Veterans Assistance

Any Veteran with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should immediately contact their local VA facility. VA urges Veterans to call before visiting – you can find contact information for your closest VA facility.

Alternatively, Veterans can sign into MyHealtheVet to send a secure message to VA or use telehealth options to explain their condition and receive a prompt diagnosis.

Upon arriving at VA, all patients will be screened for flu-like symptoms before they enter in order to protect other patients and staff. A VA healthcare professional will assist you with next steps once this screening process is complete.

At this time, VA is urging all visitors who do not feel well to please postpone their visits to VA facilities.

Help is available for Veterans in crisis by calling the Veteran Crisis Line at 1 (800) 273-8255 and pressing 1, at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or by texting 838255.

Many VA facilities and clinics are now offering COVID-19 vaccines to these 2 groups:

  • All Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care or currently receive care at VA, and
  • Designated primary and secondary family caregivers who are enrolled in our Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and come with the Veteran to get a vaccine

    • For more information about COVID-19 vaccines at VA facilities, click here: https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/


    The CDC believes COVID-19 symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Avoid exposure and avoid exposing others to an infection with these simple steps.

    • Learn to use VA Video Connect through the VA mobile app store or by contacting your VA care team, before any urgent problems arise.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An easy way to mark the time is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice while scrubbing.
    • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    • Stay home when you are sick or becoming sick.
    • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (not your hands) and throw the tissue in the trash.
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
    • Getting a flu shot is recommended.

    The CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, has many provisions that will impact Veterans and expand access to care. For more information on how Veterans will be impacted by the CARES Act, click here.

    More COVID-19 information for Veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be found here: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/

    Economic Impact Payments

    On March 17, 2021, the IRS and the Treasury Department began delivering a third round of targeted Economic Impact Payments as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to millions of Americans, including 891,039 West Virginia households. These payments – similar to the first and second round of EIPs – will be automatic, including for individuals who have not filed a tax return, but who receive Social Security retirement, survivor, disability (SSDI) benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Veterans Affairs benefits.
    This third round of EIPs will be larger for most individuals compared to prior payments. Most families will get $1,400 per person, including for all the dependents claimed on their tax return. This means a single person with no dependents will get $1,400, while a family of four (married couple with two dependents) will get $5,600.
    No action is needed by most taxpayers. The third round of payments will be based on the taxpayer’s latest processed tax return, from either 2019 or 2020. This includes anyone who successfully registered online at IRS.gov using the agency’s Non-Filers tool last year, or who submitted a special simplified tax return to the IRS.
    If the IRS has received and processed a taxpayer’s 2020 tax return, the agency will make the calculation based on that return.

    Other resources

    Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling) - https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/

    VA Vaccine Information - https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/ 

    ** As we receive further information, we will continue to update this page.

    Updated April 19, 2021

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