December 5, 2020

What Is the Department of Veteran Affairs? Know the Benefits that Veterans Are Entitled to Receive

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To serve the welfare of veterans who have completed their time in the service, the United States government has created the Department of Veteran Affairs, otherwise known as the VA. 

Unfortunately, not all veterans are aware of what the VA is all about and what services it provides to former servicemen and servicewomen who have provided valuable services to our nation — defending our freedoms and protecting our national security.

To understand what benefits veterans are entitled to, it is important to know what type of agency the VA is and how it functions. 

About the VA

The VA is a federal Cabinet-level agency that is headed by a Cabinet member appointed by the President of the United States.

It was created to provide support services for veterans, which include comprehensive healthcare services, non-healthcare benefits including disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, educational assistance, home loans, life insurance, and burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans and family members in national cemeteries. 

The VA has three major branches that are tasked to run the different services mandated under its functions. These are:

• Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Former military personnel can avail themselves of medical services provided by the VA through VA regional medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics located throughout the country. 

• Veterans Benefits Administration

Veterans go through initial registration to process benefits such as eligibility determination, benefits and entitlements, such as home loan guarantees, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, education, compensation, and pension through this particular branch of the VA. 

• National Cemetery Administration

Family members of deceased veterans can avail themselves of burial and memorial benefits through this agency. 

Key Issues Faced by the VA

 In recent years, the VA has been plagued by various issues, which include delays in the provision of health care to ailing veterans. This prompted an investigation and subsequent overhaul of the agency to promote better transparency. 

In 2014, the Senate approved a $16-billion overhaul of the department. Three years later, the Department of Veteran Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Act of 2017 was signed into law to encourage the reporting of wrongdoings that hinder the department from fulfilling its duties to beneficiaries. In 2018, the VA Missions Act was also signed into law. It expands veterans’ access to private health care. 

The agency is also at the forefront of addressing the issue of veteran homelessness through its Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. 

Many Veterans Still Need Support

Despite the significant strides that the VA has achieved in fulfilling its mandate, there are still thousands of veterans who need support. 

Recent data still indicates that there are still many veterans who are homeless, poverty-stricken, and unemployed all over the country. 

That’s the reason why we at Veteran Car Donations are here: to support veterans who are unable to access the services provided by the VA.

How You Can Help Our Vets

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You can become our partner in our mission to provide critical assistance to veterans in need. By donating an unwanted auto to our nationwide vehicle donation drive, you can help us fund our mission to deliver key services to veterans who are suffering from service-related disabilities and illnesses, including mental health issues, inability to find jobs, lack of support, and homelessness.

When you donate your extra car to our cause, we will auction it off and use the proceeds to help fund the vital programs and services of our veteran-focused charity partners.

These IRS-approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations provide the following services to their veteran beneficiaries:

• Various forms of assistance for veterans confined in hospitals;
• Housing assistance for those who are homeless;
• Employment opportunities for veterans and their spouses;
• Financial and other forms of aid for destitute, low-income, and homeless veterans;
• Therapeutic activities to help rehabilitate disabled veterans;
• Peer support for ailing veterans, their families, and caregivers;
• Nature-based psychotherapy, team building, and family dynamics development programs for veterans and their families; and
• Sponsorship of events aimed at encouraging companies and organizations to give back to the veteran community.

The more donated vehicles we collect, the more veterans we can serve and the more benefits we can provide them. 

We welcome almost all types of vehicles. Don’t worry about the condition of the vehicle you wish to donate to us because in most cases, we accept even vehicles that are no longer in good shape.

We’ll even provide you with our free towing service at a date and place convenient to you.

What’s more, your donation will entitle you to receive a hefty tax deduction in the next tax season.

When you donate to us, you get to support a worthy cause, get rid of your clunker conveniently and for free and get a tax write-off to boot. There’s no better option for you than that! 

If you want to know more about our program, feel free to check out our FAQs section. If you have any particular questions or concerns, feel free to call us at 877-594-5822 or drop us a line anytime. 

Donate a Car Today!

Our veterans did not think twice about signing up to serve our country. Now, it is your turn to help them in their time of need. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form to make your car donation now!

Last Updated: March 8th, 2023