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An Overview of VA Benefits

An Overview of VA Benefits. Transition Assistance Advisors Professional Development Seminar. April 2012. BAS Mission and Vision. BAS Mission

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An Overview of VA Benefits

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  1. An Overview of VA Benefits Transition Assistance Advisors Professional Development Seminar April 2012

  2. BAS Mission and Vision BAS Mission The Mission of the Benefits Assistance Service is to serve as advocates for Veterans, Servicemembers, eligible beneficiaries and other stakeholders, to ensure they are knowledgeable and informed about accessing and receiving VA benefits and services. BAS 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.

  3. Benefits • In-Service VA Benefits • Home Loan Guaranty • Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance • Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance • Education Services • Automobile Allowance • Special Adaptive Housing Grant • Services available 180 days prior to separation • Pre-Discharge Services • Vocational and Educational Counseling

  4. Regional Offices 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 Atlanta Phoenix Columbia San Diego Montgomery • Eastern Area • Southern Area • Central Area • Western Area WACO Jackson New Orleans Houston St. Petersburg Honolulu San Juan

  5. Disability Compensation • Compensation is paid for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active service. The disability does not have to be combat or wartime related. • Examples: • Torn knee ligament • Hearing loss • Back condition • Post traumatic stress (including the result of sexual trauma) • Traumatic brain injury • Skin condition (psoriasis, eczema, scars) • Special Monthly Compensation may be paid for specific circumstances such as aid & attendance, loss of limb, loss of eyesight

  6. Pre-Discharge Claims • Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) • Service Department determines fitness • VA determines rating percentage • Not an “optional” process • Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) • Have 60-180 days remaining in service • Submit a copy of service treatment records (STRs) or health treatment records • Be available at point of separation to undergo VA examination(s) • Quick Start • The Quick Start Program serves Servicemembers who do not qualify for BDD because they: • Have less than 60 days before separation/retirement and/or • Are not available for VA examinations at the point of separation • More information available at www.vba.va.gov/predischarge

  7. Rating Process • VA life cycle of a claim • Disabilities are rated from 0% to 100% • Combined overall rating • Compensation is tax-free • Compensation paid for disability rating from 10% to 100% • Additional allowance for dependents with 30% or higher rating • The Department of Treasury requires new federal beneficiaries receive their recurring/monthly benefits electronically

  8. Compensation – Current Rates S = Spouse C = Child(ren) Rates effective Dec. 1, 2011

  9. Related Benefits • Free VA health care for all rated service-connected conditions • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services may be available if a Servicemember is 20% with a memorandum rating or proposed IDES rating OR Veteran with a VA disability rating of at least 10% • VA life insurance • Veteran’s preference in federal hiring • VA home loan guaranty funding fee waived • Possible state and local benefits Compensation • Severance and/or Separation pay may be recouped (after-tax amount) • Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) • Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) • DD Form 2860

  10. Deployment Tips • Stop disability payments prior to deployment to avoid overpayment • Call or write VA • Submit orders • Place someone in charge of making sure payments stop • Upon Release from Active Duty, reinstate disability payments • Call or write VA • Submit orders • Submit DD214/NGB22/discharge document

  11. Debt Management • 38 USC § 5304, (C) “Pension, compensation, or retirement pay on account of any person’s own service shall not be paid to such person for any period for which such person receives active service pay.“ • Overpayments of VA benefits are addressed through VA Debt Management Center. • Information on VA’s Debt Management Center can be found on their website: http://www.va.gov/debtman/ • Contact: • 1-800-827-0648 • dmc.ops@va.gov

  12. Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) • VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program (VR&E) helps active duty Servicemembers and Veterans who have service-connected disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment, or achieve independence in daily living • Achieve and maintain suitable employment • Evaluation of the Veteran’s abilities, skills, interests, and needs • Vocational counseling and planning • 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 • Technological assistance • Personal adjustment counseling • Vocational Educational Counseling • Assistance in establishing employment and educational goals when transitioning from military service • Vocational testing and vocational counseling services are provided

  13. Benefits and Services Available • Veterans enrolled in an approved training program have the following expenses covered: • Tuition and fees • Books • Equipment • Supplies • Veterans receive a monthly subsistence allowance, which is based on rate of pursuit and number of dependents

  14. Eligibility and Entitlement Eligibility to Apply • Servicemembers may apply for the VR&E program with a 20% memorandum rating or proposed IDES rating • Veterans are eligible to apply with a VA disability rating of at least 10% • Veterans must receive an Honorable or Other Than Dishonorable discharge Entitlement to Services • Combined service-connected disability rating of 20% or more and an employment handicap resulting primarily from such disability • Veterans rated as 10% disabled with a serious employment handicap may be entitled to VR&E services

  15. VR&E Cont’d. Counseling • A counseling appointment will be set for eligible Servicemembers and Veterans to accomplish the following: • Evaluate the applicant’s interests, aptitudes, and abilities based upon testing and interviews • Explore the applicant’s vocational goals and objectives Eligibility Period • The law provides a 12-year basic period of eligibility. The 12-year period begins on the latter of these dates: • Date of separation from active military duty or • Date VA first informed the Veteran of a qualifying service-connected disability rating • The period of eligibility can be extended for Veterans found to have a serious employment handicap

  16. How to apply • Servicemembers, including IDES enrollees, should complete the following: • VA Form 28-0588, Memo Rating • VA Form 21-526c, Pre-Discharge CompensationClaim, or VA Form 21-526, Veteran’s Application for Compensation and/or Pension, or other applicable form • VA Form 28-1900, Application for Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits • Veterans should complete: • VA Form 21-526 (If not already rated by VA for a service- connected disability) • VA Form 28-1900, Application for Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits

  17. eBenefits The eBenefits portal (www.ebenefits.va.gov) is a “one-stop shop” for access to military documents and benefits information (e.g., DD-214, checking the status of disability claims, payment history, & obtaining a home loan Certificate of Eligibility, etc.).

  18. VA on the Internet eBenefits www.ebenefits.va.gov VA Home Page www.va.gov Returning Servicemembers www.oefoif.va.gov VA on Facebook www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs VA on Twitter www.twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs VA by Phone 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 Resources

  19. Contact Megan Warren Program Analyst, Military Outreach Benefits Assistance Service (27) Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420 202-530-9147 Megan.Warren@va.gov

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