Family Benefits

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

The TAPS program offers help, hope, and healing to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in America’s Armed Forces.

Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund

The Military Family Assistance Fund (MFA) can provide financial support to Louisiana Veterans and their families when they experience financial hardships. Certain criteria applies. In order to receive funds through MFA, a completed application must be submitted to LDVA including all required supporting documentation. MFA can pay up to $10,000.00 for one claim per active-duty order in a twelve month period.

MFA is funded by private donations from individuals and corporations. Visit our How to Help page to donate to the MFA fund.

• Qualifications

  To qualify for assistance from the MFA Fund, Veterans and activated military applicants must meet certain minimum active-duty service requirements, and have been honorably discharged.  Immediate family members of eligible Veterans and activated military personnel may also qualify. Completed applications must include all supporting documents requested on the form.

• How To Apply

  Apply for MFA funds by clicking the button below. For more information, you may call toll free 1-877-432-8982.

Louisiana Title 29 Education Benefit

Louisiana offers educational benefits for children, spouses and surviving spouses of veterans who meet certain requirements. For living veterans, children are eligible; for veterans who are POW/MIA, spouses are eligible; and for deceased veterans, surviving spouses and children are eligible.

Eligibility for Title 29 education benefits require that veterans meet residency requirements under La. R.S. 29:288, and as amended by Act 74 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Eligibility requirements are different for living and deceased veterans.

To apply, contact your parish veterans service office to schedule an appointment with a veterans assistance counselor. Applicants may view a listing of acceptable documents for residency requirements prior to visiting a parish service office.

VA Guaranteed Home Loans

May be used by veterans and unmarried surviving spouses of those who died of a service-connected disease or disability, to purchase or refinance a home.

• How to Apply

  Visit your local VAC. Find your nearest LDVA Parish Service Office here.

Louisiana National Guard Disability and Death Benefits

Louisiana National Guard members suffering a permanent and total disability while on federal or state active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 may be eligible for the $100,000/$50,000 state disability benefit. Beneficiaries of record of Louisiana National Guard members killed in action may be eligible for the $250,000 federal death benefit.*

There are two levels of the state disability benefit:

• • If the guard member’s rating was granted on the final adjudication of the first claim, the guard member may be eligible for the $100,000 benefit.
  • If the guard member’s rating was granted on a later decision, the guard member may be eligible for the $50,000 benefit.

A Louisiana National Guard member must meet each of the following requirements for qualifying periods of service:

• Service in the Louisiana National Guard after Sept. 11, 2001
• Activated with the Louisiana National Guard for federal service on orders under 32 U.S.C. 502(f) or 10 U.S.C. 12301, 12302 or 12303
• Activated with the Louisiana National Guard during any declared national emergency or contingency operation as defined by 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13), or during any state emergency declared by the governor of the state of Louisiana
• Have honorable or under honorable conditions discharge for all periods of federal and state service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Louisiana National Guard

NOTE: A guard member who is injured during duty in any training status (except training pursuant to 32 U.S.C. 502(f)(2)(A)) is not eligible for the state disability benefit.

*The Louisiana National Guard processes all federal death benefits as well as workers’ compensation claims. For workers’ compensation claims, a guard member must have a permanent and total rating of 100% through workers’ compensation if the guard member was injured during state-activated duty pursuant to La. R.S. 29:7. For more information about the federal death benefit and workers’ compensation, contact the guard member’s Army or Air Guard unit.

• How To Apply

  For more information about the application process, or to apply, email langclaims@la.gov.

VA Work Study Program

This program is available to qualifying Veterans or their dependents who are utilizing VA education benefits and are currently enrolled as full-time students. For more information, please visit: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/

• How to Apply

  Visit your local VAC. Find your nearest LDVA Veterans Parish Service Office here.

Survivors and Dependents Education (Chapter 35)

Provides education and training opportunities to dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. Eligibility requirements apply.

• How to Apply

  Visit your local VAC. Find your nearest LDVA Veterans Parish Service Office here.