As we observe Veterans Day, it is estimated that there are 1,500 children born with Spina Bifida to Vietnam veterans. Fewer than half of these children, who are now adults themselves, are enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program (SBHCBP).

If you have Spina Bifida and are the natural child of a Vietnam veteran or a veteran who served in Korea or Thailand, you may qualify to receive health care benefits, monetary allowances, and employment training. This brief video explains how to learn more about the SBHCBP and how to apply for benefits. SBA would like to thank our friends Maxim Healthcare Services for sharing this information.

For a deeper explanation of the SBHCBP, watch this 15 minute video: VA Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program

Thanks to a new law that became active on October 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will proactively reach out to veterans’ children to make sure they are getting eligible benefits. The current law provides health care benefits, monetary allowances, and employment training to eligible children of veterans who were in Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand born with Spina Bifida. The benefits last for the life of the child, and are not affected by the death of their parent.

The bipartisan bill was led by Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) with original cosponsors Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL). The House version of the bill was led by Representative Jim Baird of Indiana’s 4th district.
To read more about the bill, visit https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/112/text