Providing WIPA Services to Veterans

with Disabilities

Part 1

May 12, 20151

Training Objectives

• Understand how to conduct effective outreach to WIPA eligible veterans with disabilities

• Demonstrates an awareness of the various sources of vocational rehabilitation, training and employment supports available to veterans (VR&E, VetSuccess, Vet Reps, self-employment resources)

• Demonstrates and understanding of how to connect veterans with appropriate employment or self-employment services and supports.

2

Why the current emphasis on serving veterans?

Myth: Veterans with disabilities receive military retirement or VA benefits instead of Social Security disability benefits, so they aren’t eligible for WIPA services.

Fact: VA benefits and Social Security 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.

3

Special Considerations for Providing WIPA Services to Veterans with Disabilities

• Conducting outreach to veterans who receive Social Security 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 U.S. Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs (VA).

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

• Understanding how Social Security disability benefits and VA benefits interact.

4

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.

5

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

6

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.

7

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

8

Veterans Outreach Considerations

• Make sure outreach materials are clear about WIPA program eligibility (individuals must already get Social Security disability benefits) and limits on WIPA services (i.e.: not assisting with Social Security 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 Social Security benefits or work incentives.

9

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!

10

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. Services include:

•Comprehensive evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interests for employment;•Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services;•Employment services such as job-training, job-seeking skills, resume development, and other work readiness assistance;

11

More Services Provided by VR&E

• Assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives and job accommodations;

• On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences;

• Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school;

• Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals;

• Independent living services for Veterans unable to work due to the severity of their disabilities.

12

Entitlement for VR&E ServicesTo 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. A Comprehensive Evaluation is completed with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor that includes:•An assessment of the Veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities;•An assessment of whether service connected disabilities impair the Veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills he or she has already developed; and•Vocational exploration and goal development leading to employment and / or maximum independence at home and in the Veteran's community

13

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.

14

VR&E Counseling

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;• Narrow vocational options to identify a suitable

employment goal;

15

VR&E Counseling Continued

• 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;

16

VR&E Services Continued

The following five service delivery tracks are available:

1. Reemployment with previous employer 2. Rapid employment services for new employment 3. Self-employment 4. Employment through long term services 5. Independent living services

17

Subsistence Allowance• In some cases, Veterans participating in the VR&E program

may receive a subsistence allowance while they pursue an educational or training program.

• The subsistence allowance is paid each month, and is based on the rate of attendance in a training program (full time, three quarter time, or half time), the number of dependents, and the type of training.

• If a Veteran qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill he/she may be eligible to receive the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for subsistence.

• http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOCREHAB/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp

18

VetSuccess on Campus Program

• VSOC helps Veterans, service members, and their qualified dependents succeed and thrive through a coordinated delivery of on-campus benefits assistance and counseling, leading to completion of their education and preparing them to enter the labor market in viable careers.

• The VSOC program provides a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to each VSOC school. A VA Vet Center Outreach Coordinator is also provided, and co-located on many campuses, to provide peer-to-peer counseling and referral services.

• http://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/vsoc.asp

19

Veterans Services Available at State Employment Offices

Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) also known as “Vet Reps” – These are full time state employees located in state employment service local offices to provide assistance to veterans by:

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

20

Veterans 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.

21

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;

22

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.

23

Veterans Employment Center

• The VEC is the federal government’s single authoritative internet source for connecting transitioning service members, Veterans and their families to meaningful career opportunities.

• The VEC brings together a reputable cadre of public and private employers with real job opportunities, and provides transitioning service members, Veterans and their families with the tools to translate their military skills into plain language and build a profile that can be shared – in real time – with employers who have made a public commitment to hire Veterans.

24

Services Available at the VEC

• Military Skills Translator: Translates military occupational codes into civilian skill equivalents for a powerful resume.

• Generate a Resume or Build a Profile: Imports results from the skills translator into an online profile that users can download or publish to employers on the VEC.

• Search the Veterans Job Bank (VJB): The VJB allows users to search over 1.5 million jobs in addition to all federal jobs – including status positions reserved especially for Veterans.

• View Employer Commitments: View a list of hundreds of employers and organizations that have made a commitment to hire or train veterans.

• Find Other Resources: The VEC contains or links to a broad set of other informational resources designed to help Vets find career opportunities and take advantage of special government and partner programs.

25

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ownership for Veterans

Veterans 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/

26

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

27

More Resources for Small Business Development for

Veterans

• The U.S. 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

28

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)

• Healthcare 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.

29

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

30

Compensated Work Therapy Programs

• Incentive Therapy Program

• Sheltered Workshop Program

• Transitional Employment Program

• Supported Employment Program

• Transitional Residence Program

31

Income from CWT Programs

• For Social Security, 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.

32

Education & Training Programs for Veterans

The 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

– Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

– Veterans Upward Bound

– Veterans Employment and Training 33

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.

• http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Benefit_Comparison_Chart.htm#911amount

34

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

• http://www.gibill.va.gov/Training/Pamphlets.htm

35

Warning – Veterans Education & Training Programs are Complex!

• Get help from local sources of information – Start with your Vet Service Center.

• Online resources include: http://www.military.com/educationhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/

• CWICs are not expected to be experts in this area. Know where to refer veterans for help!

36

Programs for Veterans who are Homeless

• VA Programs for Homeless Vetshttp://www1.va.gov/homeless/

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

37

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!

38