This instructional guide will show you how to apply for certain benefits through the eBenefits application portal.

1. Informational Resource for Veteran(s):
How to applyforcertainbenefitsthroughthe eBenefitsapplicationportal.
Afterreviewingthisinformational resource,youwillbe able toapplyforvariousfederal benefitsand
keepimportantinformationuptodate. All of what iscoveredhere canbe done foryouat yourveteran
service office,butif youare feelingindustriousandwantto doit yourself,thistutorial willshow you
howits done.
Directions:
You will needtobe loggedintothe eBenefits website athttps://www.ebenefits.va.gov/. If are notable
to login youcan eithercontact eBenefits directlythroughthe helplinenumberlistedonthe website or
visityourlocal veteranservice office forassistance. Similartothe lastchapter,thisresource will be less
step-by-stepinnature andmore informational. Some of whatiscoveredhere will notapplytoyou
while otherbitswill be extremelyuseful. Feel freetoskimthroughandfindwhatpertainsdirectlyto
your situation.
From the eBenefitsdashboard,hover
your mouse overthe manage button
whichissecondfromthe left. Select
“Status Tracking”fromthe dropdown
menu.
On the “ApplyforBenefits”page
youwill see alistof optionsthat
includescompensation, pension,
housing, education andtraining,
healthcare,insurance, andburial.

2. The firstoptionhere isto manage your VA Representativesandtobe honest,I wouldn'tevenbother
withthisfeature. A simple google searchwill tellyouwhere yourclosestveteranservice office is,orif
youare involvedinortrustany veteranorganizationssuchasthe AmericanLegion,VFW,DAV,or
several others,mostof them offerfree assistance fromveteranservice officersaswell. Butif you do not
knowaboutany local resources,eBenefitsgivesyouthe optionsof requestingand/orsearchingfor
representationthroughtheirsystemasshownbelow.
Withinthe compensationsection,I’mnotevengoingtotouchonthe disabilityside because Iwould
stronglyadvise againstfilingthispaperworkbyyourself. There are innumerableamountsof peopleand
resource centerswhowill helpyouwiththisforfree andthere are just toomany opportunitiestomake
an error if youendeavortodo it alone. The one thingonthissectionsIwill touchon isthe add or
remove adependentsectionasthisisfairlystraitforward. I cannotshow you an image here because it
wouldbe chalked full of mypersonal informationbutthe systemwalksyouthroughthe processstep-by-
step. Thisis alsosomethingthe VSOcando foryou butthe optiontodo ithere in available none the
less.
Pensionisalongthe same veinascompensation,youreally needtogeta professional todothis
paperwork withyou,soI will nottouchon that. I have knownveteransattempttofile forthisontheir
ownor withthe helpof a familymemberanditwoundup takingyearsinsteadof the weeksormonths
that ittypicallytakeswhenfiledwithaveteranservice office. Doyourself afavoranddo not be too
brave on thisfront,use the helpthathas beenputin place forveteranslike you.
SpecialtyAdaptedHousing(SAH) istypically done byexternal sources. If youare eligibleforSAHthenin
all likelihood,thispaperworkhasalreadybeenfiledforyou. If ithas not,thenspeakwithyourprovider
at the VA directlytogetthispaperworkstarted. Youdo not needtofile thisonyourownthrough the
eBenefitsapplicationportal.
The VA Home Loan and EducationBenefitslinkssimplytake youtoa page that letsyouprintoff your
proof of eligibility. Iam notgoingto show any pictureshere because theywouldbe basicallyall blacked
out to protectmy personal identificationinformation. Butthere isnotmuch to the process;justclick
the linkandprint the page the linkbringyouto.

3. The nextsectioninsuccessionisthe Vocational RehabilitationandEmploymentBenefits (VR&E) section,
whichisdefinitelyabenefitworthapplyingforwhetherornot youhave GI Bill entitlements. Theygive
youtwo optionshere (see image below): requestcounseling,whichwillgetyoulinkedupwithacareer
counselorwhocanhelpyoufinda suitable careergivenyoursituation,andthe otheristhe VR&E,which
givesyouupto 48 monthsof schooling,whichis12 more monthsthan the GI Bill,whichwill helpyou
getthe educationneededtopursue acareerof choice. I will note thatonthe VR&Eside,all thiswill do
isget the ball rolling,the VA will have youtake testingandmeetwithacareercounselorpriorto
determiningyoursuitabilityforthe program, butit doesprovide avaluable firststepinthe process.
As forthe healthcare section,Iwill specificallytell youdonotapplyforthe VA healthcare online,itwill
onlyslowthe process. The onlysure-fire waytogetinto youVA facilityof choice istogo downto your
local community-basedoutpatientclinic(CBOC) andenrollthere. Youmay be put on the waitlistat the
clinicdue to limitedprovideravailability butyouwill still be able toreceivecare at the VA regional
hospital whileyouare waitlisted.

4. You can applyfor the VGLI,the veteransgrouplife insurance througheBenefits. Thisissimilartothe life
insurance youwouldhave hadif youdepartedactive dutyrecentlyanditisalsoprovidedbyPrudential,
whois the insurance providerforactive dutymilitary. Since thisinsurance istechnicallyranthrougha
private company,Iwill notwalkyouthroughhow to navigate theirsite because Idonot wishtoopenly
endorse aprivate company.
The last iteminthe applicationsportal isforburial benefits. Itwill give youalistof stepsto complete
but youwill ultimatelybe clickingonthe startthe burial applicationbutton. Thiswill walkyouthrougha
seriesof simple fill inboxesthat will ultimatelyservetofill ina21P-530, whichisthe same formthat we
wouldhelpyoufill outatthe vso. It isprettysimple todoonline butitisalso prettyfastand easyforus
to do at the office,soyourcall as to whetheryouwouldlike todothison yourownor not.
Andthat is the nutsand boltsof the eBenefitsapplicationportal. Asalways,if youhave anyspecific
questionsorconcerns,donot hesitate tobringthemtoyour local veteranservice officer.