Benefits and Assistance Menu
Veteran Benefits & Assistance
Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign
Service, the Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to be a voice for
returning and currently deployed service members and their families. The
Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated to supporting those who sacrifice
so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed
Forces, and their families.
VFW Service Office
Certified Advocates
Throughout
the State of Maine and at the VA Regional Office in Detroit, VFW Service
Officers that are Accredited and Certified by the VA fight for the
rights of our Nations veterans on a daily basis. These highly trained
professionals, specializing in all programs administered by the VA stand
ready and willing to provide whatever VA benefits assistance is
required! These services are available at no cost to veterans or their dependents! Nor does one have to be a member of the VFW to receive our services.
From a
simple request of a discharge document to a case with complicated issues
that may require extensive medical and Court Cases research, we will
exhaust all means to obtain a favorable decision. In the event a claim
is denied we will represent the case through the appellate process to
the Board of Veterans Appeals (VBA) and if not successful to the U.S.
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) if warranted.
How VFW Service Officers Advocate for You:
-
Help you identify issues and develop evidence
- Answer your requests for assistance
- File your claims with VA in a timely manner
- Review your rating decision for accuracy
What We Will Do:
- During your interview, WE WILL review your information and inform you of what benefits you should claim as well as any other benefits that may be available
- WE ARE trained VA benefits experts who have access to VA computer systems in order to provide you with the information you need for your claim to succeed
- WE WILL submit your claim to VA in a timely manner to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled
- WE WILL conduct a thorough review of your decision before VA sends it to you. The VFW has a 90% success rate in correcting errors, helping you avoid the lengthy appeals process
- If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your claim, WE WILL help you appeal VA's decision
Please feel free to contact a VFW Representative for help with filing a claim for VA benefits, VA health care and all eligible VA benefits at:
VFW Service Office
PO Box 3311
Togus VA Center,
Augusta, ME 04330-3311
Phone: 207- 623-5723
Fax: 207-626-4732
Email: Cornelius.ware@va.gov
Phone: 207- 623-5723
Fax: 207-626-4732
Email: Cornelius.ware@va.gov
VFW Assistant Service Officer
PO Box 3311
Togus VA Center,
Augusta, ME 04330-3311Phone: 207- 623-5723
Fax: 207-626-4732
Email: pagan princess72@yahoo.com
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Our
well-trained, VA Accredited VFW Representatives are ready to assist you
with you! Please feel free to contact us! We have VFW Representatives
located throughout the State of Maine!
BENEFITS & SERVICES
Fiserv - offers credit card processing services to all VFW Posts at very competitive rates
VFW Assistance
VFW VA Claims & Separation BenefitsVFW Advocacy
Maine Veterans Benefits Program for Veterans and Dependents
Maine Employment
Veteran Assistance at Career Centers: All
of Maine’s Career Centers have dedicated Veteran Employment
Representatives who help veterans find jobs by assisting with resume
writing, networking, and interviewing skills.
State of Maine Veteran Hiring Preference:
Any veteran candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for a State
job is guaranteed an interview, including veterans with an Other Than
Honorable discharge. Gold Star spouses are also eligible for the hiring
preference.
Accelerated Occupational Licensing Initiative: Provides fast-track civilian licensing for veterans with
military expertise in Boiler, Electrical, Fuel, Plumbing.
Health Care Employment For Military Veterans: All veterans discharged or released under
conditions other than dishonorable, who completed health care related military training while in the Armed
Forces, may utilize their military credentials when seeking civilian employment. Qualified veterans will
receive individualized assistance when connecting one-on-one with the Department of Labor's program staff
to facilitate the transition. mainebvs@maine.gov
Maine Financial Assistance
VEFA was created to provide assistance for Maine Veterans who suffer
an emergency and do not have sufficient savings or access to other financial assistance to resolve the
emergency. Examples of assistance may include: Damage to the veterans home due to fire, flood or hurricane
that is not covered by insurance; Illness of the veteran or family member that results in hardship,
assistance to prevent or resolve the veteran being homeless; and any other condition that puts the veteran
at risk of not having the basic necessities of food, shelter, or safety.
The Bureau may approve up to $2,000 to a veteran who is currently a resident of Maine.
FMI: Please email mainebvs@maine.gov
The Bureau may approve up to $2,000 to a veteran who is currently a resident of Maine.
FMI: Please email mainebvs@maine.gov
Maine Bureau of Veterans'
Services at 207-287-7020
http://www.maine.gov/veterans
http://www.maine.gov/veterans
VEFAP application:
https://mainelegion.org/pages/formsapplications.php
Fedcap – Veterans Forward
844-653-0316
Veterans Forward: www.maineveteransforward.org
https://mainelegion.org/pages/formsapplications.php
Fedcap – Veterans Forward
844-653-0316
Veterans Forward: www.maineveteransforward.org
VEFAP application: http://maineveteransforward.org/financial-assistance/
Maine Taxes
Fully exempt from income tax
Property Tax: $50,000 for paraplegic veterans;
$6,000 for veterans who served during a recognized war period and are 62 years or
older; or, receive 100% disability as a Veteran; or, became 100% disabled while serving.
FMI:Please visit: https://www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/sidebar/exemptions.htm
$6,000 for veterans who served during a recognized war period and are 62 years or
older; or, receive 100% disability as a Veteran; or, became 100% disabled while serving.
FMI:Please visit: https://www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/sidebar/exemptions.htm
service-connected disabled veterans exempt from one registration fee, title fee, and driver license
renewal fee. FMI: Please email mainebvs@maine.gov
Maine Eldercare, Burial and Survivor Benefits
Maine Veterans’ Homes: Six locations across Maine providing expert rehabilitative,
skilled nursing, and long-term care for Maine’s veterans, spouses and
Gold Star parents. FMI: mailto:info@mainevets.org
"Maine Veterans Memorial Cemeteries: With two
cemeteries in Augusta, one in Caribou, and one in Springvale, Maine offers beautiful, final resting places
for honorably discharged veterans and their eligible dependents. FMI: mvmcs@maine.gov
Maine Veterans’ Homes:
Six locations across Maine providing expert rehabilitative,
skilled nursing, and long-term care for Maine’s veterans, spouses and
Gold Star parents. FMI: mailto:info@mainevets.org
Gold Star Family Plates: Gold Star families may
receive a specially designated license plate to honor their fallen family member. Maine’s program is
distinct in that it not only provides Gold Star Plates to those who lost a family member to combat, but also
to those whose family member died while honorably serving as an active member of the United States
Armed Forces, but did not die in combat. FMI: mailto:mainebvs@maine.gov
Veteran Identification
Free Copies of DD 214s: Maine veterans may request a free copy of their DD 214
from the Bureau’s archive of more than 45,000. Veterans must have this critical document to prove
veteran status for everything from retail discounts to applying for state and federal benefit programs
Military Service Driver’s License: Honorably
discharged veterans may obtain a driver’s license that identifies them
as a veteran. The designation allows the license-holder to prove veteran
status to obtain retail and restaurant discounts, as well as free
admission to most of Maine’s State Parks.
Complimentary Veteran License Plates/Special Veteran Plate: Maine’s
Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers honorably discharged veterans (former
POWs, Purple Heart recipients, Medal of Honor winners, and disabled
veterans) various license plates that are exempt from registration fees.
Veterans may also select a Special Veteran License Plate (at cost),
that include a Commemorative Decals of their choice, reflecting the
branches of service, specific awards or commendations, campaign awards
for service in a hostile fire zone, among others. FMI: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/registration/index.html
Education
Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits: 100%
tuition waiver at University of Maine schools, Community Colleges, and
Maine Maritime Academy for dependents of 100% permanent and total,
service-connected disabled veterans who have been residents of Maine for
five years.
Post secondary Education for Maine National
Guard Members: : 100% tuition waiver at University of
Maine schools, Community Colleges, and Maine Maritime Academy for fully qualified,
drilling members of Maine’s National Guard. FMI: mainebvs@maine.gov
Recreation
Free Lifetime Veterans Park & Museum Pass: :
Maine veteran residents who were honorably discharged may receive a
free, lifetime park pass for complimentary admission to most of Maine’s
State Parks and Historic Sites.
Free Active Military Personnel Day Use Park
Pass: Maine’s active duty personnel may receive a free day use
park pass that provides complimentary admission for the service member
and his/her spouse and children to most of Maine’s State Parks and
Historic Sites.
Disabled Veterans Controlled Moose Hunt: First
of its kind in the nation, the Moose Hunt offers 25 disabled veterans
(15 in-state residents and 10 out-of-state residents) the opportunity to
tag a moose, with nearly all guide services, equipment, lodging, food,
and meat processing costs covered by sponsors.
The Hunt is a joint effort of the Bureau of Veterans’ Services, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Bridgewater, Maine-based Smoldering Lake Outfitters.
The Hunt is a joint effort of the Bureau of Veterans’ Services, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Bridgewater, Maine-based Smoldering Lake Outfitters.
Disabled Veterans Free Licenses: Veterans
with a service-connected disability of 50% or more may
receive a complimentary license to fish, trap, hunt a range of wildlife
(bear, migratory bird, pheasant, wild turkey, among others). The license
remains valid for the life of the license holder, as long as the
license holder continues to satisfy residency requirements and the
license is not revoked or suspended.
Disabled Veteran Access to State Parks: Any
veteran displaying a specially designated disabled veteran license
plate or other placard (in accordance with Title 29-A, section 523,
subsections 1 and 2) is
allowed free admission to any state-owned park, camping area or beach.
FMI: mainebvs@maine.gov
Misc Supports Veterans BENEFITS & SERVICES
Calculators The
tools on this page are used to perform calculations for a Service
member who is performing active service or in an active status. An
estimate of approximate compensation is based on your personalized
inputs, no identifying data is requested nor retained by this website.
Benefits The
Military has a wide variety of benefits ranging from complete health
care to commissary and exchange shopping. A recent GAO review of active
duty military benefits noted that when comparing the types of benefits
offered by the military with those offered in the private sector, all
the core benefits offered by most private sector firms-retirement pay,
health care, life insurance, and paid time off-are offered by the
military.
American Legion
Veteran benefits aren't just a nice perk -- they are something you earned through service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, Air Force or Coast Guard.
But knowing what your benefits are and how to
use them isn't a simple task. Where do you find them? How do you sign
up? What are your veteran state benefits? How do you access your benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs? How do you use your or GI Bill?
Use Military.com's veteran benefits resources to learn about all
of the benefits of military service provided by a grateful nation. https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits
Google Supports Veterans
Google Veterans Network
Our mission is to provide a Googler support and learning network and
help solve challenges in the military communities using Google’s
technology and resources.
One of the things we love most about working at Google is belonging to
the Google Veterans Network. VetNet is an internal community of military
veterans, service members, civilian allies, and family dedicated to
unifying, connecting, and serving the military communities. We also
support our communities outside of Google through a wide range of job
searching, entrepreneurship programs, and partnerships.
Veterans and their families make great Googlers. Explore our
resources for veterans and military spouses at https://g.co/vets
Each year, more than 200,000 service members transition out of
the U.S. military.2 We’re committed to helping veterans and military
families find civilian jobs, access digital skills training, build
meaningful careers, and get resources to grow their businesses. https://grow.google/expanding-opportunity/military-community/
FEDERAL BENEFITS & SERVICES
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits for Veterans & Dependents
Home Loans
Health Care
Long-Term Care
| Agent Orange Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans |
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Homeless Vet 24 Hour Hotline 1-877-4AID VET
VETERAN INFORMATION
