Travel Meals Lodging Reimbursement What you need to know for this Benefit

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Travel, Meals, Lodging Reimbursement! What you need to know for this Benefit. • Eligibility for general health care travel reimbursement • For Veterans • As a Veteran, you may be eligible for reimbursement if you meet the requirements listed here. • This must be true: • You’re traveling for care at a VA health facility or for VA-approved care at a non-VA health facility in your community. • And at least one of these must also be true: • You have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher, or • You’re traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, even if your VA disability rating is less than 30%, or • You receive a VA pension, or • You have an income that’s below the maximum annual VA pension rate, or • You can’t afford to pay for your travel, as defined by our guidelines, or • You’re traveling for one of these reasons: A scheduled VA claim exam (also called a compensation and pension, or C P, exam), to get a service dog, or for VA-approved transplant care • For caregivers • We may pay for transportation and related lodging and meals for non-Veterans if the person meets any of these requirements. • At least one of these must be true: • The person is your family caregiver under the National Caregiver Program traveling to receive caregiver training or to support your care, or • The person is your medically required attendant traveling with you to support your care, or • The person is your transplant care donor or support person • We may also pay for care for an allied beneficiary when the appropriate foreign government agency has authorized their care, or for the beneficiary of another federal agency when that agency has approved their care. • What to do before you file your first claim • Set up direct deposit. We can then deposit your reimbursement into your bank account. • Learn how to set up direct deposit for VA travel pay reimbursement • Keep your receipts for all transportation and approved meals or lodging. And track your mileage to and from appointments. • Find out what expenses we pay for and current mileage rates • Be sure to file your claim on time. You must file within 30 days of the appointment or of when you become eligible for reimbursement. File a new claim for each appointment. • Get step-by-step instructions for how to file a travel pay claim online • Questions you may have about filing your claim • Collapse all - • Can I file a claim by mail or in person? • Yes. You can also file your claim by mail or in person at the VA facility where you received care. To do this, you’ll need to fill out a Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses (VA Form 10-3542). • Get VA Form 10-3542 to download • Read the statements and certifications carefully. Then sign and date your form. Mail or take your completed form and receipts in person to the VA facility where you received care. If you mail your claim, we consider the postmark date the date of submission. • Find your VA health facility • • Can I get reimbursed for traveling to get treatment at a special disability rehabilitation center? • You may be eligible for reimbursement if you meet at least one of the requirements listed here. • One of these must be true: • You need in-patient care, or • You’re getting temporary lodging approved by VA • Note: Special disability rehabilitation centers include facilities such as clinics that provide care for spinal cord injuries, vision loss or blindness, or prosthetics rehabilitation. • • If I travel with another Veteran or use a free transportation service, am I still eligible for reimbursement? • If you travel together with another Veteran • You’re eligible for reimbursement only if you meet at least one of these requirements. • At least one of these must be true: • You’re the owner of the vehicle used for travel, or • You share a vehicle, like a taxi, with other Veterans and pay your own fare, or • You pay another Veteran to take you to an appointment • You’ll need to provide a receipt for your expenses. If you’re eligible for reimbursement, we’ll pay the mileage rate or actual expense, whichever is less. • If you use a free transportation service • You’re only eligible for reimbursement for any travel you may have had to get to and from your home to where you were picked up or dropped off by the service. • Free transportation services may include the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) system, VA Veterans Transportation Service (VTS), or other no-cost city or state transportation. • • What if I need transport by ambulance, wheelchair van, or other special type of vehicle? • These types of transport are covered under special mode transportation reimbursement. You may be eligible for reimbursement if you meet the requirements listed here. • This must be true: • You’re a Veteran traveling for care at a VA health facility or for VA-approved care at a facility in your community. • More at https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-re...

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