Veterans of Foreign Wars Women’s Forum Benefits Assistance Service Ms. Pamela Liverman Benefits Assistance Service August 24, 2010

Agenda Topics Benefits Assistance Service Overview of Women Benefits Women Veterans Benefits Usage by Women Veterans Compensation and Pension Pre-discharge Claims Women Veterans Coordinator Benefits Unique to Women Veterans Military Sexual Trauma Overview of Program Updates Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Education eBenefits Veterans of Foreign Wars

Benefits Assistance Service (BAS) BAS is VBA’s newest line of business and it works to transform outreach and public contact activities through a client-centered approach by Ensuring that VBA provides timely, accurate, and pertinent information and benefit assistance to Veterans, servicemembers, survivors, and dependents Establishing policy and procedures for client-centered outreach, direct services, social media, marketing, and web-content tools. Ensuring that VBA uses all avenues to reach its clients and general public regarding benefits and services. Websites Facebook Twitter Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits Women Veterans There are 1.8 million Women Veterans, representing 8 percent of the U.S. Veteran population Over 250,000 Women Veterans are receiving compensation or pension benefits Approximately 15 percent of all awards of service connection since 2002 have been to Women Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits cont’d Benefits Usage by Women Veterans Compensation benefits: 243,484 Pension benefits: 11,683 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits: 21,000 Loan Guaranty benefits: 37,289 with $2.7 billion in loans Insurance SGLI/TSGLI (Female Service member’s covered) – 450,634 FSGLI (Male Service members’ w/female spousal coverage) – 931,454 FSGLI (Female Service members’ w/male spousal coverage) – 172,546 VGLI (Female Veterans covered) 57,964 Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits cont’d Compensation and Pension Disability resulting from injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active service Disability may be rated from 0% to 100%, Payments made for 10% to 100%. Special Monthly Compensation (such as aid & attendance, loss of limb, eyesight) Payments are tax-free Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits cont’d Pre-discharge Claims Women Servicemembers can submit claims for service connection prior to their discharge from active duty Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Between 60-180 days of separation from active duty Requires completion of VA examination Includes National Guard and Reservists MEB/PEB where DES Pilot not available Quick Start Less than 60 days remaining on active duty BDD and Quick Start are available at all locations where VA excepts claims Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits cont’d Women Veterans Coordinator (WVC) Every VA Regional Office has designated a Women Veterans Coordinator (WVC) to provide outreach and claims assistance to Women Veterans WVCs collaborate with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) to obtain documentation for claims based on military sexual trauma (MST) Acts as a point of contact for VA and other service providers for Women Veterans with special needs. Women Veterans who have experienced sexual trauma while on active duty should be referred to the RO WVC. Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits cont’d Benefits Unique to Women Veterans Unique disability compensation evaluation criteria for Women Veterans are provided in the VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities Benefits are provided to the children of Women Veterans who served in Vietnam for disabilities due to covered herbicide-related birth defects Special monthly compensation is paid to Women Veterans who suffer a service-connected loss of 25 percent or more of breast tissue from mastectomy or radiation treatment Special monthly compensation is also paid for service-connected loss, or loss of use, of a creative organ Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Women Benefits cont’d Military Sexual Trauma VBA provides compensation payments for service-connected disabilities that are related to MST VA provides counseling and appropriate care and services to overcome trauma due to MST Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Program Updates Compensation and Pension Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) regulation Agent Orange presumptive listing—in process Persian Gulf War presumptive listing—in process Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Program Updates Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Special training for counselors on diverse needs Array of services available, including: employment services, independent living assistance, vocational and adjustment counseling, adaptive equipment and limited childcare Outreach efforts: Coming Home to Work (CWTW) program VetSuccess on Campus pilot Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Program Updates Education Post 9/11 GI Bill Fall enrollment status Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Yellow Ribbon Program Fry Scholarship Veterans of Foreign Wars

Overview of Program Updates eBenefits “One-stop shop” benefits-related online tool for Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Service members, families of Service Members, and others who care for them Creates a personalized workspace giving quick access to online tools: Apply for benefits Check status of claim See payment history Request and obtain (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Eligibility, etc) Upcoming features: Integrate with Tricare on-line and My HealtheVet Update personal information (e.g., address & EFT) Veterans of Foreign Wars

Enhance Advocacy Increase presence at every communication forum (VSO’s conventions, Women Advisory Council, etc) Unique Pamphlet for Women Veterans Revamping the Transition Assistance Program Enhance collaboration efforts with Federal and state agencies (DoD, SSA, DoL, etc.) Veterans of Foreign Wars

Enhance Advocacy cont’d Veterans of Foreign Wars

Enhance Advocacy cont’d Veterans of Foreign Wars

Questions? Veterans of Foreign Wars