If you are a veteran living in North Carolina, you may be eligible for various benefits and services from the state and federal government. These benefits can help you with education, employment, health care, home loans, tax exemptions, recreation and more. In this blog post, we will provide some tips on how to get your benefits in 2024.
Know your disability rating and compensation rates
If you have a service-connected disability, you can receive monthly payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on your disability rating and dependent status. The VA adjusts these rates every year to match the cost-of-living changes. You can find the 2024 veterans disability compensation rates on the VA website. If you have a 10% to 20% disability rating, you will receive a fixed amount regardless of your dependents. If you have a 30% to 100% disability rating, you will receive a higher amount if you have a dependent spouse, child or parent. You may also qualify for additional amounts if your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, or you have more than one child.
Apply for benefits and claims online or by phone
You can apply for various benefits and claims from the VA online or by phone. For example, you can apply for disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, life insurance, burial benefits and more. You can also check the status of your claims and appeals, update your personal information, request documents and records, and manage your health care appointments and prescriptions online. To apply online, go to va.gov and sign in with your DS Logon, ID.me or My HealtheVet account. To apply by phone, call 1-800-827-1000.
Contact the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for assistance
The DMVA is the state agency that provides services and support to North Carolina’s military and veteran community. The DMVA can help you with benefits and claims assistance, employment services, housing assistance, scholarships, cemeteries, state veterans’ homes and more. You can contact the DMVA by phone at 1-844-NC4-VETS (1-844-624-8387) or by email at nc4vets@milvets.nc.gov. You can also visit their website at milvets.nc.gov to find more information and resources.
Enroll in NCFlex benefits during open enrollment
NCFlex is a program that offers flexible benefits to state employees and retirees, including veterans. NCFlex benefits include health care spending accounts, dental plans, vision plans, critical illness insurance, cancer insurance, accident insurance and more. You can enroll in NCFlex benefits during open enrollment, which usually occurs in October every year. To enroll online, go to ncflex.org and click the Enroll Now button. To enroll by phone, call 1-855-859-0966.
Take advantage of tax exemptions and discounts
As a veteran in North Carolina, you may be eligible for various tax exemptions and discounts from the state and local government. For example, you may be exempt from paying property tax on your home if you have a 100% disability rating or if you are a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran or a service member who died in the line of duty. You may also be exempt from paying income tax on your military retirement pay if you had at least five years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989. You may also qualify for discounts on hunting and fishing licenses, state park fees, vehicle registration fees and more. To learn more about tax exemptions and discounts for veterans in North Carolina, visit veteran.com
