OK, it's been over eights months since I signed up here at our Vancouver, WA Center. In that time I have checked and double checked the benefits available to me from Uncle Sam through his VA. I have found, once again, that there are three major areas of benefits, and they are: housing, education; and medical. And each one has different financial limits based on when you served. The best way to see your individual limits is to go and check out the VA website at: www.gibill.va.gov. I was first introduced to the Housing part when I purchased my first house in 1982. I used it twice since when I moved and purchased my second then third house. Not many problems with that side of benefits. I used my Educational benefits for 1976 until I used them all up by 1986. I was able to complete my BS and two Master's degrees with the financial assistance benefit. So this second major benefit is over for me. Since I have been separated in 1992 from the USAF, I have not had a reason to look into, let alone apply to the third and last major Veteran's benefit, medical. Up until now, I have not seen a reason why. I have been in good health these past 18 years, except to the dreaded 25+ (gain in weight right after one leaves active service and stops their exercise program just to relax. However that 25+ has grown over the years to almost 75. That plus everyone in this organization has said that I should apply ASAP, I started the process this past September. At first it looked real simple, go on-line to the VA website, click on the "Enroll/Update Medical Benefits" link, fill out their forms, and then send them in along with a copy of my DD214. A month later I get a letter from the local PDX VA Center that my DD214 don't show what my discharge type was and that I would have to get a new one from Uncle Sam. OK, so I contacted HQ USAF, filled out their forms and got two certified copies (four total since I had been both Enlisted and an Officer) with two more weeks. Sent in that proof to the VA and then they sent me a card stating that my next step was to schedule an introduction physical at the local Vancouver Center. OK, got that done and went in November and had my physical and met my assigned doctor. Then went over to the VA office within the Center to get my picture taken for my VA card. Not that simple, after I checked in they told me that had made $1,100 over the maximum in income last year and that I was NOT eligible at this time. A new VA employee over in Portland had mistakenly approved me and set up my physical which I wasn't suppose to have yet. So they gave me some more forms and to me to wait until after 1/1/10 to reapply with new income numbers and add in my 22 year old son in as a dependent since he moved back in with us this past Spring. OK, that was only a month away. Now January, I received a bill from the VA Center for the physical that I wasn't suppose to have. I then went and visited Roger Procter (our local VA advocate) to go over what had happen to me so far. He helped my by refilling out my paperwork on-line and gave me a copy to add my son's SSN to before resubmitting. I just resubmitted and now wait for the next chapter to begin. I also have to apply to the VA for a disability rating, but I am waiting to see if I can get my VA without one for now. I'll keep you posted as things happen. As for Resources that I found on the way, well Roger is one of them and my brothers and sisters in this organization are others. I've found several others, my county and state have websites and individuals to talk too. I've even use out of state support organizations to get answers to some of my questions. I'll let you know of more as I find them. Comments of where else to look?