WORKING TOGETHER TO

HELP VETERANS

Access to VA Benefits presented by: Cheryl Beck, PCOS

VBA Regional Office in every state.

•OEF/OIF/OND Advocates at every

VA Medical Center

•Wounded Warrior Liaisons

•Vet Centers & Voc. Rehab

•Social Security Administration

•Community Resources

Course Outline

» VA on the Internet» E-Benefits» Compensation» Pension» Death Pension» Home Loan Guaranty» Burial» Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment» Resources

Department of Veterans Affairs

» Veterans Benefits Administration• All VA benefits - Compensation, Education, Home Loan

Guaranty, etc.• Administered by VA Regional Offices

» Veterans Health Administration• All VA health care services• Administered by VA Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care &

Community Based Outpatient Clinics, etc.

» National Cemetery Administration• National and State Veterans Cemeteries• Headstones & Markers• Presidential Memorial Certificates

www.va.gov

http://www.facebook.com/VeteransBenefits

http://twitter.com/VAVetBenefits

Or call us

1-800-827-10007:00 a.m. EST to 10:00 p.m. EST

VA on the Internet

» www.ebenefits.va.gov» One-stop shop for benefits-

related online tools and information.• Apply for benefits• See your benefits status and

payments online• Download your DD 214

Eligibility

»Veteran defined:• Other than dishonorable discharge• Active duty service, not including

Reserve active duty for training• Retirement eligible Reserve and

National Guard members

Compensation

» VA Rating Process Teams and Sequence of Events» Disabilities are rated from 0% to 100%.

• Combined overall rating

» Compensation payment is tax free.• Compensation payments range from 10% to 100%.• Additional allowance for dependents with 30% or higher

rating.• By Regulation, the Department of Treasury now requires

that federal beneficiaries receive their recurring/monthly benefits electronically.

VA Benefits Briefing

Service Connected Terms

• Acute disability – short duration, clear without residuals

– Common cold, Flu

• Chronic disability – long term duration, never goes away

– Hypertension, Arthritis, Migraines

• In the Line of Duty – injury or disease incurred while serving on active duty

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Compensation - Related Benefits

» VA health care for all rated service-connected conditions

» Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services» $10,000 VA life insurance» Federal employment Veteran’s preference» VA loan funding fee waived» Possible state and local benefits for Veterans

VA Compensation – Current Rates

Rating Vet Only Vet+S Vet+S+1C Vet+S+2C Vet+S+3C

10% $129 N/A N/A N/A N/A

20% 255 N/A N/A N/A N/A

30% 395 442 476 499 522

40% 569 631 677 708 739

50% 810 888 946 985 1,024

60% 1,026 1,120 1,189 1,235 1,281

70% 1,293 1,402 1,483 1,537 1,591

80% 1,503 1,628 1,720 1,782 1,844

90% 1,689 1,830 1,933 2,003 2,073

100% 2,816 2,973 3,088 3,166 3,244

S = Spouse C = Child(ren)Rates effective Dec. 1, 2012

VA Benefits Briefing

Special Monthly Compensation (38 CFR 3.350)

• Additional compensation for the loss or loss of use of specific organs or extremities.

• Loss, or loss of use, is either an amputation or having no effective remaining function

• Special Monthly Compensation may be granted for:

Loss, or Loss of use, of a hand or foot Complete loss, or loss of use, of both buttocks

Immobility of a joint or paralysis Loss, or loss of use, of a reproductive organ

Inability to communicate by speech Loss of sight of an eye (only light perception)

Deafness of both ears (absence of air and bone conduction)

Loss of a percentage of tissue from a single breast, or both breasts, from Mastectomy or

Radiation Treatment

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Aid and Attendance or Housebound Benefits

The veteran and/or spouse may qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits if he/she requires the regular aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, or is bedridden, a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, blind, or permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises because of a disability.

VA PENSIONfor Nonservice-

ConnectedDisabilities

What is VA Pension?VA Pension is a benefit paid

to wartime veterans with limited income, and who are

permanently and totally disabled or age 65 or older.

What is the difference between VA Compensation and VA Pension?

Compensation – Monthly VA benefits paid to veterans who are at least 10% disabled as a result of their military service.

Pension – Monthly VA benefits paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are permanently and totally disabled or at least 65 years old.

VA Pension

Eligibility Requirements:» At least 90 days of active military service (generally,

24 months for enlistments after September 7, 1980)» At least one day of wartime service (combat service

not required)» Totally and permanently disabled or attained age 65» Within income limits to qualify for this benefit

WARTIME SERVICE

WWII 12/07/1941 - 12/31/1946

KOREAN WAR

06/27/1950 - 01/31/1955

VIETNAM WAR

08/05/1964 - 05/07/1975

In Country before

02/28/1961

GULF WAR 08/02/1990 to 12-31-2016

Pension

Income-Based Benefit

• Following chart shows the monthly rate for veterans found eligible and who have no source of countable family income that would reduce the rate

• If there is countable family income, the monthly rate is reduced, dollar-for-dollar, by the amount of countable family income

Veteran Status RegularIf house-

bound

If in need of aid &

attendance

Veteran alone $12,465

$1,038

$15,233

$1,269

$20,795$1,732

Veteran w/spouse $16,324

$1,360

$19,093

$1,591

$24,652$2,054

Surv. Spouse $8,359$696

$10,217

$851

$13,362$1,113

PensionSample Annual Rates

Rates effective Dec. 1, 2012

What is countable income for pension eligibility purposes?

• Income received by the veteran and his or her dependents, if any, from most sources, including earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividends, and net income from farming or business.

• All of a child's income is presumed available to or for the veteran.   VA may grant an exception in hardship cases.

How Does VA Calculate Annual Pension Benefit?

1. Totals all countable income2. Subtracts all deductions3. Deducts remaining countable income from the

appropriate annual pension limit which is determined by the number of dependents, if any, and whether or not veteran is entitled to housebound or aid and attendance benefits

4. Divides net amount by 12 and rounds amount down to the nearest dollar

What are Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits?

• Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound are VA benefits paid in addition to monthly pension.  

• These benefits may not be paid without eligibility to pension. (Must apply for this additional benefit.)

• A veteran cannot receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits at the same time.

Additional considerations• A veteran cannot receive a VA

nonservice-connected pension and service-connected compensation at the same time. However, if both are applied for, VA will pay whichever benefit is the greater amount.

Net worth . . .$$$• Includes the cash and the value of assets of the

veteran and his or her dependents.  

• Excludes the veteran's residence and a reasonable lot area.

• The current limit on net worth for a veteran and his dependents is $80,000. Net worth cannot be “excessive.” 

 

Effect of net worth on eligibility . . .• The decision as to whether a claimant's net worth is

excessive depends on the facts of each individual case.   All net worth must be reported and VA will determine if a claimant's assets are sufficiently large that the claimant could live off these assets for a reasonable period of time.  

• VA's needs-based programs are not intended to protect substantial assets or build up an estate for the benefit of heirs.

$90 Rate• VA pays a special $90 monthly rate to pension-

eligible veterans or surviving spouses with no dependents who receive Medicaid-covered nursing home care. 

• These funds are available for the beneficiary’s personal use and may NOT be used to offset the cost of his or her care.

 

What is VA Death Pension?

VA Death Pension is a benefit paid to low income

surviving spouses and eligible dependents of

deceased wartime veterans.

Vet Center

Vet Center Services to ReturningOEF/OIF Veterans and Their Families

“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.”

Abraham Lincoln

Vet Centers serve Veterans and their families by providing a continuum of

quality care that adds value for Veterans, families, and communities…..

We welcome home war Veterans with honor by providing readjustment

counseling in a caring manner.

Vet Centers understand and appreciate Veterans’ war experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful post-war adjustment in or near their community.

“Walk on in”

VA Benefits Briefing

VA Home Loan Guaranty

• Buy a home.

• Build a home

• Refinance existing loan

• MUST OCCUPY THE PROPERTY

• Problems making payments 1-877-827-3702

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VA Benefits Briefing

VA Home Loan Guaranty

• Lenders make the loan and VA guarantees it

• No downpayment

• Must qualify for loan with sufficient income and satisfactory credit

• No prepayment penalty

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Help Your Buddy

VA’s National Suicide Hotline Resource

1-800-273-TALK(8255)

Burial Benefits

Burial Benefits

» National Cemeteries» State Veterans Cemeteries» Headstone or Marker» Burial Flag» Presidential Memorial Certificates» Burial Cost Reimbursement

In accordance with title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), sections 2303 (a) and (b), effective October 1, 2011, burial and plot benefits are increased from $300 to $700 for burial reimbursement for Veterans who died while properly hospitalized by VA, and plot reimbursement for Veterans who are entitled to receive compensation or pension benefits, or are otherwise eligible for a plot allowance.

To Do List

» To ease the burden on family members, the Veteran can:

• Provide appropriate loved ones with a copy of his/her DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Military Service.

• Inform family members of his/her burial wishes.

• Visit the National Cemetery Administration website at www.cem.va.gov

Compensation or Pension How to Apply

Online through eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov

-OR-Online through Veterans ON-line

application (VONAPP) at www.va.gov-OR-

Through a VA Regional Office VA Form 21-526EZ Compensation

VA Form 21-527EZ Pension(see Federal Benefits for Veterans Dependents & Survivors,

“VA Facilities”, for locations.)

VA Benefits Briefing

Questions?

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