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VBA Benefits Training

Learn about the various types of benefits administered by the VBA, including disability compensation, non-service-connected pension, survivor's benefits, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation, home loans, and more. Discover additional benefits available to veterans and find out where to get help. Gain knowledge about eligibility criteria and the application process for disability compensation and pension benefits.

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VBA Benefits Training

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  1. VBA Benefits Training Seattle VA Regional Office

  2. Types of Benefits Administered by VBA Service-connected compensation and non service-connected pension Survivor’s Benefits (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, and grief counseling.) Education Benefits Vocational Rehabilitation Home Loans Life Insurance Burial Benefits Healthcare 1

  3. Additional Benefits Available to Veterans Preference in federal hiring State programs including tuition assistance, emergency funds, PTSD and grief counseling, soldier’s homes and elder care, fiduciary and guardianship, license plates, hunting and fishing licenses, park passes, burial plots, claim assistance, access to discharge papers and other Veteran records 2

  4. Presentation Content • VA Basics • Disability Compensation • Non Service-Connected Pension • Aid and Attendance • Survivor Claims • Burial Benefits • Where to Get Help

  5. VA Basics: Who is a Veteran? • Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” 

  6. VA Basics: Who is a Veteran? (continued) • In general, active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard; as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service; or as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its predecessors.

  7. VA Basics: Types of Discharges There are currently five types of discharges issued by the military services: 1. Honorable Discharge (HD), 2. Under Honorable Conditions (UHC) or General Discharge (GD), 3. Other than Honorable Conditions (OTH) or Undesirable Discharge (UD)*, 4. Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD)*, and 5. Dishonorable Discharge (DD)*. * Note: VA must make a separate administrative decision as to whether the character of discharge is a bar to benefits and/or healthcare.

  8. Service-Connected Disability Compensation Disability compensation is paid to Veteran who are disabled by an injury /illness incurred or aggravated during active military service Injury or illness does NOT have to be combat related or have been incurred during a period of war 7

  9. Who is Eligible for Disability Compensation? • Any veteran is eligible for s/c compensation if they meet the criteria: • Have service-related disability • Have discharge that is other than Dishonorable • Served on active duty • Guard and Reserve Members generally need to have been called on to active duty under Title 10 or USC 32 (DD 214 usually notates this) 8

  10. Service-Connected Disability Compensation (continued) • HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? • 10%= $136.24 • 50%= $855.41 (single vet with no dependents) • 100%= $2,973.86 (single vet with no dependents • Vets rated at or above 30% are entitled to add dependents to their award (VA Form 21-686c) which increases payment. • For example, add spouse = $49.00 to $165.00 increase • This benefit is NOT affected by other sources of income except when receiving Individual Unemployability. 9

  11. Non Service-Connected Pension • Income based benefit for veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to work due to non military-related conditions • What does Permanent and Total mean? • Age 65 or older • Under age 65 but deemed unable to work based on medical evidence, or • Residing in a Medicaid approved nursing home 10

  12. Pension: Who is Eligible? Vet must meet ALL the following criteria: • Have received other than dishonorable discharge • Meet length of service criteria: • Service prior to 9-7-1980: served 90days • Service after 9-7-1980: served 24consecutivemonths • At least one day of service must be during period of war (does not have to be in combat) • Permanently and Totally disabled –or- 65+ years of age • Countable income less than $13,166 yearly ($1,097.16 monthly) for a single Veteran with no dependents 11

  13. Pension: War Time Service Periods • WWI: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918 • WWII: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 • Korean War: June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955 • Vietnam War: August 5, 1964* to May 7, 1975 (*In country from February 28, 1961) • Gulf War: August 2, 1990 to present Reference: Title 37-01-40, Uniform Service Dates for wartime Veterans 12

  14. Pension: How to Apply HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? Your yearly family income must be less than the amount set by Congress to qualify for the Veterans Pension benefit. If eligible, your pension benefit is the difference between your “countable” income and the annual pension limit set by Congress. VA generally pays this difference in 12 equal monthly payments. Example: The annual income limit on December 1, 2017, for a Veteran and spouse, as set by Congress, is $17,241. If your income combined with your spouse's income is $10,855, your VA pension will be the difference. $6386/12= $532.16 per month 13

  15. Pension: How to Apply • Complete VA Form 21-527EZ • Submit proof of wartime service • Attach medical evidence of permanent disability if Veteran is under age 65 Tips for filing a successful claim: • In income section, fill out EVERY line (if the question doesn’t apply or answer is “0”, write “0”) • If the form is not complete, we will need to do additional development, causing delays 14

  16. What is Aide and Attendance? • VA may provide additional income in the form of an allowance to the basic benefit if the Veteran or the surviving spouse has a regular medical need for assistance or supervision due to disability.  • Allowances are granted for the regular need for "aide and attendance" or if the beneficiary is "housebound.“ Special Note: Aide and Attendance is an allowance paid in addition to the basic benefits of compensation or pension. It is not a separate or stand-alone program. 15

  17. What is Aide and Attendance? (continued) • The Aid and Attendance allowance is paid because a person, due to mental or physical disability, requires the regular aid and attendance of another person in conducting the basic activities of daily living, such as • bathing • dressing, and • going to the bathroom • Entitlement to the Aid and Attendance allowance extends to the Veteran, spouse, surviving parent(s), or surviving spouse. • References: 38 CFR § 3.350 and 38 CFR § 3.351 16

  18. What is Aide and Attendance? (continued) Aid and Attendance may be granted when one or more conditions exists that requires additional caregiver support for the disability. Medical evidence is required unless someone is a patient in a nursing home, and then the requirement is waived. Submit VA Form 21-2680, Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent need for Regular Aid and Attendance 17

  19. What is Aide and Attendance? (continued) HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? Service-Connected / Compensation $2,973.86 100% disability compensation (for a single Veteran) $3,328.70 Housebound (for a single Veteran) $3,700.43 Aid and Attendance (for a single Veteran) Non Service-Connected / Pension $1,097.16 Maximum Annual Pension Rate (single Veteran) $1,340.75 Housebound (max household income $16,089) $1,830.16 Aid and Attendance (max household income $21,962) 18

  20. Survivor Claims Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of: • Servicemembers who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, OR • Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease, OR

  21. Survivor Claims • Veterans whose death resulted from a non-service-connected injury or disease, and who were totally disabled from their service-connected disabilities for at least 10 years immediately preceding their death, OR, since the Veteran’s release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death, OR, at least one year immediately preceding death if the Veteran was a Former Prisoner of War (FPOW) who died after September 30, 1999.

  22. Survivor Claims HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? Dependency & Indemnity Compensation $1,283.11 Basic monthly rate $272.42 Additional if 100% for last 8 years and married during that entire time $317.87 Additional if surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance $317.87 Additional for each minor under the age of 18

  23. Burial Benefits • VA burial allowances are flat-rate monetary benefits that are generally paid at the maximum amount authorized by law for an eligible Veteran’s burial and funeral costs. • Eligible surviving spouses of record are paid automatically upon notification of a Veteran’s death, without the need to submit a claim.

  24. Burial Benefits (continued) HOW MUCH DOES VA PAY? Service-Connected Death • If the Veteran died on or after September 1, 2001, the maximum service-connected burial allowance is $2,000. Non Service-Connected Death • If the Veteran died on or after October 1, 2016, VA will pay a $300 burial allowance and $749 for a plot.

  25. Burial Benefits (continued) Additional Memorial Benefits • No cost internment at a National or State Veteran Cemetery for the Veteran, spouse and children (regardless of age) • Presidential Memorial Certificate • Memorial Flag (one per family) • Headstone or crypt marker

  26. Where Can I Get Help? Visit Explore.VA.gov for benefits screening / Apply on-line Visit in Person: Jackson Federal Building 915 Second Avenue, 1st floor Seattle, WA 98174 (8:00 am to 4:00 pm, weekdays) • Call Toll-Free: 1-800-827-1000 (7:00 am to 7:00 pm, weekdays) • Contact us via e-mail by accessing http://iris.va.gov, • Visit a Veteran Service Officer in your community or the Jackson Federal Building. All assistance is free of charge.

  27. How to Apply for Benefits – Standard Forms Applicants must use Standard Forms: • VA Form 21-526EZ for original or reopen compensation claims • VA Form 21-527EZ for original or reopen pension claims • VA Form 21-534EZ for Survivor benefit claims • VA Form 21-0966 if you Intend to File a claim • VA Form 21-0958 to file a Notice of Disagreement with a decision 26

  28. How to Apply for Benefits – Standard Forms (continued) VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits (typically completed by mortuary or funeral home) VA Form 21-2680, Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent need for Regular Aid and Attendance 27

  29. Questions?

  30. Contact Information Rob Hard, External Affairs Manager Seattle VA Regional Office 915 Second Avenue Seattle, WA  98174 Telephone:  (206) 341-8510 Email: robert.hard@va.gov Website: www.va.gov Carrie Epperson, Assistant Service Center Manager Seattle VA Regional Office Telephone: (206) 341-8302 Email: carrie.epperson@va.gov

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