DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VETERANS BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION

2. Veterans Resource and Benefits WorkshopDecember 13, 2012 Jim Davis

4. Veterans Benefit Administration "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan“ -Abraham Lincoln

5. Contents • General Eligibility • Service-Connected Disabilities • Alaska National Guard • Alaska Territorial Guard • Programs for Service-Connected Disabilities • Education and Training • Home Loan Guaranty • Special Groups of Veterans • Burial and Memorial Benefits • VA Pensions

6. General Eligibility Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast andGeodetic Survey. Generally, men and women Veterans with similarservice may be entitled to the same VA benefits. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general court martialmay bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees mustcontact a VA regional office to determine eligibility. VA benefits willnot be provided to any Veteran or dependent wanted for an outstandingfelony warrant.

7. Service-Connected Disabilities Disability compensation: a monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. These disabilities are considered to be service-connected. To be eligible, the service of the Veteran must have been terminated through separation or discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. For additional details, visit the Web site at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/.

9. ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD

10. Reserve and National Guard • Reservists who serve on active duty establish Veteran status and may be eligible for the full-range of VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and a discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. In addition, reservists not activated may qualify for some VA benefits.

11. Reserve and National Guardcontinued • National Guard members can establish eligibility for VA benefits if activated for federal service during a period of war or domestic emergency.Activation for other than federal service does not qualify guard members for all VA benefits. Claims for VA benefits based on federal service filed by members of the National Guard should include a copy of the military orders, presidential proclamation or executive order that clearly demonstrates the federal nature of the service.

12. ALASKA TERRITORIAL GUARD

13. Alaska Territorial Guard Continued Complete ATG Form 214 Application for Federal Transcript of Military Record and Certificate of Discharge Submit to Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Call Joint Public Affairs Office at 9074286031 or visit dmva.alaska.gov

14. Programs for Service-Connected Disabilities Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E): The (VR&E): Program assists veterans who have service-connected disabilities obtain and maintain suitable employment. Independent living services are also available for severely disabled Veterans who are not currently ready to seek employment. Additional information is available on VA’s Website at www.vetsuccess.gov.

15. Programs for service-connected Disabilities Continued • Specially Adapted Housing Grants • Automobile Allowance • Clothing Allowance • Additional Allowances for Veterans who Need Aid and Attendance are Housebound

16. Education and Training Post – 9/11 GI Bill The Post- 9/11 GI Bill is a new education benefit program for service members and Veterans who served on active duty on or after Sept.11, 2001. Montgomery GI Bill VA educational benefits may be used while the service Member is on active duty or after the service member’s Separation from active duty with a fully honorable military discharge. Discharges “under honorable conditions” and “general” discharges do not establish eligibility. *For more information visit www.gibill.va.gov or call 1 800 442 4551

17. Home Loan Guaranty • VA home loan guaranties are issued to help eligible service members, Veterans, reservists and certain unmarried surviving spouses obtain homes, condominiums, residential cooperative housing units, and manufactured homes, and to refinance loans For additional information or to obtain VA loan guaranty forms, visit www.homeloans.va.gov/.

18. Special Groups of Veterans • Homeless Veterans • VA’s homeless programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country, offering a wide array of services to help Veterans recover from homelessness and live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible. • The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (NCCHV) assists homeless Veterans, at-risk Veterans, their families and other interested parties with linkages to appropriate VA and community-based resources. • The call center provides trained VA staff members 24 hours a day, seven days a week that assess a caller’s needs and connect them to appropriate resources. The call center can be accessed by dialing 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838).

19. Incarcerated Veterans • VA benefits are affected if a beneficiary is convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days. • Disability or death pension paid to an incarcerated beneficiary must be discontinued. • Disability compensation paid to an incarcerated veteran rated 20 percent or more disabled is limited to the 10 percent rate. • For a veteran whose disability payable to a veteran evaluated as 10 percent disabled. Rating is 10 percent, the payment is reduced to half of the rate. • Any amounts not paid may be apportioned to eligible dependents. • Payments are not reduced for participants in work-release programs, residing in halfway houses or under community control.

20. You are Not Alone

21. Transition Assistance Transition From Military to VA: VA has stationed personnel at major military hospitals to help seriously injured service members returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) as they transition from military to civilian life. OEF/OIF service members who have questions about VA benefits or need assistance in filing a VA claim or accessing services can contact the nearest VA office or call 1-800-827-1000.

22. VA Life Insurance For complete details on government life insurance, visit the VA Internet site at www.insurance.va.gov/ or call VA’s Insurance Center toll-free at 1-800-669-8477.

23. Burial and Memorial Benefits

24. Burial and Memorial BenefitsBurial in VA National Cemeteries • Veterans discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable • Service members who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, • Spouses and dependent children of Veterans and active duty service members • may be eligible for VA burial and memorial benefits. • The Veteran does not have to die before a spouse or dependent child for them to be eligible. • *For more information call 1-800-827-1000, or visit the Web site at www.cem.va.gov/.

25. PENSION REQUIREMENTS* At least 90 days of active military service (generally, 24 months for enlistment after September 7, 1980*At least one day of wartime service (combat service not required)*Totally and permanently disabled, or attained age 65*Within income limits to qualify for this benefitThe 90-day active service requirement does not apply to veterans with a service-connected disability justifying discharge from the military.* Additional information can be found in the Compensation and PensionBenefits section of VA’s Internet pages at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.htm.

26. HOW TO APPLY FOR PENSION Complete VA Form 21-526 EZ or VA Form 21-526 (Veterans Application for Compensation) Provide Other supporting records Complete VA Form 21-4142 (Authorization and Consent to Release Information) Submit All documents to the nearest VA Regional Office

27. TIME LIMIT TO APPLY There is NO time limit to Apply for Compensation or Pension For Compensation, benefits will be paid retroactive to the date of separation/retirement if VA receives the application within one year of the separation/retirement

28. eBenefits www.ebenefits.va.gov

29. Disability Rating Monthly Rate Paid to Veterans2011

30. Thank You for serving Our Veterans “I can think of no higher responsibility than ensuring that the men and women who have served our nation in uniform are treated with the care and respect that they have earned.” -Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki-

31. Questions?

32. Phone Numbers Bereavement Counseling............................................1-202-461-6530 Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA).....1-800-733-8387 Caregiver Support ..................................................... 1-855-260-3274 Education.....................................................................1-888-442-4551 Federal Recovery Coordination Program ...................1-877-732-4456 Foreign Medical Program……………..................…….1-888-820-1756 Headstones and Markers.............................................1-800-697-6947 Health Care.................................................................1-877-222-8387 Homeless Veterans.....................................................1-877-424-3838 Home Loans................................................................1-888-244-6711 Life Insurance..............................................................1-800-669-8477 National Cemetery Scheduling Office..........................1-800-535-1117 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline............................1-800-273-8255 Pension Management Center......................................1-877-294-6380 Presidential Memorial Certificate Program..................1-202-565-4964 Special Health Issues..................................................1-800-749-8387 Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD)...........1-800-829-4833 VA Benefits..................................................................1-800-827-1000 Women Veterans.........................................................1-202-461-1070

33. WEB SITES Burial and Memorial Benefits ....................................www.cem.va.gov Caregiver Support ............................................. www.caregiver.va.gov CHAMPVA....... www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/forbeneficiaries.asp Education Benefits....................................................www.gibill.va.gov Federal Jobs.....................................................www.usajobs.opm.gov Health Care Eligibility...............................www.va.gov/healtheligibility Home Loan Guaranty......................................www.homeloans.va.gov Life Insurance...................................................www.insurance.va.gov Memorial Certificate Program.....................www.cem.va.gov/pmc.asp Mental Health...............................................www.mentalhealth.va.gov My HealtheVet……………..................................www.myhealth.va.gov National Resource Directory ........www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov Prosthetics………………................................ www.prosthetics.va.gov Record............................www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel Returning Servicemembers.....................................www.oefoif.va.gov Women Veterans...................www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth VA Vet Centers………....................………..……www.vetcenter.va.gov VA Home Page..................................................................www.va.gov VA Benefit Payment Rates......................www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/rates VA Forms...............................................................www.va.gov/vaform

34. List of Sources Photos by Paul Ontooguk Fotosearch.com Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents and Survivors Booklet www.va.gov

35. BENEFIT PROCESS • Complete Application • Submit supporting documents (i.e.:copies of service treatment records, DD214, private medical records, other VA Forms • Submit Applications to Alaska VA Regional Office,Service Organization or Online Application • You will be contacted by letter by the Department of Veterans Affairs • You will be notified of additional information that is needed to process your claim or you may be told that an examination will be scheduled for you.

36. BENEFITS PROCESS cont… • Examination(s): • Automatically given to Veterans that have recently been released from Active Duty or are within a year from their discharge. You will be contacted by C & P in regards to the scheduling of an examination. There is no cost to the veteran for this travel You are required to show up for your examination in order to move forward with your claim

37. BENEFITS PROCESS cont… • Medical Opinions and Examinations • A condition MUST be found in service! After reviewing service treatment records, If there is a history found in service for your condition a Medical Opinion is ordered. This will result in the Veteran being scheduled for an examination. • This generally takes longer because a thorough review of the Veterans service treatment records is required!

38. No Examination(s) • There will NOT be an examination scheduled for the veteran if there was no condition found in service. • (There are exceptions: Secondary conditions, within a year, etc…)

39. RATING • The Veterans claim is sent to the Rating Board • The Veteran is notified of the decision