Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

1. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) September 20, 2011 Richard Ivy Benefits Assistance Service

2. Department of Veterans Affairs “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan,” President Lincoln

3. Veterans Benefits Administration • Benefits Assistance • Compensation and Pension • Education • Loan Guaranty • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) • Insurance

4. Benefits Assistance Mission The Mission of the Benefits Assistance Service is to serve as advocates for Veterans, Service members, eligible beneficiaries and other stakeholders, to ensure they are knowledgeable and informed about accessing and receiving VA benefits and services. Vision Our Vision for the Benefits Assistance Service is to be the premier organization for our clients; to proactively provide information and knowledge about VA benefits and services, in a positive 21st century experience that is consistent, concise and relevant.

5. Benefits Assistance VBA Homeless Veterans Outreach Program • Full-time VBA Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinators (HVOC) at 20 Regional Offices (RO) with the largest Veteran populations • Remaining RO have a part-time HVOC (with collateral duties)

6. Full-time VBA Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinators (HVOC) at 20 Regional Offices Remaining RO have a part-time HVOC (with collateral duties) Togus Manchester Seattle White River Jct. Anchorage Ft. Harrison Fargo Portland St. Paul Boston Milwaukee Boise Sioux Falls Buffalo Providence Detroit Hartford Cheyenne Des Moines Pittsburgh New York Lincoln Cleveland Newark Chicago Philadelphia Reno Indianapolis Salt Lake City Wilmington Oakland Denver Huntington St. Louis Baltimore Wichita DC Louisville Roanoke Los Angeles Nashville Winston Salem Little Rock Albuquerque Muskogee Columbia Atlanta Phoenix San Diego Montgomery • Eastern Area • Southern Area • Central Area • Western Area WACO Jackson New Orleans Houston St. Petersburg Honolulu San Juan 6

7. Benefits Assistance VBA Homeless Veterans Outreach Program • Conduct outreach to homeless Veterans and their families • homeless shelters and stand downs • VA Medical Centers, clinics and centers • through state, tribal and local community partners • other areas where homeless Veterans may be located • Jails and prisons • Provide information and assistance on VA benefits and services including eligibility information, filing a claim, and referrals to other homeless programs for Veterans

8. Benefits Assistance VBA Homeless Veterans Outreach Program • “No Wrong Door” Approach • Collaboration with the Veterans Health Administration and other government and local community offices • Homeless Veterans can enter the system through one access point and receive assistance for an array of services and benefits through referrals

9. Preventing Veteran Homelessness • Pre-Discharge Program (includes Guard and Reservists) • Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) • Between 60-180 days of separation from active duty • Quick Start • Less than 60 days remaining on active duty • Transition Assistance Program (TAP) • Access to VA benefits information prior to separating from military service • Post 9/11 GI Bill • Access to education benefits to support financial stability

10. Preventing Veteran Homelessness • Home Loan Guaranty • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment • Resumption of benefits from date of release of incarceration • evidence of anticipated release from incarceration needed from a parole board or other official prison source dated no more than 30 days before the anticipated release of incarceration

11. Compensation and Pension • Disability Compensation • Monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service • Disability may be rated from 0% to 100%, Payments made for 10% to 100%. • Disability Pension • Needs-based benefit paid to Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled or are age 65 or older • Must have 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war

12. Compensation – Current Rates S = Spouse C = Child(ren) Rates effective Dec. 1, 2010

13. Compensation and PensionClaims Processing for Homeless Veterans • Expedited claims processing • 75 average days pending fiscal year 2011 target • Reporting system on homeless Veterans claims processing • Electronic “homeless” flash to properly identify homeless Veterans in our systems • VA Central Office oversight to ensure claim development and decisions are made expeditiously

14. Education Post 9/11 GI Bill- (Chapter 33); August 2009 Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30) Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607) Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35)

15. EducationPost 9/11 GI Bill Served on active duty after 09/10/01 will be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if the individual: • Served for an aggregate period of at least 90 days. • Served at least 30 continuous days and received a disability discharge. Generally receive 36 months of benefits, but are limited to 48 months of combined benefits under educational assistance programs administered by VA Benefits payable include: • Tuition and Fees (amount determined by months of active duty) • Monthly Housing Allowance • Equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents • Stipend for Books and Supplies • Up to $1,000 per year

16. Loan Guaranty Zero downpayment loans made by mortgage lenders VA guarantees up to $104,250 Maximum no downpayment loan: $417,000 in most areas; may be higher depending on area median price Funding Fee (Regular Military) 1st time use 2.15% 2nd time use 3.3% Funding fee waived for those with compensable service-connected disabilities

17. Achieve and maintain suitable employment Evaluation of the Veteran’s abilities, skills, interests, and needs On-the-job and non-paid work experience education or training such as certificate, two or four-year programs Independent Living Training in activities of daily living Personal adjustment counseling Coming Home to Work Provides early intervention services to OEF/OIF Servicemembers and Veterans in accessing VR&E services Vocational Educational Counseling Assistance in establishing employment and educational goals when transitioning from military service Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

18. Insurance Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Veterans’ Group Life Insurance post-separation insurance which allows Servicemembers to convert their SGLI coverage to renewable term insurance Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance Application must be made within two years of the granting of new service-connection for a disability Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance Veteran must have received a specially adapted housing grant from VA. amount of coverage equals the amount of the mortgage still owed but the maximum can never exceed $90,000

19. Related Benefits • Free VA health care for all rated service-connected conditions • Specially Adapted Housing Grant • Automobile Grant • Vocational rehabilitation & employment services • VA life insurance - $10,000 • Veteran’s preference in Federal hiring • VA home loan guaranty funding fee waived • Possible state and local benefits

20. Burial Benefits 120+ Cemeteries Nationwide • Gravesite • Opening and closing • Headstone/marker/medallion • Burial flag • Funeral honors • Presidential Memorial Certificate • Burial cost reimbursement • Perpetual care • All at no cost to the family

21. Resources VA on the Internet VA by Phone eBenefits www.ebenefits.va.gov VA Home Page www.va.gov VA on Facebook www.facebook.com/Veterans Affairs VA on Twitter http://twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs Benefits information (800) 827-1000 Education Benefits (888) 442-4551 Health Care Eligibility (877) 222-8387 SGLI/VGLI (800) 419-1473 VA Life Insurance (800) 669-8477

22. Help Your Buddy 22 VA’s National Suicide Hotline Resource 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

23. Resources The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a Web site for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families and those who support them. Find a Homeless Coordinator