Written & Reviewed by
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Bottom line: Delaware senior veterans, older surviving spouses, and family helpers should start with the Delaware Office of Veterans Services at 1-302-739-2792. Ask for a state Veteran Service Officer. If housing is unsafe tonight, call 1-877-424-3838. If there is a crisis, call 988 and press 1.
Contents
- Urgent help
- Quick start
- Free Delaware claims help
- Delaware veteran benefits
- Care, housing, and rides
- Legal help
- Documents to gather
- Phone scripts
- FAQs
Urgent help for Delaware senior veterans
Do not wait for a benefits claim if the veteran has no safe place to sleep, may lose housing, lacks food, or is in crisis.
| Need today | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Mental health crisis | Call 988 and press 1 | Veterans Crisis Line help. You do not need to be enrolled in VA care. |
| Homeless or near homeless | Call 1-877-424-3838 | VA homeless help in Delaware, shelter help, and HUD-VASH screening. |
| Emergency bill | Call 1-302-739-2792 | Ask about the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund and what proof is needed. |
| Food, Medicaid, or LIHEAP | Use Delaware ASSIST | Apply for state benefits while veteran benefits are being checked. |
| Not sure where to go | Call 2-1-1 | Ask for veteran housing, food, utility, and local nonprofit referrals. |
How to start without wasting time
Delaware is small, but veteran help still runs through several doors. Start with one clear plan.
- Call a free service officer: Use the Delaware service officers page or call 1-302-739-2792.
- Name the top need: Say housing, food, care, benefits, taxes, burial, or legal help first.
- Ask about state benefits: Do not only ask about federal VA benefits.
- Keep proof: Save claim numbers, emails, receipts, and names.
- Use backup senior help: If veteran help does not fit, use our Delaware senior help guide.
Free Delaware claims and benefits help
The Delaware Office of Veterans Services says its Veteran Service Officers are State employees trained and accredited by VA. They help veterans, dependents, and survivors with claims, health care, burial and survivor benefits, housing, transportation, records, and state benefits.
Where to start: Call 1-302-739-2792 or use the OVS contact page. The main office is at 802 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 100, Dover, DE 19904. Services are provided statewide.
Reality check: Do not pay a company to start a basic VA claim before you ask for free accredited help. If a claim is already denied or complex, you may still need a legal clinic or accredited appeal help.
Delaware veteran benefits to check first
Delaware Veterans Trust Fund
The Veterans Trust Fund helps Delaware veterans and families with verified emergency financial hardship. Applicants must live in Delaware, have an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions, show emergency need, and show how help will support stability.
What it may help with: The state lists emergency bills such as rent, utilities, and medical bills. The fund is donation-based, so approval is not guaranteed.
What to send: A complete packet needs the DD214, Delaware ID, bills or invoices, proof of income such as Social Security or VA benefits, and two recent bank statements. Incomplete applications are not processed. Financial assistance applications go to DOS_OVS@delaware.gov, not the VSO email address.
Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit
Some Delaware homeowners with a serious service-connected disability can reduce school property tax on a primary home. The state disabled tax credit page says qualified veterans may get a credit against 100% of non-vocational school district property tax. Applications for the upcoming tax year are due April 30.
Who may qualify: The veteran must have a 100% VA rating or 100% disability compensation due to service-connected permanent and total disability based on individual unemployability. The veteran must also have held legal domicile in Delaware for the past 3 years.
Where to apply: Apply through the county. The state lists New Castle County at 1-302-395-5520, Kent County at 1-302-744-2401, and Sussex County at 1-302-855-7871. You cannot claim both this credit and the Senior School Property Tax Credit. Our Delaware tax relief guide can help you compare questions.
Other Delaware veteran benefits
Use the state veterans benefits page as a checklist. Older veterans should ask OVS about the $3,000 yearly paraplegic veteran pension, the 50% state park vehicle entrance discount, no-fee hunting and fishing licenses for veterans with a 60% or higher VA disability rating, one-vehicle registration fee relief for some disabled veterans with VA adaptive equipment eligibility, free notary service at headquarters, and a no-cost veteran death certificate for eligible next of kin.
Reality check: These benefits are not automatic. Ask which proof matches your rating, discharge status, and Delaware residency.
Care, housing, rides, and burial planning
Delaware Veterans Home in Milford
The Delaware Veterans Home is a state long-term care home in Milford. The current home page says it has 144 skilled nursing beds. The admissions page says applicants must meet minimum service rules, live in Delaware for at least one year before applying, and have a medically determined need for long-term care.
Where to apply: Send forms to Delaware Veterans Home, 100 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford, DE 19963, fax 1-302-424-6033, or DOSDVH_Admissions@delaware.gov. Call 1-302-424-6000 first.
Reality check: Placement depends on care need, records, beds, and payment source. Ask early about dementia care, Medicaid, Medicare rehab, VA payment, private pay, and spousal admission. For broader planning, see our Delaware ADRC guide.
VA health care in Delaware
VA Wilmington health care serves Delaware through the Wilmington VA Medical Center and clinics in Dover and Georgetown. The VA locations page lists Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown sites.
What to ask: Ask about primary care, prescriptions, mental health, caregiver support, transportation, and geriatric services. If you need dental help, check the local VA first, then use our VA dental guide.
Housing help for veterans
If the veteran is homeless or at risk, start with the VA, not a general waitlist. VA Wilmington’s homeless Veteran care page says it can help with immediate food and shelter, transitional and permanent housing, case management, justice re-entry, financial support to prevent homelessness, addiction treatment, depression care, and health or dental care.
HUD’s Delaware page says veterans should contact the Wilmington VA Medical Center and mention Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, often called HUD-VASH, or call 1-877-424-3838. It also lists Delaware Centralized Intake at 1-833-FIND-BED. For non-veteran housing steps, use our Delaware housing help guide.
Rides to VA care
The Wilmington VA page says VA works with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs directors on van transportation for veterans and authorized caregivers. Call before the appointment and ask about DAV vans, shuttle routes, beneficiary travel, and paratransit.
Burial and cemetery help
Delaware has Veterans Memorial Cemeteries in Bear and Millsboro. The state cemetery eligibility page says eligible veterans, spouses, and dependent children may be interred there. Eligibility includes Delaware residency rules and service rules.
Where to ask: The OVS contact page lists the Bear cemetery at 2465 Chesapeake City Road and the Millsboro cemetery at 26669 Patriots Way. Ask about pre-qualification, forms, DD214 proof, spouse eligibility, and scheduling rules.
Legal help for Delaware veterans and older spouses
If the issue is a denied VA claim, discharge upgrade, or estate document, ask about the Widener Delaware Law Veterans Law Clinic. It helps mainly low-income and disabled veterans and dependents with VA appeals. It also handles some discharge upgrades and simple wills.
For eviction, debt, public benefits, abuse protection, or elder law, use Delaware Legal Help Link. Delaware Courts also lists civil legal aid contacts, including Community Legal Aid Society and Delaware Volunteer Legal Services.
Reality check: Legal aid offices screen for income, case type, county, and urgency. If one office cannot help, ask where to apply next.
Documents to gather before you call
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| DD214 or discharge paper | Needed for most veteran benefits, burial, records, and Trust Fund help. |
| Photo ID and Delaware address | Needed for state benefits, tax credit, and many applications. |
| VA rating letter | Needed for disabled veteran tax, licenses, and some state benefits. |
| Income proof | Shows Social Security, pension, VA pay, wages, or other money coming in. |
| Bank statements | Often needed for emergency hardship and income-based programs. |
| Unpaid bills | Shows rent, mortgage, utility, medical, or insurance amounts due. |
| Medical records | Helps with claims, long-term care, home care, and VA exams. |
If the DD214 is missing, the Delaware records page says OVS may have a copy for some Delaware veterans. If not, OVS can help request records from the National Archives.
Phone scripts you can use
- OVS: “I am a senior veteran in Delaware. I need help checking state veteran benefits, VA claims, records, taxes, and local help. Can I speak with a Veteran Service Officer?”
- Trust Fund: “I have an emergency bill and I live in Delaware. I can send my DD214, Delaware ID, income proof, bank statements, and the bill. What else is required?”
- Tax office: “I have a 100% VA disability rating or TDIU. I want to ask about the Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit before the April 30 deadline.”
- Housing: “I am a veteran and may lose housing. I need VA homeless help, HUD-VASH screening, and shelter or prevention help today.”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting on a VA claim while rent, food, or utility problems get worse.
- Sending a Trust Fund application without bank statements, income proof, or the bill.
- Missing the April 30 tax credit deadline.
- Assuming a spouse is covered by every veteran benefit.
- Paying for claims help before calling a free accredited service officer.
What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
If a VA claim is denied, keep the letter and ask a service officer about review options before the deadline passes. If a Delaware benefit is delayed, ask which document is missing. If housing, care, or food is urgent, call 2-1-1 while the veteran application continues. For Delaware ASSIST issues, our ASSIST guide explains how to save proof.
Spanish summary
Resumen en español: Los veteranos mayores en Delaware y sus familias pueden llamar a la Oficina de Servicios para Veteranos al 1-302-739-2792. Pida hablar con un oficial de servicio. Pregunte por beneficios estatales, ayuda con reclamos de VA, el Fondo de Emergencia para Veteranos, alivio de impuestos, vivienda, transporte, cementerio para veteranos y ayuda legal. Si no tiene vivienda o puede perderla pronto, llame al 1-877-424-3838. Si hay una crisis de salud mental, llame al 988 y oprima 1.
FAQs
What is the first call for a Delaware senior veteran?
Call the Delaware Office of Veterans Services at 1-302-739-2792 and ask for a Veteran Service Officer. Ask about both Delaware benefits and VA benefits.
Does Delaware have emergency money for veterans?
Yes, the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund may help with verified emergency hardship. Funds are limited, approval is not guaranteed, and a complete application is required.
Who gets the Delaware Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit?
It is for qualified Delaware homeowners with 100% VA disability compensation due to service-connected permanent and total disability, including individual unemployability, or a 100% VA rating. The veteran must also meet Delaware domicile rules.
Can an older spouse use Delaware veteran help?
Sometimes. Spouses and survivors may need help with burial, survivor benefits, CHAMPVA, legal papers, or housing. Start with OVS and bring the veteran’s DD214, marriage proof, and death certificate if the veteran has died. Our CHAMPVA spouse guide can help with health coverage questions.
Where should a homeless Delaware veteran start?
Call 1-877-424-3838 first. Also ask VA Wilmington homeless services about HUD-VASH, case management, shelter, and housing prevention help.
Does the Delaware Veterans Home take every veteran?
No. Applicants must meet service, Delaware residency, medical need, paperwork, and payment review rules. Call admissions before sending forms.
About this guide
We check this guide against official government, local agency, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency.
Program rules, funding, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply.
See something wrong or outdated? Email info@grantsforseniors.org.
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Next review date: August 7, 2026
Choose your state to see senior assistance programs, benefits, and local help options.
About the Authors