Veteran & Military Recognition and Beneficiaries

November is Military Families’ month. November 11^th is Veterans Day. We thought we’d show a little appreciation and notification for those that have served and are still serving our great nation. Greg Fay Insurance is a proud Veteran-Family-Owned Insurance Agency. We strive to find the best coverage for those that need it. We also want to make sure that our military families know what benefits they are eligible for.

Main Military Benefits

Life Insurance – All active duty members are automatically enrolled in Service Members’ Life Insurance. This offers low-cost term coverage. You must meet a certain criteria for eligibility. Veterans can sign up for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance after being discharged for a limited time. Here is more specific information on these Plans.
Housing – Veterans and military members can apply for grants and home loans from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Retirement – Members who retire with 20 years of service under their belt receive a monthly annuity for life.
Health Care – The Military Health System provides care for retirees, dependents, and members.
Education – Qualified members get education benefits through VA and military programs. You can transfer your Post -9/11 GI Bill benefits to your children or spouse depending on eligibility.
Job Training Help – When leaving the military, members can get assistance finding work.

Tools to Access Benefits and Records

MilConnect is a self-service portal that lets you:

Update family members in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
View health care coverage
Get latest info and resources
Access to copies of your Official Military Personnel File
Transfer our GI Bill education benefits to family members
Update your information

Financial Assistance and Local Support

Find local help with the National Resource Directory for health, housing, caregiver support, jobs, and homelessness.

Your county Veterans Services office provides Emergency Financial Assistance as well as medical transportation, VA Disability Claim support and more (depending on your county).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau helps families and veterans with avoiding scams, filing complaints, and money management.

Credit monitoring is FREE for Active Duty members under a new Federal Trade Commission rule. This is to alert you when there have been changes such as a loan application or new credit card added to your report. Credit monitoring is also good for indicating theft and fraud.

Military Life Assistance

Miliary OneSource is a resource for info on other specific topics reflective of military life. Here are some resources:

Education and job assistance for spouses
Counseling for service members and families
Deployment help for families
Health & Wellness such as family violence, prevention of training injuries, and management of stress and suicidal thoughts.
Legal and financial help
Childcare and parenting help
Moving assistance for families

Tax Preparation Assistance

Since there are so many benefits and filing specifics for military members, having help filing is very essential. MilTax is a FREE tax filing prep program from actual tax consultants that give personalized help.

State & Federal Benefits

In addition to the general benefits, there are also a lot of extra assistance programs to help families and service members in need:

Welfare for help with utilities, job training, childcare, housing and more
Social Security Retirement benefits
Food Assistance with nutrition programs and food stamp assistance
Health Insurance with medicare, CHIP or Tricare health plans
Unemployment benefits for those that have been recently deployed

Bottom Line

Those that have served have paid a great debt to this country and her residents. It’s only right that they are offered as much help as possible. They are there so we can live, play, and work with no fear. Please pay homage and be there for all service members you know this month and as often as you can. It’s not an easy life. Share this list with them!

If you are a service member in need of insurance, contact our office today to learn about what benefits we offer veterans and military families in need.