Summary of VA Benefits for 

National Guard and Reserve 

Members and Veterans
As a member of the National Guard 

or Reserve you may qualify for 

a wide range of benefits offered 

by the Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA). VA is here to help 

you and your family understand 

the benefits for which you may 

be eligible and how to apply for 

them. VA benefits include disability 

compensation, pension, home loan 

guaranty, education, health care, 

insurance, vocational rehabilitation 

and employment, and burial.

Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Program supports 

and enhances the mobilization readiness of the 

Reserve components. The AGR includes both 

National Guard (Title 32) and Reserve members 

(Title 10) who serve full-time. National Guard 

members may establish eligibility for certain 

VA benefits by performing full-time duty under 

either Title 32 or Title 10.

QUALIFYING SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL 

GUARD AND RESERVE

Generally, all National Guard and Reserve members 

discharged or released under conditions that are 

not dishonorable are eligible for some VA benefits. 

The length of your service, service commitment 

and/or your duty status may determine your 

eligibility for specific benefits.

Active Service. Eligibility requirements for several 

VA benefits include a certain length of active 

service. Active service in the National Guard or 

Reserve includes:

» Active duty (Title 10) - full-time duty in the 

Armed Forces, such as unit deployment during 

war, including travel to and from such duty, 

except active duty for training, OR

» Full-time National Guard duty (Title 32) – duty 

performed for which you are entitled to receive pay 

from the Federal government, such as responding 

to a national emergency or performing duties as an 

Active Guard Reserve (AGR) member 

A state or territory’s governor may activate 

National Guard members for State Active Duty, 

such as in response to a natural or man-made 

disaster. State Active Duty is based on state law 

and does not qualify as “active service” for VA 

benefits. Unlike full-time National Guard duty, 

National Guard members on State Active Duty are 

paid with state funds as opposed to Federal funds.

Access Your VA Benefits

Go to eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov, 

your one-stop shop to learn about and apply 

for your benefits.
Traditional Service. Traditional National Guard 

and Reserve members typically serve one weekend 

per month and two weeks per year. Traditional 

members may become eligible for some VA benefits 

by fulfilling a service commitment. Eligibility for 

disability compensation requires that a disability 

was the result of an injury or disease incurred or 

aggravated in the line of duty during active duty or 

active duty for training. For inactive duty training, 

the disability must have resulted from injury, heart 

attack, or stroke. Other benefit programs require a 

specified number of days of active service.

Technician Service. Military technicians are 

civilian employees of the Department of the Army 

or Department of the Air Force who are required 

to maintain membership in the National Guard or 

Reserve in order to retain employment. Similar to 

traditional National Guard and Reserve members, 

military technicians are normally in a military status 

one weekend a month and two weeks a year, 

and are eligible for some VA benefits. They may 

establish eligibility for additional benefits based 

on the length of Guard, Reserve, or active service.

VA BENEFITS

Disability Compensation. Disability 

compensation is a monthly tax-free benefit 

paid to Veterans who are at least 10% 

disabled because of injuries or diseases 

that were incurred or aggravated during 

active duty or active duty for training. 

Pension. VA pension is a tax-free benefit 

paid to Veterans with limited income and 

net worth who served during a wartime 

period (see the FAQ section for a list of 

wartime periods). Generally, you must have 

90 days or 24 months of active service 

(depending on when you served) to qualify.

Eligibility for VA Pension Benefits

Age/Disability Requirements

Active Service Requirements

On/Before

September 7, 1980 (Enlisted) or

October 16, 1981 (Officer)

After

September 7, 1980 (Enlisted) or

October 16, 1981 (Officer)

» Age 65 or older, OR

» Permanently and totally disabled 

(not due to own personal 

misconduct), OR

» A patient in a nursing home 

receiving skilled nursing care, OR

» Receiving Social Security Disability 

Insurance, OR

» Receiving Supplemental Security 

Income

» For at least 90 days with at least one 

day during a wartime period, OR 

» For at least 90 consecutive days or 

more if the period began or ended 

during a wartime period, OR

» For an aggregate of 90 days or more 

during more than one wartime 

period, OR

» During a wartime period, you were 

discharged or released because of 

a service-connected disability

» For at least 24 continuous months*, 

or the full period you were called 

or ordered, with at least one day 

during a wartime period, OR

» During a wartime period, you were 

discharged or released because of a 

service-connected disability

*You are also eligible if you previously 

completed 24 continuous months of 

active service prior to the date above, 

or received an early discharge under 

Section 1171 of Title 10. 
Home Loan Guaranty. VA’s Home Loan 

Guaranty Program connects National Guard 

and Reserve members with home loans 

that have favorable terms. Private lenders 

provide the loan, but VA guarantees a 

portion of it, allowing lenders to provide 

benefits such as no down payment or 

mortgage insurance premiums. To qualify 

for VA’s home loan guaranty, you must 

meet one of the following conditions:

» Served for 90 days or more on active duty 

during a wartime period, OR

» Were discharged or released from active 

duty for a service-connected disability, OR

» Have six years of service in the Selected 

Reserve or National Guard, AND

› Were discharged honorably, OR

› Were placed on the retired list, OR

› Were transferred to the Standby Reserve 

or an element of the Ready Reserve 

other than the Selected Reserve after 

honorable service, OR

› Continue to serve in the Selected Reserve

Education. VA provides valuable 

education and training benefits to National 

Guard and Reserve members, including 

financial support for undergraduate and 

graduate degrees, vocational and technical 

training, licensing and certification tests, 

apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. 

You may be eligible for one or more of the 

following programs if you meet certain 

service requirements:

Eligibility for VA Education Benefits

Program Service Requirements

Post-9/11 GI Bill » You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 

at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001, OR

» You have at least 90 aggregate days of active service consisting of: 

› Active duty (Title 10) supporting named contingency operations, OR

› Full-time National Guard duty (Title 32) for the purpose of organizing, administering, 

recruiting, instructing, or training, OR

› Full-time National Guard duty (Title 32 under section 502(f)) when authorized by the 

President or the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of responding to a national emergency 

declared by the President and supported by Federal funds

Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve 

(MGIB-SR)

You:

» Have a 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, AND

» Completed your Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), AND

» Served in a drilling unit and remain in good standing, AND

» Have a high school diploma or equivalency

Reserve Educational 

Assistance Program 

(REAP)

You:

» Are a member of a Reserve component, AND

» Served on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days after September 10, 2001
Health Care. VA health care benefits may 

include all the necessary inpatient hospital 

care and outpatient services to promote, 

preserve, or restore your health.

Eligibility for VA health care requires that 

you served on active duty by a Federal 

order and completed the full period for 

which you were called or ordered. If you 

served on active duty in a theater of 

combat operations after November 11, 

1998, you are eligible for free VA health 

care benefits for up to 5 years from the 

date of discharge or release.

Additional factors determine health care 

benefit eligibility for non-combat Veterans, 

or those with combat service prior to 

November 11, 1998. Learn more at 

www.va.gov/healthbenefits.

Vet Centers. VA assists combat Veterans through 

a nationwide network of community-based 

Vet Centers. Counselors provide individual, 

group, and family readjustment counseling 

to help with the transition to civilian life, treat 

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and help 

with any other issues related to military service. 

Other services include: outreach, education, 

medical referral, homeless Veteran services, 

employment, and VA benefit referral.

Burial. VA offers burial and memorial 

services to honor our Nation’s deceased 

Veterans. For example:

» VA can furnish an inscribed headstone or 

marker at any cemetery, or a medallion in 

lieu of a headstone, or marker to affix to 

one that is privately purchased

» VA can provide a burial and/or plot 

allowance to partially reimburse the burial 

and funeral costs of a Veteran

» VA can provide a Presidential Memorial 

Certificate (PMC) for the next of kin and 

loved ones of a deceased Veteran

» VA can provide an American flag to drape 

the casket of a Veteran

» A Veteran and his or her dependents can 

be buried in a VA national cemetery

Eligibility for burial benefits requires that 

you served on active duty, or that your 

death was due to an injury or disease 

that developed or was aggravated during 

active duty, active duty for training, or 

inactive duty for training. 

Insurance. VA’s life insurance programs 

provide financial security and peace of 

mind to you and your family, especially 

considering the risks involved in military 

service. Eligible Servicemembers and 

Veterans pay relatively low monthly 

premiums for coverage, which vary by 

insurance program. You are automatically 

insured under full-time Servicemembers’ 

Group Life Insurance (SGLI) as either a: 

» Member of the Ready Reserve or National 

Guard who is scheduled to perform at least 

12 periods of inactive training per year, OR

» Servicemember who volunteers for a 

mobilization category in the Individual 

Ready Reserve (IRR)

Part-time coverage is also available to 

National Guard and Reserve members 

who do not meet the inactive training 

requirement above, but do perform duty 

at specific times.
You qualify for Veterans’ Group Life 

Insurance (VGLI) if you are a:

» Servicemember separating, retiring, or 

being released from assignment from 

the Ready Reserve, or a National Guard 

member who was covered by SGLI, OR

» Member of the National Guard or Reserve 

covered by part-time SGLI who incurred or 

aggravated a disability while performing 

inactive duty or traveling to/from duty, OR 

» Member of the Individual Ready Reserve or 

Inactive National Guard

Additional VA Insurance benefits include:

» Family Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance (FSGLI) is available to the spouses 

and dependent children of members of 

the Ready Reserve or National Guard of 

a uniformed service covered by full-time 

SGLI. FSGLI is a service members’ benefit 

and therefore is the only one allowed to 

be beneficiary. Coverage is terminated on 

separate from service, divorce, death of the 

service member or if the service member 

elects to cancel the coverage 

» SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI)

helps severely injured National Guard 

and Reserve members and their families 

with the financial burdens associated with 

recovery by providing a one-time payment 

to Servicemembers or Veterans who incur 

traumatic injuries (on-duty or off-duty) 

and suffer losses that qualify for payment 

under TSGLI 

» Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance 

(S-DVI) provides life insurance coverage 

to National Guard or Reserve members or 

Veterans who incurred a service-connected 

disability while in an active duty status. 

Applications must be submitted within two 

years from the date of notification of approval 

for a new service-connected disability by the 

VA. This is only for those Veterans discharged 

on or after April 25, 1951

» Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance 

(VMLI) provides mortgage life insurance 

to severely disabled National Guard or 

Reserve members or Veterans who incurred 

a service-connected disability while in an 

active duty status and received a Specially 

Adapted Housing (SAH) grant from VA

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. 

VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and 

Employment (VR&E) program provides 

education and training services, including 

vocational counseling and job-search 

assistance, to National Guard and Reserve 

members with service-connected disabilities. 

You may be eligible for assistance in preparing 

for, obtaining, and maintaining suitable 

employment through VR&E if you are: 

» A Veteran with a service-connected 

disability rated at 20 percent or more, OR

» Hospitalized or receiving outpatient 

medical care, services or treatment for 

a service-connected disability pending 

discharge from active duty, OR

» Severely ill or injured and have been referred 

to a military Physical Evaluation Board or 

are participating in the DoD/VA Integrated 

Disability Evaluation System process, OR

» A Veteran with a service-connected 

disability rated at least 10 percent, and 

your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 

determines you need rehabilitation 

because of a serious employment handicap

You may also qualify for career counseling 

if you recently separated from the military 

or are using VA education benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions

Do I qualify for VA benefits as a National Guard or Reserve member?

Yes, generally, all National Guard and Reserve members qualify for some VA benefits. Different VA 

benefits may consider different factors to determine eligibility, such as length of service, type of service 

(such as under Title 10 or Title 32), wartime service, and/or service-related disability.

What is the difference between serving as a Traditional National Guard or Reserve member 

and as an Active Guard Reserve member?

Traditional National Guard and Reserve members typically serve one weekend a month and two 

weeks a year. Active Guard Reserve members are full-time members of a Reserve component for 

which they are entitled to receive pay from the Federal government. As an AGR, you establish 

eligibility for certain VA benefits by your active service under either Title 10 or Title 32.

What qualifies as a wartime period?

Under current law, VA recognizes the following wartime periods:

» World War I (April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918) 

» World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)

» Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)

» Vietnam era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam 

during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)

» Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation)

Where can I go to learn more about VA benefits for National Guard and Reserve members?

Go to www.ebenefits.va.gov, your one-stop shop to learn about and apply for your VA benefits, or 

www.benefits.va.gov/guardreserve, a website tailored to help National Guard and Reserve 

members learn about your benefits.

VA adopted five core values that define “who we 

are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans, 

their families, and other beneficiaries. The values 

are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, 

and Excellence (I-CARE).

I CARE

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Additional VA Benefits

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to 

your military service can lead to monthly nontaxable compensation, enrollment in the VA 

health care system, a 10-point hiring preference 

for federal employment, and other important 

benefits. Ask your VA representative or Veterans 

Service Organization (VSO) representative about 

Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, 

Caregiver Program, Vocational Rehabilitation and 

Employment Services, Educational Assistance, Home 

Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and/or Dependents’ 

and Survivors’ Benefits. You can search for a VSO 

representative online at www.ebenefits.va.gov. 

For More Information

For more information about National 

Guard and Reserve benefits, including 

eligibility and how to apply, please:

» Find links to VA benefits information and apply 

at www.ebenefits.va.gov

» Visit us at www.benefits.va.gov/guardreserve

» Use IRIS, VA’s tool to find information and ask 

questions online at https://iris.custhelp.com 

» Call us at 1-800-827-1000 

» Visit the nearest VA regional office

Thank you for your service. 

Now let us serve you.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington, DC 20420

T 800-827-1000

www.va.gov/benefits

VA PAM 27-12-5

September 2012