Free tool · Scarlet Beast
For veterans, and the people beside them
For anyone in the United States who served, and for the family, caregivers and friends beside them. Who answers at 3 a.m. Mental health care you can use even if you never enrolled. How to get VA health care, file a disability claim, and get free help doing it. What to do if VA said no, if you have nowhere to stay, or if your discharge wasn’t honorable. And the words to say when you call. One thing at a time.
Right now
- In crisis, or worried about a veteran who is? Dial 988, then press 1. Or text 838255. The Veterans Crisis Line answers at any hour, and you don’t have to be enrolled in VA.
- In danger? Call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room or VA medical center.
- Nowhere to sleep tonight, or about to lose your place? The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 877-424-3838, any hour. Free and confidential.
- Want to talk with someone who served? The Vet Center call center: 877-927-8387, any hour.
More help
- A plan for the worst nights? Safety plan and Hope box.
- Can’t sleep? Can’t sleep?
- Anger that gets ahead of you? When anger takes over.
- An urge to drink or use? Ride the urge.
- Feeling like nobody gets it? You’re not the only one.
- Nowhere to stay? When you need a place to stay.
- Health keeps you from working? Applying for disability benefits (Social Security).
- Worried about a veteran you love? When you’re worried about someone.
- All our free tools and Get help now.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). The facts come from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ own pages on VA.gov, VeteransCrisisLine.net and the Vet Center site. The phone numbers, hours and rules were read on those pages on October 1, 2026. Things change, so check with VA before you rely on any of them. Where we could not confirm something, such as the deadlines for a decision review, the copay amounts or the pension dollar limits, the page says so and does not guess. English only for now. This page saves nothing: no account, no cookies, nothing you tick is stored or sent, and no analytics (privacy). Scarlet Beast is not part of VA or any government agency, is not a Veterans Service Organization, and is not a law office or a clinic. Found a mistake? Email [email protected].