Perhaps you require traveling to your compensation and pension (C&P) exam. You may be on your way to pick up a service animal or planning to attend rehabilitative care. Maybe you have recently been assigned a VA disability rating of 30% or more.
Did you know there may be VA travel pay reimbursement available for you? And it’s obtainable for a variety of different circumstances.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is authorized to provide eligible Veterans and other beneficiaries related to those Veterans coverage for:
A Veteran is qualified for VA benefits regarding travel expenses if they meet one of the following criteria:
Non-Veterans are qualified for travel benefits if they meet one of the following criteria:
As of 2024, the VA will reimburse round-trip mileage at 41.5 cents per mile if the travel is related to approved healthcare expenses.
The VA requires a small deductible before reimbursing you for travel-related expenses.
The current (2024) deductible is $3 one-way or $6 round-trip, up to $18 per month. If you surpass the $18 deductible, the VA will pay the full cost of your travel for the remainder of the month.
You can apply for the waiver if you cannot afford the required deductible for the VA reimbursement. However, to apply, you must meet one of the following criteria:
Note: If you are currently a 100 percent service-connected disability Veteran who is also receiving Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits, you must request a waiver of the deductible.
Before filing your first claim, you will want to take a few steps to ensure the process goes smoothly.
Filing your VA travel reimbursement claim online may seem daunting, but it’s not as hard as it seems. There are a few steps outlined below.
If you haven’t already from the previous section, you’ll need to set up a electronic funds transfer (EFT) to receive your reimbursement.
There are several different accounts you can use to log in, including:
If you don’t have an account, you can use Login.gov or ID.me to create one and then sign in.
Review your profile and update any information. If you are a caregiver, you will click “Proceed to My Veteran List” and “Select this Veteran.”
You can do this one of two ways:
Review the Beneficiary Travel Agreement Notice and mark that you agree. After you submit the claim, you’ll find it in review status. Your bank should receive your payment within 3-5 business days. Remember, you must submit your claim within 30 days of your appointment.
If you need further instructions, the VA has a great guide.
Yes! To do this, you must fill out a Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses, on the Department of Veterans Affairs website (VA Form 10-3542) and submit it by mail, email, or fax or visit a VA Facility.
You are eligible if you can meet at least one of the following criteria:
You will need to provide documentation of your expenses. Eligible veterans will be covered for these fees.
These types of transport to a VA health facility or approved non-VA clinic are covered as a special mode transportation reimbursement. You must meet the eligibility requirements listed above, but you can be eligible for this benefit.
The VA will deposit your reimbursement through electronic funds transfer (EFT) to your bank, unless you have decided to make other payment arrangements.
Call BTSSS toll-free call center at 855-574-7292 (TTY: 711)
You can also learn more about Veteran Disability Benefits through our website as well as VA federal government websites.
Claire Szewczyk is a Digital Content Coordinator for Hill & Ponton, PA in Florida. She was a former US Airforce civilian employee, who worked at Hill Air Force Base, in Layton, UT as a flight testing administrator. She has also spent several years working with the Department of Veterans Affairs audiology programs in Salt Lake City, UT and Pocatello, ID. She enjoys working with the Veteran population and keeping them up to date with information they need the most.