Benefits & resources
Health & mental health
VA health care, counseling, and Vet Centers you can walk into without a claim on file.
In crisis, or worried about a veteran?
The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential and available 24/7. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to use it.
- Call 988 then press 1 (Veterans Crisis Line)
- Text 838255 (Veterans Crisis Line)
- Chat online (Veterans Crisis Line)
For TTY, call 711 then 988. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
The Veterans Crisis Line is run by the VA. VETEFITS is not the VA and does not answer these calls, texts or chats. More ways to reach them, including from a computer, are on the Veterans Crisis Line website.
Where to get the real answer
These are government pages. They are the ones that stay current.
VA health care
Eligibility and how to apply. Separate from a disability claim.
VA mental health care
What VA mental health services cover and how to start.
Vet Centers
Community counseling centers. They serve families as well as veterans.
Find a VA location
Facility finder, including Vet Centers and clinics.
Asbestos exposure: if you came into contact with asbestos in service, see asbestos exposure and mesothelioma for symptoms, VA benefits and free help with a claim.
VETEFITS is not the VA and cannot decide, file or speed up a claim. What we can do is make sure you know these exist and help you find someone accredited to work them with you. Nobody can charge you to prepare and file a first claim, and a county or veterans-organization service officer is free at every stage.