not filing VA disability claim before separation
What you loseTime — and sometimes money. Filing through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program starting 180–90 days before separation gets your claim processed while you are still in. Waiting until after separation means months of processing time before any compensation begins.
BDD claims must be filed at least 90 days before separation date. See /tools/va-claims-timeline.
Missing TAMP enrollment before last day of service
What you loseUp to 180 days of free TRICARE coverage after separation. If you don't enroll before your last day, the window may close.
Verify enrollment with your installation Transition Assistance office at least 60 days before separation.
Failing to designate SGLI beneficiaries correctly
What you loseIn a death-on-active-duty scenario, the SGLI payout follows the beneficiary form. Outdated forms send money to ex-spouses, deceased parents, or estranged siblings. Review every PCS, every life event.
See /tools/sgli-guide for the most common beneficiary mistakes.
Not transferring GI Bill while still serving
What you loseGI Bill transfer to spouse or dependents requires the service member to be still in uniform at the time of election and to incur an additional 4-year service obligation. Election cannot be made after separation.
If you have dependents, evaluate the transfer decision early — well before terminal leave.
Primary federal sources for military benefits
Every program above is administered under one of the following federal agencies or statutory frameworks. Verify the current eligibility rules and dollar amounts at the source before relying on them.
- VA.gov — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Master site for VA disability, GI Bill, VA home loan, healthcare, survivor benefits, and career services.
- Military OneSource
DoD-funded 24/7 support for service members and families: counseling, MFLC, MilTax, financial coaching, MyCAA, and SECO.
- DoD Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED)
The DoD's financial readiness training, calculators, and Personal Financial Manager (PFM) program reference.
- DOJ Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative
Federal enforcement of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
- Veterans Benefits Administration
VBA program references for disability compensation, pension, education benefits, home loan guaranty, and transition assistance.
Questions people ask before, during, and after service
What military benefits am I most likely to miss out on?
The highest-value benefits with the lowest utilization rates are: VR&E (Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation) for service-connected disabled veterans, CHAMPVA for spouses of 100% P&T veterans, the PACT Act presumptives for burn pit and toxic exposure veterans, state-level property tax exemptions for disabled veterans, TRICARE Reserve Select for drilling reservists, COOL certification funding for active duty, and SkillBridge for transitioning service members in their final 180 days. Each of these is administered separately and requires the veteran to opt in — none are automatic.
How do I file a VA disability claim before I separate?
File through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program, which is available 90 to 180 days before your separation date. Start at va.gov, work with your installation Transition Assistance office, and consider getting a VSO (Veterans Service Organization) to review your claim before submission. The earlier you start, the more likely your rating is in place by separation. See /tools/va-claims-timeline for realistic stage-by-stage timing.
Can I transfer my GI Bill to my spouse and kids?
Yes — but only the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), only while you are still serving, and only with an additional 4-year service obligation that begins on the date of the transfer election. Most service members who plan to transfer should make the election as early as possible to minimize the lock-in. See /tools/gi-bill-transfer for the mechanics.
What is the difference between TRICARE Prime and Select?
Prime is HMO-style — assigned Primary Care Manager, required referrals, lowest out-of-pocket. Select is PPO-style — no PCM, no referrals, copays per visit. Active-duty members must be in Prime; family members can choose. For the focused head-to-head comparison and scenarios, see /tools/tricare-prime-vs-select.
When do I get my military pension?
Active-duty retirees: the first month after separation, regardless of age, with at least 20 years of qualifying active service. Reserve and Guard retirees: typically age 60, with possible earlier eligibility based on certain active duty served after January 28, 2008. Medical (Chapter 61) retirees: immediately upon separation, regardless of years served. Use /tools/military-retirement-calculator to project your pension under all three systems.
How much can I save by moving to a tax-friendly state at retirement?
Substantial. A retired O-5 drawing roughly $5,000 per month in pension who moves from California (fully taxes military retirement) to Texas (no state income tax) saves several thousand dollars per year — over the life of the pension that compounds into six-figure savings. The decision of where to declare state of legal residence at separation is one of the single largest financial decisions a retiree makes. See the state tax table above and /tools/first-year-retirement.
What VA benefits can my spouse receive?
If you are rated 100% Permanent and Total: your spouse qualifies for CHAMPVA healthcare, Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA Chapter 35), Survivor Benefit Plan annuity continuation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if you die from service-connected conditions. Many of these are administered separately and require active enrollment. See /tools/va-survivor-benefits for the full survivor and spouse benefits map.
What happens to my benefits if I get an OTH discharge?
Most VA benefits — GI Bill, VA home loan, federal preference, full VA healthcare — become unavailable or discretionary. VA healthcare for service-connected conditions remains accessible in many cases through the "Character of Discharge" review. The path forward is a discharge upgrade through the Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military Records. See /tools/discharge-upgrade.
Do I still get military benefits as a reservist who never deployed?
Yes — drilling reservists qualify for TRICARE Reserve Select, MGIB-SR education benefits, retirement points toward a Reserve pension at age 60, USERRA civilian job protections, and SCRA financial protections during periods of active orders. Deployment unlocks additional benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility on Title 10 orders, deployment pays, BAH-with-dependents adjustments) but is not required for the core benefit ladder. See /tools/guard-reserve-benefits.
Where do I start if I am about to separate?
Three actions in order: (1) Start your VA disability claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program 90–180 days before separation. (2) Enroll in TAMP before your last day to get 180 days of free TRICARE. (3) Make irrevocable financial decisions (SGLI conversion to VGLI, GI Bill transfer election, state of legal residence) with the timing and counsel they deserve, not at the last minute. See /tools/tricare-separation, /tools/post-service-identity, and /tools/dd214-decoded.
What to do this month
Pick the bucket that matches your situation. Do one item this week. Do the rest within 30 days.
If you are active duty
- 1Open TSP and contribute at least 5% to capture the full BRS match (or to build the account if you are pre-BRS).
- 2If you have not used Tuition Assistance, request a courseload of a single class through your installation education office. Save GI Bill for after separation.
- 3Verify your dependent enrollment in TRICARE through milConnect; confirm which plan each dependent is on and whether the right one for your situation.
- 4Sign up for Military OneSource non-medical counseling for any preventive wellness need — it does not appear in your medical record.
If you are within 18 months of separating or retiring
- 1Start your VA disability claim through BDD 90–180 days before separation. Read /tools/cp-exam-guide and /tools/nexus-letter-guide.
- 2Decide your state of legal residence. The choice affects your tax bill every year for the rest of your life.
- 3Schedule a SkillBridge or transition program if you want a paid 90–180 day civilian apprenticeship before separation.
- 4If transferring GI Bill to dependents, file the election now — it locks in the 4-year service obligation, so the earlier the better.
- 5Enroll in TAMP before your last day. Mark the SGLI to VGLI 120-day conversion deadline in your calendar.
If you are already separated or retired
- 1Run your VA disability claim if you have not. The PACT Act expanded eligibility dramatically; many veterans who tried before now qualify.
- 2Check whether you qualify for VR&E (Chapter 31) — separate from the GI Bill and often more generous for retraining.
- 3If you are 100% P&T, confirm your spouse is enrolled in CHAMPVA and your kids are claiming DEA.
- 4Verify state-level property tax exemption status if you are a disabled veteran. Most counties require an application; the exemption is not automatic.
- 5If you are 64 going on 65 and retired: confirm Medicare Part B enrollment paperwork. Missing the window forfeits TRICARE for Life permanently.