VA travel pay: get reimbursed for your appointments
In this section
If you drive to VA appointments, or to appointments VA sent you to, there's a good chance VA owes you money for that trip. It's called Beneficiary Travel, and it covers mileage, tolls, parking, and in some cases lodging and meals for travel to VA health care. Most veterans I know have never filed for it, either because they don't know it exists or because they assume it's only for veterans with a high disability rating. It isn't. This is recurring money, appointment after appointment, and it adds up over a year. This guide walks you through exactly who qualifies, what's covered, and how to file, step by step, so you can actually collect it.
What VA travel pay reimburses
Beneficiary Travel pays you back for the cost of getting to and from VA health care, meaning care at a VA medical facility or care VA referred you to in the community. Here's what's covered:
Mileage in your own vehicle, reimbursed at VA's current per-mile rate. This is the everyday claim most people file and it needs no preapproval. VA sets and updates the exact cents-per-mile rate, so confirm the current figure at the official link below.
- Mileage in your own vehicle, reimbursed at VA's current per-mile rate. This is the everyday claim most people file and it needs no preapproval. VA sets and updates the exact cents-per-mile rate, so confirm the current figure at the official link below.
Tolls and parking, also with no preapproval needed.
- Tolls and parking, also with no preapproval needed.
Public or commercial transportation (bus, taxi, rideshare, subway, light rail, train, or even plane) if you get preapproval first.
- Public or commercial transportation (bus, taxi, rideshare, subway, light rail, train, or even plane) if you get preapproval first.
Special mode transportation, like an ambulance or wheelchair van, when medically required and preapproved.
- Special mode transportation, like an ambulance or wheelchair van, when medically required and preapproved.
Meals and lodging, when your trip requires an overnight stay or extended travel and it's preapproved.
- Meals and lodging, when your trip requires an overnight stay or extended travel and it's preapproved.
Confirm the current mileage rate and full expense list any time at Reimbursed VA travel expenses and mileage rate, since VA updates the rate periodically.
Who qualifies (every way to qualify)
You must be traveling for VA care or VA-approved community care, and you must also meet at least one of these categories. Check every one, you may qualify under more than one:
You have a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher (any purpose of travel qualifies, not just travel tied to the rated condition).
- You have a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher (any purpose of travel qualifies, not just travel tied to the rated condition).
You're traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, at any disability rating, even 0%.
- You're traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, at any disability rating, even 0%.
You receive a VA pension.
- You receive a VA pension.
Your income is below the maximum annual VA pension rate, even if you don't currently receive a pension.
- Your income is below the maximum annual VA pension rate, even if you don't currently receive a pension.
You're traveling for a scheduled Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam VA requested.
- You're traveling for a scheduled Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam VA requested.
You're traveling in connection with donating or receiving an organ, tissue, or bone marrow transplant through VA.
- You're traveling in connection with donating or receiving an organ, tissue, or bone marrow transplant through VA.
You need a service dog and are traveling for training or care related to it through VA.
- You need a service dog and are traveling for training or care related to it through VA.
VA has determined you're unable to afford the cost of your travel, under VA's financial-hardship guidelines.
- VA has determined you're unable to afford the cost of your travel, under VA's financial-hardship guidelines.
You're a qualifying caregiver: an approved Family Caregiver under the VA caregiver program, a medically required attendant traveling with a veteran, or a transplant donor or support person.
- You're a qualifying caregiver: an approved Family Caregiver under the VA caregiver program, a medically required attendant traveling with a veteran, or a transplant donor or support person.
If you're not sure which category fits you, file anyway. The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS), the online filing system explained below, checks your eligibility automatically when you submit.
The deductible, explained
Beneficiary Travel has a small deductible, but many veterans qualify to have it waived automatically. Here's the structure:
A standard VA deductible applies per appointment, charged as a one-way amount, with a round trip charged at twice the one-way amount. VA sets the exact dollar figures, so confirm the current amounts at the official link below.
- A standard VA deductible applies per appointment, charged as a one-way amount, with a round trip charged at twice the one-way amount. VA sets the exact dollar figures, so confirm the current amounts at the official link below.
The deductible caps at a set total per calendar month. Once you've paid that monthly cap in deductibles, VA pays 100% of your approved travel costs for the rest of that month.
- The deductible caps at a set total per calendar month. Once you've paid that monthly cap in deductibles, VA pays 100% of your approved travel costs for the rest of that month.
You get an automatic deductible waiver (meaning no deductible at all) if you receive a VA pension, if you're traveling for a scheduled Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam, if you're a non-service-connected veteran whose income is below the maximum annual VA pension rate, or if you're a service-connected veteran whose income is below VA's national health care income limit.
- You get an automatic deductible waiver (meaning no deductible at all) if you receive a VA pension, if you're traveling for a scheduled Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam, if you're a non-service-connected veteran whose income is below the maximum annual VA pension rate, or if you're a service-connected veteran whose income is below VA's national health care income limit.
If you think you qualify for a waiver but it wasn't applied, you can request one in person or in writing at the VA facility where you received care.
- If you think you qualify for a waiver but it wasn't applied, you can request one in person or in writing at the VA facility where you received care.
The current deductible dollar amounts and monthly cap are confirmed at Reimbursed VA travel expenses and mileage rate.
The 30-day filing deadline
File within 30 days of the date you completed your trip. VA's own guidance says claims filed after the 30-day window are usually denied, so don't sit on these. The good news is filing is fast, especially online, so make it a habit: file the claim the same day as the appointment, or that week at the latest. See File and manage travel reimbursement claims for the deadline language directly from VA.
How to file online through the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System via AccessVA (the fast way)
The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) is VA's online portal for submitting and tracking travel claims, and it's the fastest way to get paid, often in a few business days if you use direct deposit. Here's exactly how to use it.
Step 1 - Go to the AccessVA sign-in page for the Veteran Travel Claim Entry system at AccessVA - BTSSS sign-in. Get to that page, then come back here and continue with Step 2.
- Step 1 - Go to the AccessVA sign-in page for the Veteran Travel Claim Entry system at AccessVA - BTSSS sign-in. Get to that page, then come back here and continue with Step 2.
Step 2 - Sign in with one of the accepted credentials: your Login.gov account, your ID.me account, your My HealtheVet account, or your VA PIV (Personal Identity Verification) card. If you don't have any of these yet, create a free Login.gov or ID.me account at the sign-in screen and verify your identity there, then come back here and continue with Step 3.
- Step 2 - Sign in with one of the accepted credentials: your Login.gov account, your ID.me account, your My HealtheVet account, or your VA PIV (Personal Identity Verification) card. If you don't have any of these yet, create a free Login.gov or ID.me account at the sign-in screen and verify your identity there, then come back here and continue with Step 3.
Step 3 - The first time you log in, the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System will have you set up your claimant profile. Confirm your home address (this is what mileage is calculated from) and enter your direct deposit bank account and routing number. Direct deposit is what gets you paid in days instead of weeks, so don't skip it.
- Step 3 - The first time you log in, the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System will have you set up your claimant profile. Confirm your home address (this is what mileage is calculated from) and enter your direct deposit bank account and routing number. Direct deposit is what gets you paid in days instead of weeks, so don't skip it.
Step 4 - Select "file a new claim" (sometimes labeled "create claim") and choose the VA appointment you're claiming travel for from your list of scheduled or completed appointments.
- Step 4 - Select "file a new claim" (sometimes labeled "create claim") and choose the VA appointment you're claiming travel for from your list of scheduled or completed appointments.
Step 5 - Enter your trip details: date of travel, starting address (usually your home), and whether it was a one-way or round trip. The system calculates the mileage reimbursement automatically from the distance to the facility.
- Step 5 - Enter your trip details: date of travel, starting address (usually your home), and whether it was a one-way or round trip. The system calculates the mileage reimbursement automatically from the distance to the facility.
Step 6 - If you're claiming tolls, parking, or preapproved transportation, meals, or lodging, upload your receipts as image or PDF attachments at this step.
- Step 6 - If you're claiming tolls, parking, or preapproved transportation, meals, or lodging, upload your receipts as image or PDF attachments at this step.
Step 7 - Review the claim summary, confirm the deductible shown (or waiver, if you qualify), and submit.
- Step 7 - Review the claim summary, confirm the deductible shown (or waiver, if you qualify), and submit.
Step 8 - The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is self-adjudicating, meaning most mileage-only claims process automatically without a person reviewing them. Check your claim status anytime by logging back into the same AccessVA sign-in link and viewing "my claims."
- Step 8 - The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System is self-adjudicating, meaning most mileage-only claims process automatically without a person reviewing them. Check your claim status anytime by logging back into the same AccessVA sign-in link and viewing "my claims."
Some VA facilities also let you file a mileage-only claim right from your smartphone during check-in for the appointment itself, if you're only claiming mileage from your home in your own vehicle. Ask at the check-in kiosk or front desk whether your facility offers this.
How to file by phone
Step 1 - Call the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System toll-free call center at 855-574-7292 (TTY, text telephone: 711). Hours are Monday through Friday; VA's national page lists 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, though some facility pages list 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., so confirm current hours when you call.
- Step 1 - Call the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System toll-free call center at 855-574-7292 (TTY, text telephone: 711). Hours are Monday through Friday; VA's national page lists 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, though some facility pages list 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., so confirm current hours when you call.
Step 2 - Have ready: the date or dates of your appointment, the VA facility name, your starting address, and any receipts for tolls, parking, or other approved expenses.
- Step 2 - Have ready: the date or dates of your appointment, the VA facility name, your starting address, and any receipts for tolls, parking, or other approved expenses.
Step 3 - The representative will file the claim on your behalf and give you a claim number. Write it down so you can follow up if needed.
- Step 3 - The representative will file the claim on your behalf and give you a claim number. Write it down so you can follow up if needed.
How to file in person or by mail (paper option)
Step 1 - Get VA Form 10-3542, "Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses," at VA Form 10-3542. Get it there, then come back here and continue with Step 2.
- Step 1 - Get VA Form 10-3542, "Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses," at VA Form 10-3542. Get it there, then come back here and continue with Step 2.
Step 2 - Fill in your travel dates, starting address, destination VA facility, and the expenses you're claiming (mileage, tolls, parking, or preapproved lodging and meals).
- Step 2 - Fill in your travel dates, starting address, destination VA facility, and the expenses you're claiming (mileage, tolls, parking, or preapproved lodging and meals).
Step 3 - Attach your receipts for anything other than a plain mileage claim (tolls, parking, transportation, lodging, meals).
- Step 3 - Attach your receipts for anything other than a plain mileage claim (tolls, parking, transportation, lodging, meals).
Step 4 - Either mail the completed form and receipts to the Beneficiary Travel office at the VA facility where you received the care, or bring it in person to that office's beneficiary travel window.
- Step 4 - Either mail the completed form and receipts to the Beneficiary Travel office at the VA facility where you received the care, or bring it in person to that office's beneficiary travel window.
Step 5 - Keep a copy of everything you submit for your own records before you send or hand it in.
- Step 5 - Keep a copy of everything you submit for your own records before you send or hand it in.
The paper route takes longer to process than filing online, so use it only if you can't get online or don't have a Login.gov or ID.me account. The main filing overview, including the mileage-during-check-in option, is at File and manage travel reimbursement claims.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ Confirm you qualify under at least one eligibility category (30% or higher rating, service-connected treatment at any rating, VA pension, low income, Compensation & Pension exam, transplant, service dog, financial hardship, or qualifying caregiver).
☐ Set up (or confirm you already have) a Login.gov, ID.me, or My HealtheVet account, or have your VA PIV (Personal Identity Verification) card ready.
☐ Log in to the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System through AccessVA - BTSSS sign-in and confirm your direct deposit info is on file.
☐ File your claim within 30 days of each appointment, ideally the same day.
☐ Save receipts for tolls, parking, transportation, meals, or lodging and upload or attach them to the claim.
☐ Know your deductible structure (a per-appointment amount, capped monthly) and check if you qualify for an automatic waiver; confirm current dollar figures at Reimbursed VA travel expenses and mileage rate.
☐ If filing by phone, call 855-574-7292 (TTY, text telephone: 711) with your appointment date, facility, and address ready.
☐ If filing on paper, use VA Form 10-3542 and mail or hand-deliver it to the Beneficiary Travel office at the facility where you were seen.
☐ Check your claim status by logging back into the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System and viewing "my claims."
☐ Make it a habit: file after every VA appointment you drive to, not just the big ones.
This guide is for general education about the VA Beneficiary Travel program and is not legal, tax, financial, or medical advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Reimbursement rates, deductible amounts, and eligibility rules can change, so confirm current details at va.gov or with your VA facility's Beneficiary Travel office before filing. This information does not create any right to benefits, and final eligibility and claim decisions are made solely by VA.