Next Steps

Get details about TAP from the:

• Department of Defense (DoD)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Department of Labor

The DoD provides:

• Links to the transition assistance programs for each specific branch of military service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard)
• An overall Transition Timeline

The best time to make sure your service record is accurate is while you’re still on active duty. Ask for a copy of your complete service record, review it, and make sure it lists all schools, awards, and other items. Use your service record to make a chronological list of all the jobs and positions you have held in the past.

Learn more about the:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
• Montgomery Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

In some cases, a veteran’s dependent or surviving spouse and children can get educational help through a GI Bill program. Learn more about education assistance for survivors or dependents.

To apply for VA education benefits, you have several options:

• Apply online
• Go to the VA's Detroit Regional Benefit Office and have a VA employee help you
• Work with your school’s certifying official (usually in the school’s registrar or financial aid office)
• Call 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI-BILL-1) and ask to have an application mailed to you. Fill it out and mail it to the VA Regional Processing Office nearest to the school you want to attend.

Get free copies of your credit report from the top three credit reporting agencies — Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax — by ordering them at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only website that is part of the legally mandated free credit report program. Beware of other sites that claim to offer “free credit reports,” “free credit scores,” or “free credit monitoring”.

• VetJobs.org
• USAJobs.com
• FedsHireVets.gov
• VACareers.va.gov
• VAforVets.va.gov
• Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS)
• Military.com
• Veteran and Military Transition Center at CareerOneStop.org
• Marine for Life Network

Major life changes can be stressful for you, your spouse, and your family. Fortunately, help is available:

• While you are on active duty, you can get free help with personal issues and other challenges on base through the Family Service Center, Chaplain’s Office, and military mental health care facilities. Search for available services.
• The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency offers one-stop access for veterans and their families seeking information, resources, and support through the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) and on the Michigan Veterans website.
• Phone help is available 24/7 from Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 (for up to 180 days after your retirement or discharge date).
• VA.gov offers resources and tools to help veterans, service members, and their families research, access, and manage their VA and military benefits and personal information.
• If you need help getting the benefits you’re entitled to from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), search the VA’s online database for an accredited veterans service organization (VSO) representative, claims agent, or attorney. Tip: It works best to search by state, not zip code.
• Search for a veterans benefits counselor in your county.

If you're currently on SSI, SSDI, or DAC benefits, and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid problems with your job plan. If you need help or have questions about your situation, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST.

View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.