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Providing comprehensive resources for Veterans and their families.

Providing comprehensive resources for Veterans and their families.

For More Information Contact:
Santa Cruz Veterans Services Office

Address:
842 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA

Open:
Monday-Thursday 8AM-12PM & 1PM-5PM
831-454-7276

Surviving Spouse or Dependant

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CHAMPVA

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. To be eligible the recipient must be one of the following: The spouse or child of a veteran who the VA has rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability. Contact the VSO Office for more information and assistance.

The CHAMPVA Supplemental Insurance is a private supplement insurance plan, not affiliated with CHAMPVA. It is designed to wrap around your CHAMPVA benefit insurance coverage, so that in most cases, you will obtain reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses not paid for by CHAMPVA. The supplement, like the CHAMPVA health insurance program itself, assists the spouses and dependents of 100% Service Related Disabled Veterans.

Tricare

Tricare is the medical insurance provided to Active Duty service-members and their dependents. Tricare is also available for Retirees, National Guard and Reserve Members and their families, surviving dependents, and Medal Honor Recipients.

DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation)

A tax free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.

Chapter 35 DEA

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Cal VET Tuition Fee Waiver

The College Tuition Fee Waiver for Dependents of Service Connected Veterans waives mandatory systemwide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus.

This program does not cover the expense of books, parking or room and board. There are four plans under which dependents of veterans may be eligible. Veteran must be service connected (0-100%) for their dependents to be eligible.

Death Pension/Survivor Pension

The Survivors Pension benefit: which may also be referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried children of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.

Burial

Veterans and family members may qualify for a several burial benefits. These include: headstone or marker, presidential certificate, burial flag, honor guards, and National and State Cemeteries.

For service-connected and some non service-connected deaths, the VA can reimburse burial expenses. Please contact the VSO for more information and assistance.

Burial Reimbursement

For service-connected and non service-connected deaths, the VA pays toward burial expenses based on date of death and other factors, such as whether or not the death was service-connected.

Adding Dependents

Veterans who have a 30% or higher disability rating can add eligible dependents to their compensation benefits to get a higher payment, also known as a “benefit rate.”

Honor Guard/Color Guard

The list below is to request Honor Guard for funeral Honors. They are by military branch and location.

US Army
1-888-634-7496

US Marines
1-866-826-3628 or 1-703-432-9524

US Air Force              
1-800-586-8402

1-951-655-6105

US Coast Guard
1-510-437-3334
1-510-437-3712 (Northern California)
1-310-521-6087 (Southern California)

US Navy
1-800-326-9631
1-916-380-8449
1-619-556-7178
1-619-556-4865

For a more local Army Reserve resource in San Jose contact:SSG Raul Rios
(Soto Team Leader Veteran Honors Program)Raul.riossoto.mil@mail.mil
(408) 728-3119 cell
(925) 337-5198 office

SPC Francisco, Jezreel
Cell: (510) 861-8579
Email: jezreel.p.francisco.mil@mail.mil

CPL Mou, Chai Cheng
Cell: (415) 637-8192
Email: chai.c.mou.mil@mail.mil

SPC Frias, Salvador
Cell: (650)-676-7261
Email: salvador.frias.mil@mail.mil

SPC Navalon, Francel
Cell: (831) 392-7074
Email: Francel.e.navalon.mil@mail.mil

PFC Montano, David
Cell: (209) 535-6437
Email: david.s.montano.mil@mail.mil

Federal Benefits Book

Federal Benefits for Veterans, dependents and survivors 2019 edition.

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