Transcript Presentation Template

An Overview of VA Benefits
Transition Assistance Advisors
Professional Development Seminar
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
April 2012
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.
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
1
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
2
Regional Offices
Togus
Manchester
Seattle
White River Jct.
Anchorage
Ft. Harrison
Fargo
Portland
St.
Paul
Boise
Milwaukee
Sioux Falls
Cheyenne
Boston
Des Moines
Lincoln
Reno
Oakland
Salt Lake
City
Buffalo
Detroit
Pittsburgh
New York
Cleveland
Chicago
Newark
Philadelphia
Wilmington
Indianapolis
Denver
Huntington
St. Louis
Wichita
Louisville
Los Angeles
Nashville
Albuquerque
San Diego
Providence
Hartford
Muskogee
Little
Rock
Atlanta
Montgomery
Phoenix
WACO
Baltimore
DC
Roanoke
Winston Salem
Columbia
Eastern Area
Southern Area
Central Area
Western Area
Jackson
New Orleans
Houston
St. Petersburg
Honolulu
San Juan
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
3
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
4
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
5
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
6
Compensation – Current Rates
Rating
Vet Only
Vet+S
Vet+S+1C
Vet+S+2C
Vet+S+3C
10%
$127
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
20%
251
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
30%
389
435
469
492
515
40%
560
622
667
697
727
50%
797
874
931
969
1,007
60%
1,009
1,102
1,169
1,215
1,261
70%
1,272
1,380
1,459
1,512
1,565
80%
1,478
1,602
1,692
1,753
1,814
90%
1,661
1,800
1,902
1,971
2,040
100%
2,769
2,924
3,037
3,114
3,191
S = Spouse
C = Child(ren)
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Rates effective Dec. 1, 2011
7
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
8
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
9
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
– [email protected]
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
10
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
11
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
12
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
13
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
14
How to apply
• Servicemembers, including IDES enrollees, should complete the following:
– VA Form 28-0588, Memo Rating
– VA Form 21-526c, Pre-Discharge Compensation Claim, or VA Form 21526, 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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
15
eBenefits
The eBenefits portal
(www.ebenefits.va.gov) is a “onestop 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.).
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
16
Resources
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
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
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
17
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
[email protected]
VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
18