You stood up for us. Now we'll stand up for you.
If you’re an income-eligible veteran and need legal advice or representation, the Military Assistance Project (MAP) can help. Free of charge, we offer assistance for:
Adult Guardianship • Advance Directive/Simple Wills • Access/Correct Military Records • Child Support, Custody, Visitation Modification • Divorces Limited Circumstances • Driver’s License Restoration • Veteran Eviction Avoidance • Criminal Record Expungement • Military Discharge Upgrades • Public Benefits: Food Stamps, SSI, Unemployment, Poor Relief, TANF • VA Overpayments • Incarcerated Veteran Re-entry
For more information call our Virtual Clinic Hotline Monday-Thursday at 317-631-9433 or our Centralized Intake line, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM EST at 844-243-8570.
Military Assistance Project (MAP)
Indiana Legal Services, Inc. created the Military Assistance Project (MAP), a statewide project that is headquartered in Indianapolis, to assist low-income Hoosier military members, veterans, and their families within Indiana.
Who We Represent
The MAP assists military members, veterans, and family members in Indiana and assists out-of-state military member, veterans and family members with legal cases in Indiana. An individual may qualify if they meet the same income eligibility guidelines as do other Hoosiers who are low income.
What We Do
While most veterans have many of the same similar legal issues that other ILS non-veteran clients have, it is not uncommon for veterans to have legal issues that may be related to their former military service and subsequent Department of Veteran Affairs issues. Many of the issues that low-income Hoosier military members, veterans, and their families within Indiana face interfere with their ability to live a stable life. The MAP works to reduce these issues by employing different means to reach our veterans and provide them with quality legal services.
The MAP provides support to ILS’ eight branch offices, by assisting and, in some cases, serving as co-counsel, for legal issues that require military or veteran-related expertise. The MAP also may also assist with finding non-legal services that may resolve the legal issue at hand.
MAP provides free legal clinics and workshops to the public on a variety of topics and collaborates with a wide range of legal service providers throughout the state to improve both access and quality of legal service provided. The MAP handles a variety of cases including:
- Access/Correct Military Records
- Child Support Modification
- Driver’s License Restoration
- Expungement of Criminal Records
- Military Discharge Upgrades
- VA Overpayments
How To Request for Help
Requesting legal assistance from the MAP may be done in several ways:
Online Intake Process
https://www.indianalegalservices.org/node/735/online-intake-now-available
Please Provide and Complete All Information Requested.
Centralized Intake Phone:
844-243-8570
Monday–Friday 10 am to 2 pm Eastern Standard Time
Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in volunteering or interning?
The MAP is often looking for volunteer attorneys, law students, undergraduate students, and community members to assist with cases and various outreach projects. Click here for our Military Cultural Competency Manual for Attorneys.
For more information, contact: MAPinquiry@ilsi.net
Where Can I Learn More?
Local VA Claims Assistance for Veterans:
Did you know that you have a County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO)?
CVSO’s have access to all the forms and other information you may need to obtain service from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the forms for requesting veteran benefits from the State of Indiana.
To find your Indiana CVSO, please click on the following site.
http://www.in.gov/dva/2370.htm
To find a CVSO in other states:
http://nacvso.org/find-a-service-officer/
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Programs and Services
Veterans of the United States Uniformed Services may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) thru the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
http://www.va.gov/opa/persona/index.asp
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The very first step in obtaining access to your VA Health Benefits is to enroll for care:
http://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/apply/index.asp
http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/publications.asp
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
There are different ways to apply for benefits depending on the type of benefit you are seeking.
- The fastest way to submit your application is electronically thru the VA eBenefit webpage:
- If you prefer to complete a written application, visit:
- What should you do if you plan to file a VA claim yet are not ready to file a VA claim? Submit an “intent to file” to lock in your back pay date (you must submit your claim within one year from the date you submit your intent to file:
- Veterans Pension is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to low-income veterans with active wartime service:
- The Survivors Pension benefit, which may also be referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service:
- The Milwaukee VA Pension Management Center services all Pension and Surviving Pension claims for the State of Indiana and surrounding states (Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio).
Milwaukee VA Pension Center, PO Box 342000, Milwaukee WI 53234-9907.
- Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker
- Claim for Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery
- https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330M.pdf
National Guard and Reserve members with active service may qualify for a variety of VA benefits.
http://www.benefits.va.gov/GUARDRESERVE/active-reserve.asp