For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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Disabled vets can get grants for homes
Question: What is a specially adapted housing grant?
Answer: Veterans that have specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to construct a dwelling or modifying an existing home to meet the veteran's needs. The goal of the specialty adapted housing program is to provide a barrier-free living environment that affords the veterans a level of independent living he or she may not normally enjoy. For more information on the grant, please visit: www.homeloans.va.gov/sah.htm. Or contact the VA Loan Guaranty Department at (800) 827-1000, option 2.
Q: How does the VA take care of any medical problems, and provide other benefits outside the United States?
A: The VA will pay for medical services for the treatment of service-connected disabilities and related conditions or for medical services needed as part of a vocational rehabilitation program for veterans traveling or living outside the U.S. Before using the program, veterans living in Canada should register with the VA Center in White River Junction, VT 05009-0001, USA, phone (802) 296-6379. In the Philippines register with the U.S. VA office in Pasay City, phone 011-632-833-4566. All other veterans living outside the U.S. should register with the Denver Foreign Medical Program office, P.O. Box 65021, Denver, CO 80206-9021, phone (303) 331-7590. Veterans traveling or living in Germany, Panama, Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, Japan and Spain can call toll free (877) 345-8179. Veterans in Mexico or Costa Rica can use the same number but must first dial the United States country code.
Beneficiaries residing in foreign countries should contact the nearest American embassy or consulate for information and claims assistance. In Canada, veterans should contact an office of Veterans Affairs Canada. You can obtain more information by calling the VA Medical Center at 433-0600 for medical questions and the VA Honolulu Regional Office at (808) 827-1000 for benefit information.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.