Veterans Benefits Veterans Benefits AdministrationAdministration

Veterans Benefits Veterans Benefits AdministrationAdministration

Veterans of Foreign Wars Women’s Forum

Ms. Pamela LivermanBenefits Assistance Service

August 24, 2010

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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 Compensation and Pension Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Education eBenefits

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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

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Overview of Women Benefits

Women VeteransThere 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

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Overview of Women Benefits cont’dcont’d

Benefits Usage by Women VeteransCompensation benefits: 243,484 Pension benefits: 11,683 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits: 21,000 Loan Guaranty benefits: 37,289 with $2.7 billion in loansInsurance

-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

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Overview of Women Benefits cont’dcont’d

Compensation and PensionDisability resulting from injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active serviceDisability 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

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Overview of Women Benefits cont’dcont’d

Pre-discharge ClaimsWomen 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 Includes National Guard and Reservists MEB/PEB where DES Pilot not available

BDD and Quick Start are available at all locations where VA excepts claims

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Overview of Women Benefits cont’dcont’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.

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Overview of Women Benefits cont’dcont’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

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Overview of Women Benefits cont’dcont’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

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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

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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

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Overview of Program Updates

Education

Post 9/11 GI Bill Fall enrollment status

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Yellow Ribbon Program

Fry Scholarship

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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 themCreates 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)

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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.)

Enhance Advocacy

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Enhance Advocacy cont’d

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Enhance Advocacy cont’d

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Questions?