Veteran Transition Support

At a glance

Free help filing your VA claim

This is the one to know first, because people pay for help they can get for free. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations file and manage VA claims at no charge.

• An accredited VSO representative can gather evidence, file your claim, and deal with the VA for you, always free on benefit claims.
• Well-known VSOs include the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). You do not have to be a member to use them.
• Your state or county Veterans Service Officer also files claims free and can point you to state benefits.
• Confirm anyone is VA-accredited before you sign, using the VA accredited representative tool. Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge a fee, but only after an initial decision, and never just to file.

Jobs and training

• Transition Assistance Program (TAP): the required DoD program, usually starting about a year before you leave. It covers benefits, employment, and financial-planning workshops. dodtap.mil
• DoD SkillBridge: lets you do a civilian internship, apprenticeship, or training program during your last up to 180 days of service while still on military pay. skillbridge.osd.mil
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31): for those with a service-connected disability and an employment handicap. It provides counseling, training, education, and a subsistence allowance. va.gov VR&E
• Hire Heroes USA: free job-search coaching and resume help for veterans and military spouses. hireheroesusa.org

Counseling and readjustment

• Vet Centers: community-based VA centers that offer free readjustment counseling for combat veterans and others, individual, group, and family, often outside a hospital setting. Call the Vet Center Call Center any time at 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387). vetcenter.va.gov
• Veterans Crisis Line: if you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat online, any time. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. veteranscrisisline.net

Emergency financial help

If money gets tight during a transition, these organizations provide grants or interest-free loans. Many pay a landlord or utility directly.

• Your branch relief society: Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society, and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance provide interest-free loans and grants for emergencies.
• VFW Unmet Needs: grants of up to $1,500 for essentials, which do not have to be repaid. vfw.org
• Operation Homefront: critical financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other essentials. operationhomefront.org
• American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance: help for veteran families with minor children. legion.org
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): a VA program that helps very low-income veterans avoid homelessness. va.gov SSVF

Family and community

• Fisher House Foundation: free lodging for families while a service member or veteran gets medical care. fisherhouse.org
• USO: transition programs and community support at locations worldwide. uso.org

Free financial help on your installation (and up to a year after)

Before you leave, use the help you have already paid for with your service. Every branch runs a family support center with certified personal financial counselors who work with you on budgeting, debt, benefits, and the money side of separation, at no cost.

• Army: Army Community Service (ACS), Financial Readiness Program.
• Air Force and Space Force: the Military and Family Readiness Center (M&FRC), Personal Financial Counselor.
• Navy: the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC).
• Marine Corps: Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS), Personal Financial Management Program.
• Coast Guard: Health, Safety and Work-Life (HSWL) and CG SUPRT.

These centers serve members of any branch, and Military OneSource offers the same free financial counseling by phone or secure chat, including for up to 365 days after you separate or retire, at 800-342-9647. For a national nonprofit option, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers low-cost or free credit counseling.

Source: Military OneSource and each service's family readiness program.

Free legal help: wills, powers of attorney, and more

Nearly every installation has a legal assistance office staffed by military attorneys (JAG) who handle personal civil matters at no cost. You can use any branch's office, not only your own.

• Common help: a will, a power of attorney, an advance medical directive (living will), lease and contract review, consumer and debt problems, family-law advice, and notary service.
• Eligible: active-duty members of all branches, Guard and Reserve on federal active-duty orders of 30 or more days, military retirees, and their dependents with a valid ID. Certain DoD civilians and contractors deploying or stationed overseas can receive a will and power of attorney.
• They do not handle criminal (UCMJ) matters or your outside business, and generally do not represent you in court.
• Find the nearest office with the Armed Forces Legal Assistance locator at legalassistance.law.af.mil, or call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647.

Source: U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance and Military OneSource. Authority: 10 U.S.C. 1044.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay to file a VA claim?
No. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations like the VFW, DAV, and American Legion, and your state or county Veterans Service Officer, file claims for free. Attorneys and claims agents may charge a fee, but only after an initial decision, never just to file.

What is SkillBridge?
A DoD program that lets you do civilian job training or an internship during your last up to 180 days of service while still receiving military pay, so you can build civilian experience before you separate.

Who qualifies for VR&E?
Service members and veterans with a service-connected disability and an employment handicap. It provides counseling, training, education, and a subsistence allowance. Apply through the VA.

What is a Vet Center?
A community-based VA center offering free readjustment counseling, individual, group, and family, for combat veterans and others. Reach the Vet Center Call Center any time at 1-877-WAR-VETS.

Where do I start if money is tight right now?
Your branch relief society and programs like VFW Unmet Needs and Operation Homefront provide emergency grants or interest-free loans. Your state or county Veterans Service Officer can point you to what you qualify for.

Sources

• Accredited representatives and free VA claims help: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Transition Assistance Program: DoD TAP
• DoD SkillBridge: skillbridge.osd.mil
• Veteran Readiness and Employment: va.gov VR&E
• Vet Centers and the Veterans Crisis Line: vetcenter.va.gov

Programs and organizations verified July 10, 2026. Details and eligibility change over time, so confirm current information at each official source. StandWatch is an independent resource for the military community, not affiliated with or endorsed by the VA, DoD, or any government agency, and lists these organizations as resources, not endorsements. This guide is general information, not financial, legal, or medical advice.