VA Benefits and Services

1. VA Benefits and Services Let’s Go Home!

2. Agenda • Why brief now? • What happens at Ft McCoy? • VA Compensation for Injury or Illness • Health Care • Readjustment Counseling • Education • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment • Home Loan Guaranty • Other Benefits & Services • Conclusion & Contacts

3. Why Brief Now – Why at Ft McCoy • Eliminates 7 hours of briefing at FMWI • Eliminates 3 days of Home Station briefings and service • Gets you home faster and better prepared • Ensure you get paid faster, and resolve any problems before release from Active Duty

4. Travel Claims • You will prepare and submit your travel voucher and supporting documentation on Day 5 of Demobilization Processing at FMWI • You can get a jump on the system and be better prepared by going to: • http://washingtonguard.org/FamiliesandVeterans/ • And starting your claim now • Bottom line, gather your documentation, get started on your claim, and you will move quickly through FMWI

5. DD 1351-2 (March 2008) Mobilization Order (with amendments attached if applicable) TCS Order (with attached unit roster) DD 1610s/TDY Orders/School Orders (itemized lodging receipts) DD 214 or REFRAD Orders Leave Forms DA 31(s), or Leave Report Any receipts or expense occurred on TDY ($75.00 and over) Submit any partial travel claims. Memo showing dates of lockdown (if applicable) KEY SUPPORTINGDOCUMENTS For Travel Claims

6. Employment Assistance • J1 HRO Staff on Hand to Assist Current AGR’s & Current • Help available to locate new AGR & Technician positions • Staff from Employment Security to answer questions and assist with Unemployment Claims, finding new jobs • J9 Employment & Transition Coaches to explain new apprenticeship and certification programs

7. Understanding the VA Veterans Benefits Administration All VA benefits - Compensation, Education, Home Loan Guaranty, etc. Administered by VA Regional Offices Veterans Health Administration All VA health care services Administered by VA Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care & Community Based Outpatient Clinics, etc. Responsible for Vet Centers in all 54 States and Territories Vet Centers provide Readjustment Counseling Services

8. Veterans Service OrganizationsExamples: State Department of Veterans Affairs, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW),DAV, AmVets,, PVA, VVA, MoPHTo contact J9 for a referral:ngwaj9careerinfo@ng.army.mil

9. Veterans who receive legal help or aid from advocacy groups receive on average $11,162, compared with $4,728 for those who go it alone Source: Military.Com 19 July 2007 At Ft McCoy, you will have an opportunity to select a VSO to represent you. Strongly recommended Usea Veteran Service Officer!

10. What is Compensation? • A service-connected disability is a disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty. • The disability does not have to be combat or wartime related. • Receiving VA compensation does not affect your drill pay or ability to serve in the Guard.

11. Compensation • Disability Examples • Torn knee ligament • Broken bones or damaged joints • Heart disease/high blood pressure • Post traumatic stress (including the result of sexual trauma) • Skin condition such as psoriasis

12. Compensation • Compensation is tax free • Additional Special Monthly Compensation added for loss of limb, organ, etc. • Concurrent retired pay now being phased in • Concurrent Medical Separation Pay and VA Compensation now authorized

13. CompensationBenefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) • Will be available at Ft McCoy during demobe! • Reduces processing time by over 6 months • Service members can apply for Compensation and vocational rehabilitation and education services if within 180 days of separation or retirement

14. Veterans who receive legal help or aid from advocacy groups receive on average $11,162, compared with $4,728 for those who go it alone Source: Military.Com 19 July 2007 Usea Veteran Service Officer!

15. Health Care

16. VA is authorized to provide hospital care and other medical services, including nursing home care for a five year period, to veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of November 11, 1998 to Present, for any illness possibly associated with service Veterans of Operations Enduring& Iraqi Freedom

17. Dental • For recently separated veterans • who served for 90 days or more, and • who apply within 180 days of separation. • While participating in VA vocational rehabilitation program Note: This is for one time treatment of dental conditions if the veteran’s separation document does not indicate that necessary dental care was received within 90 days prior to release or discharge.

18. To receive VA health care, a veteran must enroll in the VA health care system: Must complete VA Form 10-10EZ Your Form will be filled out, ready for you to review and sign at Ft McCoy That’s all there is to it. Review and sign, You’re enrolled! Enrollment

19. www.va.gov/rcs/ Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Centers provide quality readjustment counseling in a caring manner. Vet Centers understand and appreciate veterans’ military experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful post-military adjustment in or near their community.

20. Vet Centers Provide • Readjustment counseling services to combat veterans and their families • Community-based care • Bereavement counseling for families who lose an active duty service member • Veteran-focused services • Supportive and completely confidential services

21. Vet Centers - Special Services • Individual Counseling • Group Counseling • Marital & Family Counseling • Alcohol & Drug Assessment • Spouse/Significant Other Counseling • Employment Counseling & Guidance

22. Each State may have individual counseling services available. • Information available at Ft McCoy on how to reach service providers at home station.

23. Bottom Line: Healthy people get help. Professionals use coaches to improve their game. You’re a professional. Use a coach!

24. Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill - Education

25. What does the Post- 9/11 GI Bill cover? You may receive benefits for any approved program offered by a school in the United States that is authorized to grant an associate (or higher) degree Not for Certificate Programs – only AA, BA, MA, etc.

26. You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you were released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces.

27. If I am eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve, or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, am I eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill? If, on August 1, 2009, you are eligible for one of these programs and you qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may make an irrevocable election to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

28. How much will I receive? Based on your length of active duty service, you are entitled to a percentage of the following: -Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education (paid to school); -Monthly housing allowance* equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as your school (paid to you); -Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year (paid to you); and -A one-time payment of $500 paid to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas.

29. *NOTE – The housing allowance and books and supplies stipend are not payable to individuals on active duty. The housing allowance is not payable to those pursuing training at half time or less or to individuals enrolled in distance learning.

30. How many months of assistance can I receive? Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. How long am I eligible? You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days. If you were released for a service-connected disability after at least 30 days of continuous service, you will also be eligible for benefits for 15 years.

31. VA Reps will be at FT McCoy to answer questions. At home: Each State has qualified Education Officer Transition Assistance Advisor Registrar at School or University you plan to attend Phone VA For information & assistance on Education benefits call toll-free 1 (888) 442-4551

32. Home Loan Guaranty

33. Features of a VA Loan • No down payment • Limitations on closing costs • The right to prepay without penalty • Funding Fee • Negotiated interest rates • Special assistance for veterans experiencing difficulty in making loan payments

34. Buy a home Build a home Simultaneously buy and improve a home Refinance existing loan Use only for property located in the US, its territories or possessions Must occupy the property as your home within a reasonable period of time Loan Purposes

35. Your application for a VA Home Loan Certificate will be available at Ft McCoy during state demobe You complete short, simple form & sign We will attach DD Form 214 and forward Certificate will be mailed to your Permanent HOR Special Service to 81st Bde

36. There is nothing more important than your health and financial well being. Everything scheduled for you at Ft McCoy has been streamlined to ensure the easiest access possible to all benefits. Subject matter experts will be there at your service. You will never find an easier or more efficient time to prepare for your future. Pay attention. Seek knowledge. Use the day wisely.