Resources for Involuntarily Separated Military Members
Have you or a loved one been notified of a denied reenlistment, forced separation, medical retirement, or any other type of unplanned departure from a military career?
Being forced out of a military career can be a difficult experience. An involuntary discharge, medical retirement, or denial of re-enlistment can force a servicemember to change their plans, life goals, and lifestyle.
During this transition, you’ll find a network of support and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Some of these programs are difficult to navigate and some veterans need outside help to do so, but help is available.
These programs are not handouts; they are earned benefits designed to provide stability, healthcare, and opportunity for those who have served. To access any of these programs, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs official site or the official site of the state/local program offering services. You can also contact the VA directly by calling 1-800-827-1000.
This is not an exhaustive list; VA burial benefits are not mentioned here for example. The resources listed here are for your transition out of military life and your readjustment period.
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Getting Started
Navigating life in transition from military to civilian requires a proactive approach. Here is a suggested plan of action if you have been notified that you are being involuntarily separated from the military.
- Secure Your DD-214: This proof of military service is one of the most important documents you take from your military career.
- Analyze Your Discharge: Understand its character and what it means for your benefits.
- Contact a Veteran Service Organization: Find a local representative from the DAV, VFW, American Legion, or another accredited organization.
- Apply for Health Care: Submit your application for VA health care immediately. Let the VA determine your eligibility.
- Apply for Unemployment (UCX): Contact your state’s unemployment office as soon as possible.
- File Disability Claims: Work with your VSO to file claims for any condition you believe is related to your service.
- Visit a Vet Center
Understanding Your Military Discharge
The single most important factor to understand at the start of your transition is the character of your discharge. This is listed on your DD-214, the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. The character of your discharge is the primary gatekeeper for most VA benefits.
An “involuntary discharge” simply means you did not leave the service at the end of your contract by your own choice. This can happen for many reasons, resulting in different discharge characterizations. The nature of your discharge may or may not be tied to the reason for it.
- Honorable: Granted to service members who met or exceeded the required standards of duty and conduct. An involuntary separation due to a reduction in force (RIF), for example, will result in an honorable discharge. Veterans with honorable discharges qualify for a wide range of VA benefits.
- General (Under Honorable Conditions): This is given when a service member’s performance was satisfactory but marked by some minor misconduct or disciplinary issues. Most VA benefits are still accessible with a general discharge, including crucial ones like healthcare and disability compensation. However, it can disqualify you from certain GI Bill education benefits.
- Other Than Honorable (OTH): This is an administrative discharge that represents a significant departure from the expected conduct and performance of a service member. An OTH discharge can be a major barrier to VA benefits. However, eligibility is not automatically denied. The VA makes what is called a “Character of Discharge” determination. It will review the specific circumstances of your discharge to decide if you are eligible for certain benefits, particularly healthcare and treatment for service-related conditions.
- Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) or Dishonorable Discharge: These are punitive discharges issued by a court-martial. These discharges disqualify veterans from many VA benefits.
Understanding Your Post-Military Benefits and Options
Leaving the military means navigating a range of options for healthcare, education, employment, and housing. You may have more options than you realize when leaving the military. For some, that starts with unemployment compensation.
Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service Members (UCX):
This program provides a weekly income for a limited time while you are unemployed. It is not managed directly by the VA but by your state’s unemployment office, using your federal military service as the basis for your claim. Apply through your state’s unemployment agency as soon as you separate. You will need your DD-214.
To qualify, you must have been separated under honorable conditions and have completed your first full term of service. If you were separated involuntarily before completing your first term, you may still be eligible depending on the specific reason for discharge. This is a critical resource to bridge the income gap immediately after separation.
Healthcare Benefits
Eligibility for VA health care benefits upon leaving active duty is not automatic; you must enroll. The process involves submitting an application (VA Form 10-10EZ) online, by mail, or in person at a VA medical center.
Eligibility depends on the character of your military discharge (see above), length of service, and any service-connected disabilities. For those with an honorable or general discharge, enrollment is typically straightforward.
The VA assigns veterans to priority groups. These are based on factors like disability rating, income levels, and other specific criteria (such as being a former POW or Purple Heart recipient). The priority groups determine if and when you will be enrolled and whether you will have co-pays for certain types of care.
If you were involuntarily separated under honorable conditions, you may have enhanced eligibility temporarily after leaving the military.
VA Healthcare Access with an OTH Discharge
Even with an OTH discharge, you may still qualify for VA health care for conditions related to your service. This is particularly true for mental health conditions resulting from Military Sexual Trauma (MST) or for treatment of physical injuries that occurred during your service. The VA has a mandate to provide care in these specific situations, regardless of the discharge character in many cases. Do not assume you are ineligible; always apply and let the VA make an official determination.
VA Disability Compensation
This is a tax-free monthly payment to veterans who have a VA-rated disability, illness, or injury that was caused or worsened by their military service. This is not a pension and is not based on income.
File a claim with the VA for your specific conditions. You will likely be scheduled for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam, where a clinician assesses your condition. The VA then reviews the evidence and assigns a disability rating from 0% to 100%. Each percentage amount corresponds to a specific monthly payment amount.
You generally need an honorable or general discharge to qualify. The condition does not have to be combat-related. It can be a bad back from lifting heavy equipment, hearing loss from engine noise, or PTSD from a traumatic event. If you believe any health issue you have is connected to your service, you should file a claim.
VA Pension
This is a benefit for wartime veterans with limited income who are permanently and totally disabled for reasons not necessarily related to their service, or are age 65 or older. If you are facing long-term financial hardship, can demonstrate financial need, and have a low income, this program may provide a basic monthly income.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E):
VR&E (Chapter 31) is a program for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%. It is not just an education benefit; it is a full-service career counseling and support program.
If your service-connected disability makes it difficult to find or keep a job using your previous skills, VR&E can help. A vocational counselor will work with you to create a personalized plan.
This can include paying for a college degree, providing technical or trade school training, offering apprenticeships, or even helping you start your own business. VR&E can cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies, and provides a monthly subsistence allowance while you are in training.
The GI Bill
The GI Bill is one of the most well-known veteran benefits. It provides money for tuition, a housing allowance, and money for books and supplies.
To qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you must have an honorable discharge. There is very little flexibility on this requirement. If education is your goal and you do not have an honorable discharge, pursuing a discharge upgrade is your most likely path to accessing this benefit.
VA-Guaranteed Home Loan
This program helps veterans purchase a home with significant advantages, most notably the option for no down payment and no requirement for private mortgage insurance. The VA doesn’t lend the money, but it guarantees a portion of the loan, making it a much more attractive and less risky proposition for private lenders.
You will need a VA Certificate of Eligibility. This generally requires an honorable or general discharge, along with meeting certain minimum service requirements. For many, this benefit makes homeownership achievable years before it otherwise would be.
Vet Centers
Vet Centers are counseling centers separate from the large VA medical facilities. They offer a more informal, welcoming environment. Their services are free and confidential. They provide individual, group, and family counseling to combat veterans and those who have experienced MST. Crucially, Vet Centers often have more flexible eligibility, and you can walk in and get help without being enrolled in the VA health care system. This is an excellent first stop for anyone struggling with the stress of transition.
VA Mental Health Services
Within the main VA health care system, you can access a full spectrum of mental health care, including therapy, psychiatry, and treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. As mentioned, access to mental health care, especially for conditions like MST, can often be granted even with an OTH discharge.
Veterans Crisis Line
If you are ever in crisis, this resource is available 24/7. Dial 988, then Press 1, text 838255, or chat online. It is confidential and available to all veterans, their families, and friends, regardless of discharge status or VA enrollment.
Homelessness Prevention Programs
An involuntary separation can, in the worst-case scenario, lead to housing instability. The VA has robust programs to prevent and combat veteran homelessness.
One is the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: If you are at risk of losing your home, this should be your first call (1-877-4AID-VET). They can connect you with local resources 24/7.
Another is the HUD-VASH Program: This partnership between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA provides housing vouchers to homeless veterans and their families, along with VA case management and supportive services.
>> Never miss a benefits update. Subscribe to the MyMilitaryBenefits Newsletter today.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
