Veterans Crisis Line

Specially trained responders provide immediate crisis support to veterans, service members, and people concerned about them.

Veteran or service member in crisisFamily member, friend, or supporter concerned about a veteran or service member

Entitlement facts

Benefit type: Government benefit. A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route. Taxonomy definition →
What it unlocks: Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support by phone, text, or web chat, with connection to local resources when wanted.
Who qualifies: Veteran or service member in crisis; Family member, friend, or supporter concerned about a veteran or service member
Requirements: Available to veterans regardless of discharge status or VA enrollment, service members including Guard and Reserve, and their families and friends. Immediate danger can require emergency services.
How to activate: Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or start confidential web chat.
Cost basis: No-cost access. The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.
Cost and fees: The crisis line is free. Referred medical treatment or community services can have separate costs.
Geography: US, Overseas access options vary by command region
Personalization: Published eligibility is not described as individually targeted.

EVIDENCE / 1 SOURCE

Eligibility is conditional, not guaranteed.

Check the provider's final terms immediately before applying, depositing funds, spending, or changing a paid relationship.

01U.S. Department of Veterans Affairsprovider↗

MACHINE RECORD

{
  "id": "veterans-crisis-line",
  "name": "Veterans Crisis Line",
  "provider": "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs",
  "entitlement_type": "government-benefit",
  "entitlement_type_label": "Government benefit",
  "entitlement_type_context": {
    "definition": "A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.",
    "domain": "public-benefits",
    "archetype": "direct-program",
    "agent_instruction": "Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."
  },
  "summary": "Specially trained responders provide immediate crisis support to veterans, service members, and people concerned about them.",
  "benefit": {
    "description": "Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support by phone, text, or web chat, with connection to local resources when wanted.",
    "estimated_value_usd": null
  },
  "discovery": {
    "focus": "public-service",
    "has_estimated_dollar_value": false
  },
  "access": {
    "relationships": [
      "Veteran or service member in crisis",
      "Family member, friend, or supporter concerned about a veteran or service member"
    ],
    "requirements": "Available to veterans regardless of discharge status or VA enrollment, service members including Guard and Reserve, and their families and friends. Immediate danger can require emergency services.",
    "activation": "Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or start confidential web chat.",
    "cost_basis": "no-cost",
    "cost_basis_label": "No-cost access",
    "cost_basis_context": {
      "classification": "free",
      "definition": "The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.",
      "agent_instruction": "Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.",
      "variation_patterns": null,
      "does_not_mean": null
    },
    "fees": "The crisis line is free. Referred medical treatment or community services can have separate costs.",
    "personalized": false,
    "regions": [
      "US",
      "Overseas access options vary by command region"
    ],
    "expires": null
  },
  "status": "verified",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-04",
  "claim_url": "https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/",
  "source_url": "https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/about/about-us/",
  "source": {
    "primary_url": "https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/about/about-us/",
    "evidence": [
      {
        "source": "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs",
        "url": "https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/about/about-us/",
        "kind": "provider",
        "checked_at": "2026-08-04"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parent": null,
  "coverage": {
    "level": "national",
    "family": "veterans-and-military",
    "jurisdiction": "United States",
    "maturity": "direct"
  },
  "web_url": "/benefits/veterans-crisis-line",
  "taxonomy": {
    "version": "1.0",
    "url": "/api/v1/taxonomy"
  }
}

View JSON ↗

Veterans Crisis Line

Entitlement facts

Eligibility is conditional, not guaranteed.

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