Every year, Michigan veterans and families leave real, earned support unclaimed — not because they don’t qualify, but because nobody told them it existed or the paperwork felt like a wall. Here are five benefits that get overlooked again and again, and how to find out what’s yours.
1. Michigan’s property-tax relief for disabled veterans
Michigan exempts the home of eligible disabled veterans — and certain surviving spouses — from property taxes. For a household on a fixed income, that can mean thousands of dollars back every year. Yet many who qualify never file the paperwork. Eligibility rules apply, so it’s worth checking with your local assessor or the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
2. The Michigan Veteran Trust Fund
Hit an unexpected rough patch — a car repair you need to keep your job, a utility shutoff, a rent gap? The Michigan Veteran Trust Fund provides emergency grants for veterans facing a short-term financial hardship. It’s administered through county offices, and it exists for exactly these moments.
3. Transferring your GI Bill to a spouse or kids
Didn’t use all of your Post-9/11 GI Bill? You may be able to transfer the unused education benefit to your spouse or children. The catch: this usually has to be set up while you’re still serving, with service requirements attached — so if you’re approaching separation, look into it now rather than later.
4. VA pension and Aid & Attendance for older veterans
This one is hugely underused. Wartime veterans with limited income may qualify for a monthly VA pension — and if you need help with everyday activities or are housebound, the Aid & Attendance add-on can increase it further. It can be a lifeline for aging veterans and the families caring for them.
5. Survivor benefits (DIC) that go unclaimed
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly, often tax-free benefit for eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members or veterans. Too many surviving spouses never apply, simply because no one walked them through it during an already impossible time.
How to find out what’s actually yours
The common thread? These are already yours — you just have to claim them, and the claiming is the hard part. A few places to start:
- Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency — or call 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838)
- VA.gov for federal benefits, pension, and survivor claims
- Us — we’ll help you figure out what you qualify for and actually file for it
Eligibility rules are real, and every situation is different — so don’t rule yourself out based on a rumor or a bad experience years ago. See how we help, or start one free, confidential conversation and let us do the digging with you.
Stuck in the maze? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
We help Michigan veterans, service members, and families connect to the benefits, care, and community they’ve earned — free and confidential. One conversation starts it, with a real person on the other end.