[This post is brought to you by my cousin Ross! If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] [For those who haven't seen it yet, here's the link to Ross's first post in this series.] Our net worth is what?!? I thought to myself. I knew my relationship with … [Read more...] about Reader story: “How I Bumbled Into Financial Independence” (part 2)
VA Disability Benefits
2021 VA Disability Compensation Rates – Updated Veterans Compensation Benefits Rate Tables
The 2021 VA Disability Compensation Rates are effective as of Dec. 1, 2020. If you receive VA disability pay, you will notice the increased amount in your first check, which you should receive in January 2021. There was a 1.3% increase from 2020, following a 1.6% increase from 2019. The government uses the same COLA rates for military retiree … [Read more...] about 2021 VA Disability Compensation Rates – Updated Veterans Compensation Benefits Rate Tables
Introduction To Navigating The Convoluted System Called VA Compensation
This post is brought to you by Robert Blake. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines. “What branch did you serve in?” is a question I get asked rather often since my wife insists that I drive her fuel-efficient car everywhere, and she has Disabled Veteran plates. While she’s proud of … [Read more...] about Introduction To Navigating The Convoluted System Called VA Compensation
Family Estate Planning For Your Disability
Here’s our capstone post for the year: our family's estate plan. I’ve spent the last 11 months writing about the ways that our Nords family financial independence is changing. Now we’re reaching far into the future to simplify not just our lives, but our legacy for the next few generations. My spouse and I have had wills since college. … [Read more...] about Family Estate Planning For Your Disability
Lower Life Insurance Premiums From USAA
USAA is cutting the rates on their new life insurance policies. Let me explain why in less than 1800 2000 words-- but it’s all good. I’ve learned a lot about insurance over the last 30 years, and it’s a necessary evil. We buy it to help ourselves (and our families) recover from disasters, and we only keep it as long as we need it. Everyone … [Read more...] about Lower Life Insurance Premiums From USAA
What Happens After Your VA Disability Claim Has Been Approved
The Veterans Administration approved my "fully developed" disability claim-- in less than three months of processing. This post stands by itself, but I'm going to skip the beginning of the story. If you want to read the earlier posts in this series then you can click on these links to learn why you should file your VA disability claim, then what … [Read more...] about What Happens After Your VA Disability Claim Has Been Approved
What The VA Really Does With Your Disability Claim
This is the final part of a three-post series on why you want to file a VA disability claim (even if you think you're not disabled) and what goes on behind the scenes. The first post explained why you want to file your disability claim, not just how to file it. The second post explained why you should prepare as much of your claim as possible … [Read more...] about What The VA Really Does With Your Disability Claim
What Happens When (Not Just How) You File Your VA Disability Claim
Last week's post explained why you want to file your disability claim, not just how to file it. Now we'll get into why you should prepare as much of your claim as possible up front as a "fully developed" package. It's time (once again) to visit the Veteran Service Officer. Why you want a fully-developed claim The VA is required by law to research … [Read more...] about What Happens When (Not Just How) You File Your VA Disability Claim
Why You File Your Veterans Disability Claim (Not Just How)
"Learn From My Mistakes... Without Repeating Them!" There are roughly eighty-two gazillion websites which will tell you HOW to file your disability claim with the Veterans Administration. (I'll link to some of them.) This post explains WHY you want to file your claim (even when you feel 0% disabled), and why you want to do it as you're … [Read more...] about Why You File Your Veterans Disability Claim (Not Just How)
How NOT to do it: Applying for VA disability years after military separation
[This post is brought to you by "Crew Dog" of OneSickVet.com. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] In a previous post on One Sick Vet, the blogger "Die Fledermaus" showed us a good example of how to prepare for a VA disability claim while still on active duty: going to the … [Read more...] about How NOT to do it: Applying for VA disability years after military separation
