Veterans Administration What It Is History
Veterans Administration: What It Is, History
What Was the Veterans Administration?
The Veterans Administration refers to the previous name of a U.S. Cabinet-level department. Founded during the Great Depression, the Veterans Administration was an independent government agency. It became a cabinet department in 1989 and changed its title to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The organization provided and continues to provide medical care, benefits, and services to veterans of the U.S. armed forces and their families.
Key Takeaways
– The Veterans Administration was established in 1930 to provide benefits to veterans.
– It is now known as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the VA.
– The VA provides medical care, benefits, and essential services to veterans and their families.
– Health care services are provided by three administrations: the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration.
– Financial assistance offered by the VA includes disability compensation, education and training, life insurance, and home loans.
Understanding the Veterans Administration
The Veterans Administration was established in 1930 to provide medical care, benefits, and services to veterans and their families. It also provided burial and memorial benefits. In 1988, it became a U.S. Cabinet-level department and was renamed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The department continues to provide comprehensive health care services, disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance. It has three administrations: the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The NCA runs 155 national cemeteries throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Special Considerations
To receive health care benefits through the VA, you must be a military veteran or former member of the National Guard or Reserve who served on active duty. Specific eligibility depends on when and how long you served.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The VHA includes 1,298 health care facilities, 171 VA medical centers, and 1,113 outpatient sites. It serves over nine million veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA medical centers provide a wide range of medical services, including dermatology, dental care, neurology, podiatry, and vision care.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
The VBA provides various benefits and services to service members, their dependents, and survivors. This includes disability compensation, education and training, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, and job placement assistance. The VBA also offers federal guarantees of home loans for qualified applicants. The specific service requirements vary, and a certificate of eligibility is needed to obtain a VA loan.
History of the Veterans Administration
The roots of the Veterans Administration date back to 1636, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony voted to support disabled soldiers. Veterans’ benefits expanded during World War I, and the first consolidation of veterans’ programs occurred in 1921 when Congress created the Veterans Bureau. In 1930, President Herbert Hoover elevated the Veterans Bureau to a federal administration, creating the Veterans Administration.
