VETERAN BENEFITS & ASSISTANCE


Veteran Benefits & Assistance

Originally founded in 1899 as the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Veterans of Foreign Wars continues to be a voice for returning and currently deployed service members and their families. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is dedicated to supporting those who sacrifice so much for this country, veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families.

Contact a VFW Representative for Help With VA Benefits & Claims.
 
Post 4305 Service Officer 
Ed Thralls
ethralls@ufl.edu
(407) 913-5717

Dewayne Thrift
Service Officer
VFW life member, Vietnam Air Force Veteran
Florida veteran’s hall of fame inductee 2023.
(407)-928-0797

Orange County Florida Veteran Services Officers 
Alnita Whitt, Program Manager/CVSO
Karl Behrendt, Senior Counselor/VSO
Robert J Day, Veterans Counselor/VSO
Asdrubal Rivera, Senior Counselor/VSO
Terrence Walker, Veterans Counselor/VSO
Nayda Ferguson, Veterans Counselor/VSO
Faustino Valerio, Veterans Counselor/VSO
Kim Richards, Administrative Specialist
2100 E Michigan Street
Orlando, FL 32806
Phone: (407) 836-8990
Fax: (407) 836-1977

Florida State Service Officer
State Service Officer Contact Information

VFW Veterans Service Office (main office)
9500 Bay Pines Blvd. (Rm 217)
St. Petersburg, FL 33744
E-mail: vfw.vbaspt@va.gov
Phone number: (727) 319 7483 Fax: (727) 319-7776

Regional Branch, St. Petersburg, Florida
Jason Smith, Director
E-mail: jason.k.smith@va.gov
 
 
BENEFITS & SERVICES
  Federal Benefits for Veterans & Dependents
       A to Z Benefits Information
       VA Benefits Fact Sheets
        Apply for VA Benefits
    Google Resources for Veterans & Families
        Survivor & Dependent Benefits
              VA Benefits and Services
        Check the status of your VA claim online
        Veteran Benefits Calculator - DAV.org
        Benefits - Military.com
        Education Benefits
        Federal Benefits for Dependents and Survivors
        National Resource Directory, Benefits & Compensation
   
    
     
   Burial Benefits
      National Cemetery Military Burial Benefits
      Types of Headstones & Markers Available
     
   Home Loans
   
      Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan
     
  Health Care
       Health Care Benefits - VA 
       Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors (SSI)
 
   Community-Based VA Vet Centers
       
       PTSD / Stress Management
       Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
       TRICARE Benefit Info
       VA Health Benefits
          Laws Protecting Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities
        Transition and Care Management for OEF / OIF Service Members
       
  Long-Term Care
    Aid & Attendance Benefit
    Armed Forces Retirement Home, Eligibility
    Family Caregiver Program for Post-9/11 Veterans


Medical Foster Care Program, Geriatrics & Extended Care
       
  Prior Service-Connected Medical Conditions
        Diseases Associated with Agent Orange Exposure
     
  Agent Orange Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans
   

Agent Orange, Military Benefits, Military.COM
      Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
        Illnesses Related to Gulf War Service
        Gulf War Health Care Registry Exam for Veterans
        VA Recognizes 'Presumptive' Illnesses in Iraq & Afghanistan
       
  VA Compensation & Pension Benefits
  VA eBenefits
  VA Life Insurance
  VA OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) / OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
  VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
  VA Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS)
  VFW Veterans Benefits
       
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
  Aid & Charity Associations
  Air Force Aid Society
  American Red Cross
  Army Emergency Relief
  Cell Phone, Government Supported
  Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund
  Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
  Financial Assistance for Mortgage or Rent Payments
  Help for Homeless Veterans
  Homeless Vet 24 Hour Hotline 1-877-4AID VET
  Homeless Veterans, VA
       
  Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
  Service Members Civil Relief Act - Miliatry.com
  Social Security Administration online
  Social Security Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)
  United Way, Nationwide 2-1-1 Phone Numbers
  VFW Troop Support
  Volunteers of America
  Warrior Care, DoD & VA Resources Site
       

VETERAN INFORMATION
  Historical Documents of Interest to Veterans
  Locating Veterans & Service Members
  Replacement Military Records
  Replacement Medical Records
  Replacement Military Awards & Decorations (National Archives)
  Social Security Credit for Military Service (1957 - 2001)
  U.S. Dept of Justice - Rights of Servicemembers and Veterans
  VA Board of Veterans' Appeals
  Women Veterans