Providing WIPA Services to Veterans with Disabilities

Part 1

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityWIPA NTC

Why the current emphasis on serving veterans?Myth: Veterans with disabilities receive military retirement or VA benefits instead of SSA disability benefits, so they aren’t eligible for WIPA services.

Fact: VA benefits and SSA benefits are not mutually exclusive. Many of today’s veterans serve in the reserves or national guard and have worked extensively in the civilian economy. Now more than ever, veterans with severe disabilities are qualifying for Social Security disability benefits in addition to VA benefits.

Special Considerations for Providing WIPA Services to Veterans with Disabilities Conducting outreach to veterans who receive SSA

disability benefits Providing linkages to additional employment services and

supports available to veterans Being aware of the many specialized benefit programs

and services available to veterans with disabilities from the Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs (VA)

Understanding the impact of employment on military retirement and VA disability benefits

Understanding how SSA disability benefits and VA benefits interact

Conducting Outreach to Veterans Veterans with disabilities often are not connected

to the traditional VR or disability services systems – especially those who have recently discharged from military service

Special effort must be made to connect with the veterans service system and to identify local agencies serving veterans – especially those with disabilities.

Group Brainstorming Activity

What agencies in your area serve veterans – especially veterans with disabilities?

The best places to start…..

Veterans with disabilities all start out with a connection to the VA healthcare system. Start by making contacts with:

•VA Hospitals and Healthcare Centers

•VA Vet Service Centers

•State veterans’ agencies

Vets Service Centers Provide outreach and readjustment counseling &

referral services to all veterans who served in any combat zone.

Services are also available for the family members of eligible veterans for military related issues.

Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the veteran or family.

Finding Local Vet Agencies VA Hospitals and Healthcare Centers – for

facilities locator/directory, go to: http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

VA Vet Centers – for more information, go to:http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/index.asp

State veterans’ agencies – for state listings, go to: http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm

VA Hospitals and Healthcare Centers – for facilities locator/directory, go to: http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

VA Vet Centers – for more information, go to:http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/index.asp

State veterans’ agencies – for state listings, go to: http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm

Veterans Outreach Considerations Make sure outreach materials are clear about WIPA

program eligibility (individuals must already get SSA disability benefits) and limits on WIPA services (i.e.: not assisting with SSA disability application process)

Establish cooperative relationships with key personnel at veterans agencies to develop sources of technical assistance on veterans benefits and services – they are very complex!

Offer reciprocal training to agencies serving veterans – these agencies know very little about SSA benefits or work incentives

Employment Services and Supports for Veterans with Disabilities There is a whole separate system of services

especially designed to help veterans re-enter the civilian workforce

Some programs are designed for vets with disabilities, others are available to all vets

It is possible to get services from BOTH the veterans system and the traditional disability service system

CWICs must explore all potential options!

VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services (VR&E) The primary function of VA’s VR&E program is to

help veterans who have service-connected disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment, or achieve independence in daily living.

To receive an evaluation for vocational rehabilitation services, a veteran must have received an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge, have a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or more, and submit and application for VR&E services

Entitlement for VR&E Services A Comprehensive Evaluation is completed with a

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor that includes:• A full assessment of the veteran's interests, aptitudes,

and abilities to determine whether the veteran is "entitled" to VR&E services

• An assessment of whether service-connected disabilities impair the veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills already attained

• Vocational exploration and goal development

Entitlement for VR&E Services Continued… A VA Counselor decides if a veteran has an

“employment handicap” based upon the results of the comprehensive evaluation.

Entitlement to services is established if the veteran has a 20% service-connected disability and an employment handicap.

If the disability is 10% service-connected, then a “serious employment handicap” must be found to establish entitlement to vocational rehabilitation services

VR&E Services Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) work with vets to:

Determine transferable skills, aptitudes, and interests

Identify viable employment and/or independent living services options

Explore labor market and wage information Identify physical demands and other job

characteristics

More VR&E Services Narrow vocational options to identify a suitable

employment goal Select a VR&E program track leading to an

employment or independent living goal Investigate training requirements Identify resources needed to achieve rehabilitation Develop an individualized rehabilitation plan to

achieve the identified employment and / or independent living goals

VR&E Services Continued

The following 5 service delivery tracks are available:

•Reemployment with previous employer •Rapid employment services for new

employment •Self-employment •Employment through long term services •Independent living services

Subsistence Allowance for Work-Study Participants Some veterans who are participating in

training or education programs may qualify for a monthly subsistence allowance in addition to Disability Compensation.

Subsistence allowance is paid each month during training and is based on the rate of attendance (full-time or part-time), the number of dependents, and the type of training.

Subsistence Allowance for Work-Study Participants Continued…. Veterans training at the three-quarter or full-time

rate may also participate in VA’s work-study program.

Work-Study participants may provide VA outreach services, prepare and process VA paperwork, and work at a VA medical facility or perform other VA-approved activities.

A portion of the work-study allowance equal to 40 percent of the total may be paid in advance.

Educational and Vocational Counseling Services Provided by VR&E VR&E can provide a wide range of educational and

vocational counseling services to service members still on active duty, as well as veterans and dependents who are eligible for one of VA's educational benefit programs.

Services are designed to help an individual choose a vocational direction and determine the course needed to achieve the chosen goal.

Assistance may include interest and aptitude testing; occupational exploration; and locating the right type of training program.

VetSuccess program Partnership between VR&E program and the

Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) program

A main component of the VetSuccess program is its website: VetSuccess.gov

Provides a comprehensive integrated Intra/Internet-based data network that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of a virtual one stop employment center

Veterans Services Available at State Employment Offices

Local Veterans' Employment Representatives(LVERs) also known as “Vet Reps” – These are fulltime state employees located in state employmentservice local offices to provide assistance toveterans by:

• supervising the provision of all services to veterans furnished by employment service employees, including counseling, testing, and identifying training and employment opportunities;

Veteran’s Employment Reps Continued…

• monitoring job listings from federal contractors to see that eligible veterans get priority in referrals to these jobs;

• promoting and monitoring the participation of veterans in federally-funded employment and training programs;

• cooperating with the VA to identify and aid veterans who need work-specific prosthetic devices, sensory aids or other special equipment.

More Services Available at State Employment Offices

Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) – In this program, specialists develop job and training opportunities for veterans with special emphasis on veterans with service-connected disabilities. • DVOP specialists provide direct services to veterans

enabling them to be competitive in the labor market;

Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Continued… Specialists provide outreach and offer assistance to

disabled and other veterans by promoting community and employer support for employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeship and on-the-job training.

The DOL provides grant funds to each state's employment service to maintain DVOP specialist positions in the state. DVOP specialists may be stationed at VA regional offices and medical centers, state or county veterans' service offices, community-based organizations, and military installations.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ownership for Veterans Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers – partnership

between VR&E, SBA and SBDCs. Mission to support qualified veterans who are exploring business ownership, expanding a business or moving into federal marketplace.

• Participants must be eligible for VR&E services• Guidance provided on business feasibility assessment,

development of business plan, financing & start-up• VA does NOT provide business loans or grants!• More info - http://www.vboc.org/

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ownership for Veterans

Small Business Administration (SBA) – Office of Veterans Business Development. The mission of the Office of Veterans Business Development is to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of all administration small business programs for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their dependents or survivors. http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd/index.html

More Resources for Small Business Development for Veterans The US General Services Administration (GSA) partners

with the Veterans Corp. (TVC), a federally chartered 501(c)(3) organization, to provide business resources to veterans, such as access to capital, surety bonding, education and prescription coverage. For more information go to http://www.veteranscorp.org/

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offers an array of online resources through its Veteran Owned Businesses program. For more information go to: http://www.score.org/veteran.html

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Health care program of the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA) – services delivered out of VA medical centers in most cases.

Provides a range of vocational rehabilitation services to support veterans interested in competitive jobs.

In some locations CWT is also known as “Veterans Industries” - these designations are synonymous.

CWT Services State of the art vocational rehabilitation services

integrated into treatment planning Job matching and employment supports Vocational assessment Vocational case management Work site and job analysis Consultation regarding assistive technology, ADA,

and reasonable accommodation

Compensated Work Therapy Programs Incentive Therapy Program

Sheltered Workshop Program

Transitional Employment Program

Supported Employment Program

Transitional Residence Program

Income from CWT Programs For SSA, most payments from CWT programs are

excluded from income entirely since they are received in conjunction with medical services.

Participants in the CWT Supported Employment (SE) phase of the program are paid directly from local community employers. Income from CWT SE is considered earned income for SSI and title II disability benefit purposes.

Education & Training Programs for VeteransThe VA, Department of Labor (DoL) and the Department ofEducation (DoE) each administer a number of employment,education, and training programs for veterans. The majorprograms offered are:

• Post 9/11 GI Bill

• The Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty

• The Montgomery G.I. Bill - Selected Reserve

• Veteran's Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

• Veteran's Upward Bound

• Veteran's Employment and Training

Post-9/11 GI Bill The Post-9/11 GI Bill became effective for training on or

after August 1, 2009 Provides financial support for education and housing to

individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals honorably discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

The amount of support depends on where a vet lives and what type of degree they are pursuing. For a summary of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, see http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Benefit_Comparison_Chart.htm#911amount

More about the Post-9/11 GI Bill Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes

graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training.

All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by an educational Entity

For more info go to: http://www.gibill.va.gov/Training/Pamphlets.htm

Warning – Veteran’s Education & Training Programs are Complex! Get help from local sources of information –

Start with your Vet Service Center

Online resources include: www.military.com/benefits/veteranhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/

Programs for Veterans who are Homeless VA Programs for Homeless Vets

http://www1.va.gov/homeless/

DOL Homeless Vets Community Reintegration Projectshttp://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/hvrp/hvrp-bp.htm

Final Words It takes time and effort to research all of the

available resources for veterans – this is an important part of a CWIC’s job!

You can’t know everything about the vets system – get help from knowledgeable sources!

Relationship building is key!