Ky - Kentucky Veterans Benefits

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State of Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

Brochure of Kentucky State Veterans Benefits

Veterans Loan Program

Legislation

• 2006 session of the Kentucky General Assembly

• House Bill 314 introduced by Representative Chuck Meade

• Passed both chambers of the legislature unanimously

• Signed by Governor Fletcher on March 30, 2006

• Becomes law July 1, 2006

Provisions

• No General Fund associated with the bill

• Enabling language only

• Personal loans not to exceed $10,000

• Loans to qualified borrowers only

For Whom

• Veterans

• Deceased veteran's unremarried spouse

• Veteran's child under age 27

• Guardian of veteran's child

• Must be Kentucky resident

For What

• Purchase home, business, or business property

• Education of veteran or veteran spouse

• Medical or funeral expenses

• Debt consolidation

• Veteran's child or guardian can borrow for education only

How it works

• Specific details to be determined

• Legislation requires Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to promulgate appropriate regulations

• Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) will include:

o Definitions

o Application procedures and forms

o Administration details

o Requirement that loans be secured by guarantor or real estate equity of at least 10%

• Program will be appropriately advertised as soon as regulations are approved

Tuition Waiver Program

A waiver of tuition is an education benefit provided by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in recognition of military service of certain Kentucky veterans. The tuition waiver is provided for children, stepchildren, adopted children, spouses, and unremarried widows & widowers. An approved tuition waiver means a student may attend any two-year, four-years schools or vocational technical schools that are operated and funded by the Kentucky Department of Education.

You may qualify if one of the following is true of the veteran:

• Died on active duty.

• Died as a direct result of a service connected disability as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

• 100% service connected disabled.

• Totally disabled (non-service connected) with wartime service.

• Upon the death of any veteran who served during a wartime period.

Four (4) statutes under which an applicant may qualify:

KRS 164.505

Applicant may be eligible if veteran was killed in action during a wartime period or died as a result of a service-connected disability incurred while serving during a wartime period provided the veteran's home of record upon entry into the Armed Forces was the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Applicant is eligible to get undergraduate/graduate degrees. There is no age or time limit on the waiver.

KRS 164.507

Dependents of deceased Kentucky Veterans may be eligible for 36 months of training until they receive a degree; or training until their twenty-third (23) birthday whichever comes first. There is no age limit for the un-remarried widow or widower.

KRS 164.512

Child of a veteran who acquired a disability due to the veteran's service. (Spina Bifida)

KRS 164.515

Applicant may be eligible if the veteran is permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes or one hundred percent (100%) disabled for compensation purposes by the United States Veterans Administration or the Department of Defense for 36 months of training or until they receive a degree; or training until their twenty-third (23) birthday whichever comes first. There is no limit for the spouse.

To apply:

Click here for Tuition Waiver Application

Appropriate Documentation to be attached to application:

A. Birth Certificate

B. Marriage Certificate

C. Disability Award Letter

D. If veteran is deceased please include a copy of the Death Certificate

E. DD 214 (Veterans Discharge Papers)

Please include all necessary documents when submitting your application for Tuition Benefits. Incomplete applications may result in long delays or possible denials.

For additional information:

For additional information please contact us at (502) 595 - 4447 or toll free (in Kentucky) (800) 928 - 4012 or email us. Please let us know if we can provide assistance

New Disability Rating Information

Because of a judge's decision in a recent court case, the VA is now required to give veterans some additional information about how they rate disability claims. The VA had to send a letter to every veteran that has a claim pending in order to meet the new requirements of this court decision. A VCAA NOTICE RESPONSE form was also provided with the letter.

This new VA letter explains the five things needed to substantiate a claim for disability:

1. Veteran status

2. Existence of a disability

3. A connection between the veteran's service and the disability

4. Degree of disability

5. Effective date of the disability

Past letters only explained the first three elements; now the VA has to explain all five. The letter does not mean you failed to present enough evidence to substantiate your claim. It was sent to all veterans with pending claims. Your KDVA representative is well versed on the evidence necessary to substantiate a claim for disability and knows how to present that evidence in the best possible manner to substantiate your claim. If you have questions about your claim, we encourage you to contact your local KDVA Representative or call the federal VA at 1-800-827-1000.

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions we have received about this letter:

Which box do I check on the VCAA Notice Response form?

Veterans who have nothing further to submit in support of their claim should check the box next to: "I have no other information or evidence to give VA to substantiate my claim. Please decide my claim as soon as possible."

Veterans who are in the process of gathering evidence should check the box next to: "I have more information or evidence to give to VA to substantiate my claim. VA will wait at least 60 days before deciding my claim to give me a chance to submit this information or evidence."

What happens if I don't return the form?

Failure to return the form will not affect the outcome of the claim, but the VA will wait 60 days before proceeding. Veterans who have nothing further to provide can avoid this 60-day waiting period by telling the VA to proceed.

What if I send the form in saying I don't have any information to provide but later find new evidence?

Regardless of which box you check, you have one year from the date of the notice to submit new evidence.

Which block do I check if I am sending in the form with my new evidence?

Contact your local KDVA representative and take the form and the evidence to that representative to submit on your behalf or mail the form and the evidence to: Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, 321 West Main Street, Suite 390, Louisville, KY 40202. Ensure all written communications with KDVA include your claim number and a telephone number that you can be contacted at during the day. We will contact you to decide which block should be checked and we will submit the evidence on your behalf.

How will Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson affect my claim?

This decision only changes the information that the VA is required to provide to veterans. Veterans will now be provided information about the evidence needed to evaluate disabilities such as the nature and symptoms of the condition, the severity and duration of the symptoms, and the impact of the condition and symptoms on employment. In addition, the VA will provide information about how the effective date of a disability rating is determined.

What do I do if I still don't understand?

If you need further assistance please contact your local KDVA Representative or our Louisville Field Operations Branch at (800) 928-4012.

Burial Honors

KDVA helps implement and assist Veterans Service Organizations with Burial Honors Programs. Any Veterans Service Organization seeking a stipend for providing honors should contact our Burial Honors Program Coordinator, (888) 724-7683. Click here for the Stipend Request Form. Certification of Veterans Service Organizations performing Burial Honors by the National Guard, Ft. Knox or Ft. Campbell has been suspended as a result of operational requirements brought about by current world events.

Burial honors fact sheet