VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

1. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICE June 6, 2012 Greg Alleyne, Employment and Outreach Supervisor

2. Agenda • VR&E Overview • Services • Employer Partnerships • Employment Outcomes • Employer Incentives • Tax Credits • VetSuccess.gov

3. VR&E Program Purpose • To provide services and assistance to Servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities • Assist Veterans in obtaining and maintaining suitable employment • Help Veterans achieve independence in daily living

4. VetSuccess Eligibility and Entitlement • Active Duty Servicemembers: • Expect to receive a honorable discharge upon separation from active duty • Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services • Obtain a memorandum rating of 20% or more from VA • Entitlement based on establishment of employment handicap resulting from SCD • Sec. 1631(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act(PL 110-181) established VR&E eligibility for severely injured active duty individuals before a VA rating is issued. Sec. 231 of PL 112-56 extends the sunset date of NDAA to Dec. 31, 2014. • Veterans: • Honorable or other than dishonorable discharge • VA service-connected disability rating or memo rating of 10% or more • Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services • Entitlement based on establishment of employment handicap resulting from SCD • Serious employment handicap establishes entitlement for veterans rated 10% VetSuccess

5. Basic Benefit Information • 48 months of entitlement • May be utilized within 12 years from the date of initial VA disability rating notification • Exception for those with a Serious Employment Handicap

6. Application Entitlement Decision Evaluation and Planning Tracks Rehabilitated Employment Services VetSuccess Process 218 • Application received (VONAP or 28-1900) • Veteran’s eligibility established (GED processing used to establish pending 719) • Schedule veteran for initial counseling appointment if eligible • On-going case management (max of 18 months) • Provide employment services • Vetsuccess.gov • Interview skills • Job placement assistance • Referral to DOL • Work with veteran to identify track • Establish vocational or independent living goal • Define services needed • Develop written plan of services Re-Employment • VRC meets with veteran • Conduct VR&E orientation to include Five Tracks Video • Conduct vocational evaluation to assess skills, abilities & interests • Determine employment handicap (VR&E entitlement criteria) and serious EH • Determine feasibility for employment Rapid Access To Employment • Held suitable employment or improved ability to live independently Self Employment (monitor 1 yr min) Employment Thru Long-Term Services Indep. Living (24 mo. max with 6 mo. Ext by VR&EO)

7. Re-employment • For individuals separating from active duty, National Guard, or Reserves • Return to previous employers • Services include: • Job accommodations • Job modifications • Work adjustment assistance • Consultation with employer

8. Rapid Access to Employment • For individuals seeking employment soon after separation or who already have necessary skills to be competitive in the job market • Services include: • Resume writing and job search assistance • Interviewing skills training • Job accommodations • Refresher courses • Licensure and certification • Post-employment adjustment services

9. Self-Employment • For individuals with limited access to traditional employment, or who need flexible work schedules or a more accommodating work environment due to their disabilities • Services include: • Analysis of viability of business concept • Development of a business plan • Training in small business operations • Marketing assistance • Guidance on obtaining resources

10. Employment ThroughLong-Term Services • For individuals needing specialized training and/or education to obtain and maintain suitable employment • Services may include: • On-the-Job Training (OJT) • Apprenticeships and internships • Higher education or vocational training • Tuition/fees/books/tools • Tutoring • Subsistence allowance

11. Independent Living • For individuals not able to work who need rehabilitation services to live more independently • Services include: • Comprehensive in-home assessment • Assistive technologies • Independent living skills training • Connection to community-based support services • Case management services • Coordination with VA’s Specially Adapted Housing Program

12. Employer Partnerships • VR&E continuously meets with non-profit, private sector, and government employers to enhance employment opportunities for Veterans with the goal to decrease the unemployment rate amongst all Veterans • According to BLS, as of February 2012, the Veteran overall unemployment rate has decreased to 7% (.5% decrease from January 2012). • More specifically, the Post-9/11 Veteran unemployment rate has decreased to 7.6% (1.5% decrease) and Veteran unemployment between the ages of 18-24 has decreased to 12.4% (7.8% decrease • Over the past several months, VR&E has been aggressively involved in establishing partnerships with U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Patent Trademark Office, U.S. Forest Service, AT&T, Chase Bank, Center for Energy Workforce Development, and Health Resources and Services Administration, to name a few, to focus efforts on shortage areas in the labor market and identify Veterans that have the aptitude, interest, and ability to work in those fields

13. Employment Outcomes 13

14. Career Placements

15. VR&E Services Best Practices and Resources for employing Veterans include: -Non Paid Work Experience (NPWE) -On-The-Job Training (OJT) -Special Employer Incentive Program (SEI) -Job Accommodations

16. Non-Paid Work Experience 16 What is Non-Paid Work Experience? • Provides eligible Veterans with practical job experiences • Placement can be at any government facility that will provide the Veteran with a work experience consistent with their vocational rehabilitation goals • There is no cost to the employer; the Veteran receives a subsistence allowance from the VA • (Authorized by Public Law 94-502)

17. Non-Paid Work Experience 17 Benefits for Employers… • Minimal paperwork is required by the participating government agency • High quality worker at no expense • Allows agency to assess Veteran’s fit for noncompetitive appointment into a permanent position • Easy access for the government agency to participate in the NPWE program

18. On-the-Job Training What is an OJT? • Provides training for specific positions with the employer • Veteran is hired at the apprenticeship wage • Results in permanent full-time employment

19. On-the-Job Training • Benefits for the Employer • Hiring qualified Veterans at the training wage • VA VR&E purchases necessary tools, uniforms, other required supplies • VA VR&E evaluates the need for job-site accommodations • VA provides support during training and placement follow-up phases • Minimal paperwork • Tax incentives (Work Opportunity Tax Credit)

20. Special Employer Incentive • General Information... • To assist Veterans who face extraordinary obstacles in obtaining employment. • For Veterans who have completed training under Chapter 31. • SEI programs may be authorized for a maximum of 9 months. • Payment to the employer maybe monthly or in one lump sum.

21. Special Employer Incentive • Benefits for Employers… • Reimbursement of up to 50% of the Veteran’s salary during the SEI program, via direct reimbursement from VA Chapter 31, to cover: • Compensation for additional expenses incurred for cost of instruction • Compensation for loss of production • Compensation for additional supply and equipment costs • Minimal Paperwork • Employee is trained by employer’s standards

22. New Tax Credits Returning Heroes Tax Credit - New hiring tax credit that will provide an incentive for firms to hire unemployed veterans • Short-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks - Long-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $12,000 of wages (up to $4,800) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months Wounded Warrior Tax Credit - Double the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities • Maintain the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit for veterans with service-connected disabilities (currently the maximum is $4,800) • A new credit of 40 percent of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed longer than 6 months - The paperwork process for claiming these credits will be simplified by streamlining the burdensome certification that firms had to undertake to claim previous credits

23. VetSuccess.gov • VetSuccess.gov • Connects over 121,000 Veterans with over 2,500 Employers (as of January 2012) • Employers can search existing resumes for direct hiring of Veterans • Searchable job database of over 8,000,000 jobs • VetSuccess.gov, fully integrated with Ebenefits, VAforVets, and the National Resource Directory, will be a one stop location to support all Veterans in finding employment and advancing their careers • Automatic registration with VetSuccess.gov through Ebenefits integration • VetSuccess.gov will seamlessly integrate all of the tools and information Veterans and Employers will need to find each other

24. VetSuccess.gov • Themed webpages for Veterans • In Transition • On Campus • In the Community • At Work • At Home • For the Veteran’s Family • A user-friendly, searchable U.S. map links the Veteran with the specific resource he/she is seeking • Veteran-specific Resources • College campus information • Vet Center and Medical Center location and contact information • Community resource links • Military Skills Translators • Support Groups and Mentoring programs • Veteran Success Stories • Resume and job interview skills training • Updated Veteran news articles • Links to Post 9/11 GI Bill and VA social media • Integration with E-Benefits and VAforVets • New National Resource Directory Job Search Widget

25. Questions? • Contact Information • Website: www.VetSuccess.gov • Greg Alleyne • 202-461-9600