Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents - CT.gov

Chapter 14Benefits Provided by Other Federal Agencies 101Chapter 14Benefits Provided by OtherFederal AgenciesUSDA Provides Loans for Farms and HomesThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides loans andguarantees to buy, improve or operate farms. Loans and guaranteesare generally available for housing in towns with a population upto 20,000. Applications from veterans have preference. For furtherinformation, contact Farm Service Agency or Rural Development,USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250, orapply at local Department of Agriculture offices, usually located incounty seats.Housing and Urban Development (HUDVET)Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors the VeteranResource Center (HUDVET), which works with national veteransservice organizations to serve as a general information center on allHUD-sponsored housing and community development programs andservices. To contact HUDVET, call 1-800-998-9999, TDD 800-483-2209, or visit its Web site at http://www.hud.gov/hudvet.Veterans Receive Naturalization PreferenceHonorable active-duty service in the U.S. armed forces during adesignated period of hostility allows an individual to naturalize withoutbeing required to establish any periods of residence or physicalpresence in the United States. A servicemember who was in theUnited States, certain territories, or aboard an American public vesselat the time of enlistment, re-enlistment, extension of enlistment orinduction, may naturalize even if he or she is not a lawful permanentresident.On July 3, 2002, the president issued Executive Order 13269 establishinga new period of hostility for naturalization purposes beginningSept. 11, 2001, and continuing until a date designated by a future