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

2. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 1 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 2 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 3 Regional Offices San Juan Anchorage Honolulu Seattle Portland Togus Buffalo White River Jct. Manchester Boston Providence Hartford Roanoke Winston Salem St. Petersburg Wilmington New York Philadelphia Newark Baltimore Reno Salt Lake City Albuquerque Phoenix Denver Boise Ft. Harrison Cheyenne Sioux Falls Fargo Lincoln Columbia St. Paul WACO Muskogee Wichita Milwaukee Detroit Houston New Orleans Jackson Little Rock St. Louis Des Moines San Diego Nashville Atlanta Montgomery Indianapolis Chicago Louisville Pittsburgh Oakland Cleveland Los Angeles Huntington DC Eastern Area Southern Area Central Area Western Area

5. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 4 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 5 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 6 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 7 Compensation – Current Rates RatingVet OnlyVet+SVet+S+1CVet+S+2CVet+S+3C 10%$127N/A 20%251N/A 30%389435469492515 40%560622667697727 50%7978749319691,007 60%1,0091,1021,1691,2151,261 70%1,2721,3801,4591,5121,565 80%1,4781,6021,6921,7531,814 90%1,6611,8001,9021,9712,040 100%2,7692,9243,0373,1143,191 Rates effective Dec. 1, 2011S = Spouse C = Child(ren)

9. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 8 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 9 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 10 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 11 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 12 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 13 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 14 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 15 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 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. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 16 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.).www.ebenefits.va.gov

18. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 17 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 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

19. VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION 18 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