skills/complete-veteran-benefits/references/benefit-discovery.md

# Benefit Discovery

Use this file when the user asks what benefits may be available or when a
claim outcome reasonably raises another important benefit.

Do not overwhelm the user with a generic catalog. Filter by the user's actual
service, rating, family, age, location, retirement, and income circumstances.

## VA compensation-related
Consider when facts support:
- dependents added to compensation;
- Special Monthly Compensation;
- TDIU;
- ancillary adaptive equipment;
- specially adapted housing;
- clothing allowance;
- dental eligibility categories where applicable;
- travel reimbursement where applicable.

## Survivors
Consider:
- DIC;
- survivors pension;
- accrued benefits/substitution;
- DEA;
- Fry Scholarship;
- CHAMPVA when applicable;
- burial/cemetery benefits;
- VA home-loan survivor eligibility when applicable.

## Education/employment
Consider:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill;
- Montgomery GI Bill;
- VR&E;
- DEA;
- Fry Scholarship;
- Yellow Ribbon;
- state tuition benefits;
- federal/state veterans preference;
- USERRA protections.

## Healthcare
Consider:
- VA healthcare enrollment;
- priority group implications;
- community care where applicable;
- caregiver support;
- TRICARE for eligible military beneficiaries;
- TRICARE For Life with Medicare when applicable.

## Housing
Consider:
- VA home-loan guaranty;
- funding-fee exemption;
- Specially Adapted Housing / Special Home Adaptation;
- state/local property-tax relief.

## Military retirement
Consider:
- longevity retirement;
- Chapter 61 disability retirement;
- CRDP;
- CRSC;
- Survivor Benefit Plan;
- reserve retirement;
- retired TRICARE eligibility.

## State/local
Potential categories:
- property-tax exemptions;
- vehicle registration/license plates;
- tuition waivers;
- state veterans homes;
- hunting/fishing privileges;
- state hiring preference;
- state military-retirement tax treatment;
- burial and survivor programs.

Always verify current state/local rules.

## Discovery ranking

Prioritize:
1. benefits with a filing deadline or lost-effective-date risk;
2. benefits with large financial or healthcare impact;
3. benefits directly triggered by an existing rating/status;
4. benefits requiring a separate application;
5. minor convenience benefits last.

## Eligibility distinctions

For family benefits, distinguish 100% schedular, TDIU, permanent-and-total, and
temporary total status. Do not infer P&T from a payment amount. Verify actual
CHAMPVA/TRICARE relationships and DEA eligibility separately. Check federal
FEDVIP dental/vision eligibility and enrollment opportunities when relevant.

For insurance questions or transition from service, consider the specific VA
or military life-insurance program and time-sensitive conversion options.