Department of Veterans Affairs. Briefing to The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission September 10, 2013

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1 Department of Veterans Affairs Briefing to The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission September 10, 2013 Office of Policy and Planning 1

2 Briefing Outline VA Mission and Scope Health Care Benefits Memorial Affairs Accessing VA VA/DoD Collaboration 2

3 VA Mission To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan. President Abraham Lincoln 2 nd Inaugural Address March 4, 1865 When our fellow citizens commit themselves to shed blood for us, that binds our fates with theirs in a way that nothing else can.caring for those who have given their fullest measure of devotion to us--and for their families--is a matter of honor--as a nation and as a people. President Barack Obama Commemorating 20 th Anniversary of VA March 16, 2009 People-Centric Results-Driven Forward-Looking 3

4 VA Major Business Lines Veterans Health Administration Medical Care Health Care Services Primary Care Acute Care Mental Health Services Prosthetics Rehabilitative Care and Dental Care Long-Term Care Other Health Care Programs Readjustment Counseling Civilian Health and Medical Program (ChampVA) Medical Research FY 13 Total VA funding: $138 B Veterans Benefits Administration Compensation Pension Voc Rehab & Employment Education Home Loan Guaranty Insurance FY 13 Total: $2.2 B (VBA) National Cemetery Administration Memorial & Burial Benefits Operation and Maintenance Construction and Renovation Grants to States Grave Liners and Outer Burial Receptacles Headstones and Markers National Shrines FY 13 Total: $56.3 B FY 13 Total $72.9 B (Mandatory) FY 13 Total $0.3B 4

5 VA in Perspective 331,912 employees, approximately 1/3 are Veterans (goal of 40%) 2 nd Largest Department in the Federal Government $138B Budget: size of a Fortune 15 Corporation 5

6 Veteran Population and Trends 22.3 million living Veterans 90% male and 10% female 43% are 65+, 4% are under 30 6% served in WW II, 34% in VN, and 28% GW Era 21% are minorities In 25 years Less than 1,000 living WWII Veterans projected Women projected to be 17% of living Veterans 6

7 VA s commitment is from oath to grave Enlistment Active Duty Transition Civilian Life Base Education & Family Services PDHRA (VA presence) TAP/DTAP/DES VA.gov OEF/OIF Website Service members Group Life Insurance Traumatic Service member Group Life Insurance Family Group Life Insurance Chapter 30 Home Loan Guaranty Vocational Rehabilitation Chapter 31 FRC National Resource Directory Treatment & Counseling FRC National Resource Directory VA Social Networking Facebook YouTube Twitter Second Life State VA Offices NCA VHA VA Medical Center Veterans Group Life Insurance VARO 7

8 Health Care 8

9 Veterans Health Administration Providing Care Coast to Coast Health Care Facilities 152 Medical Centers 990 Outpatient Clinics 134 Community Living Centers 102 Domiciliaries* 300 Vet Centers** 70 Mobile Vet Centers 132 Community Living Centers * Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs ** Walk-in support centers, providing counseling and connection to local social services. 9

10 Veterans Health Administration Treating Veterans One of the largest integrated health care systems in the Nation, offering coordinated, continuous care in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. 277,000+ Total Employees 84,000+ Veteran Employees 21,000+ Physicians 67,000+ Nurses* *Includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses. 10

11 Eligibility for VA Health Care Combat Veterans up to 5 years post-service Non-Combat Veterans, Enrollment Priority Groups 1 8 Some Co-pays Apply at local VA medical center, by mail, through or or call

12 Benefits 12

13 Veterans Benefits Administration 20,800 Employees (more than 50% are Veterans) Delivering Benefits Worldwide 56 Regional Offices 9 Regional Loan Centers 6 Fiduciary Hubs 4 Regional Processing Centers (Education) 3 Pension Management Centers 1 Appeals Management Center 1 Records Management Center 1 Insurance Center 10 National Call Centers 13

14 Veterans Benefits Administration Compensation for Veterans and Survivors Disability Compensation for Veterans Tax-free benefit paid to eligible Veterans due to injuries/diseases resulting from or aggravated by military service Eligibility based on service-related disability and discharge under other than dishonorable conditions and higher Benefit amount determined by severity of condition(s) $44.3 billion paid to nearly 3.5 million Veterans in FY 2012 Dependency & Indemnity Compensation for Survivors Tax-free benefit for death during military service, post-service death related to service-connected disability, or death after extended period of 100 percent disability Awarded to spouse, children, and/or parents $5.5 billion paid to 366,000 survivors in FY 2012 *All Numbers are for FY 12 14

15 Veterans Benefits Administration Pension for Veterans and Survivors Disability Pension for Wartime Veterans Tax-free benefit paid to eligible wartime Veterans with limited or no income who are age 65 or older or determined permanently and totally disabled Seriously disabled Veterans may qualify for increased pension benefits based on their household status or need for aid and attendance $3.5 billion paid to 314,000 Veterans Death Pension for Survivors of Wartime Veterans Tax-free benefit paid to eligible spouses and children Based on financial need and Veteran s wartime service $1.4 billion paid to nearly 207,000 survivors in FY 2012 *All Numbers are for FY 12 15

16 VA Compensation & Pension claims have No time limit to apply May be paid retroactive to the first of the month after separation/retirement if VA receives the application within one year of separation/retirement. Otherwise, benefits are generally effective no earlier than the date VA received the application. How to apply: Online through ebenefits - Veterans ONline Application (VONAPP) at Through a VA Regional Office (see Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents & Survivors, VA Facilities, for locations) 16

17 VA Supports Three Pre-Discharge Programs Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Quick Start More information available at: 17

18 Veterans Benefits Administration Life Insurance 6.7 Million insured with a face value of $1.3 Trillion Four Life Insurance Programs Currently Available Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance - for Veterans with service-connected disabilities Servicemembers Group Life Insurance - open to active duty and reserve members of the uniformed services Veterans Group Life Insurance - available to individuals recently separated from active duty or the reserves Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance for seriously disabled Veterans granted specially adapted housing benefits TSGLI - SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection Provides between $25,000 to $100,000 to severely injured service members, determined by Department of Defense Designed to provide short-term assistance due to financial hardships created when families temporarily re-locate to be with the member during recovery and rehabilitation 18

19 In addition, Social Security Disability Insurance may be available to some Social Security Disability or Survivors Benefits may be available to injured active duty Regardless of where or when injury occurred Expedited service for line-of-duty disabilities on or after October 1, 2001 How To Apply: On-Line at Telephonically at In-Person at Social Security Office 19

20 Veterans Benefits Administration Home Loan Guaranty VA guarantees loans made by private lenders such as banks, savings and loan associations, and mortgage companies VA guaranteed the 20 millionth home loan in October 2012 Assists Service members and Veteran borrowers with financial difficulties by providing options to retain their homes and avoid foreclosure; VA-guaranteed loans have maintained the lowest foreclosure rate among all categories of mortgage loans (e.g., prime, subprime, FHA) for 21 consecutive quarters more than 5 years. The result is $10.4 billion in savings to taxpayers and the Government in potential claims payment, since Require no-down payment or mortgage insurance premiums on VA-guaranteed loans. Of the loans originated last year Veterans will save $19 billion over the life of their loan by not paying mortgage insurance (compared to their FHA counterparts). Provides Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants for severely disabled Veterans. Offers direct loans to Native American Veterans or to any Veteran married to a Native American non-veteran, who resides on Federal Trust land VA has 1.9 million loans outstanding totaling $331 billion Information: Payment assistance:

21 How to Apply For a Home Loan Guaranty ebenefits - Ask your lender to apply online through the VA Portal Mail VA Form to: Atlanta Regional Loan Center ATTN: COE (262), P.O. Box , Decatur, GA

22 Veterans Benefits Administration Education Programs Mission: Provide educational opportunities to Service members, Veterans, and selected Reserve members due to their service Aids military recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel Encourages membership in the Reserves and enhances the national workforce Provides Dependents Educational Assistance for spouses/children of Veterans who: Died while on active duty or from a service-connected disability Are permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected disability Beneficiaries trained by program in FY 2012* Post-9/11 GI Bill: 646,302 Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty: 118,549 Montgomery GI Gill-Selected Reserves: 60,393 Reserve Educational Assistance Program: 19,774 Dependents Educational Assistance: 27,707 Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: 12,251 $ 10.3B paid to beneficiaries in FY 2012 * Note: These figures represent the number of trainees in each education benefit program during FY12. The total across all programs does not represent a unique trainee count. 22

23 Veterans Benefits Administration Post-9/11 GI Bill For Veterans and Service members who served at least 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001 Allows for three separate benefit payments Tuition and fees Monthly housing allowance Stipend for books and supplies Yellow Ribbon Program Institutions assist in funding tuition costs above In-state tuition and fee charges at public schools National tuition and fee maximum payable at private schools (currently $18,077) Allows for the transfer of entitlement to spouses and dependents Determination made by Department of Defense As of August 28, 2013, VA has issued $31.5 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill payments to 1,034,245 individuals and their educational institutions GI Bill support at:

24 VA also supports other Educational Benefit Programs Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB AD) Eligibility: Honorable discharge, a high school diploma or general educational development (GED), and served active duty after June 30, $1,200 military pay reduction. Benefit: Up to 36 months of benefits ranging from $300 - $1,300 per month, based on length of service, paid to Veteran. Expires 10 years after release from active duty. Includes apprenticeship, on-the-job training, vocational training, and flight training Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve Chapter 1606 Reserve components decide who is eligible, paid monthly to student. Generally, the benefit ends day of separation Reserve Educational Assistance Program Chapter 1607 For members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve called or ordered to active service after September 10, 2001 in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Chapter 35 Eligible dependents of Veterans permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition, are hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and likely to be discharged for that disability. Are forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power or are MIA. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program Chapter 32 Active duty entry after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, Contributed money on active duty, original contributions made before April 1, National Call to Service Active duty for 15 months and additional 24 months in the Reserve (without break in service). Cash bonus of $5,000, repayment of student loan up to $18K, 12 months of full benefits under MGIB-AD, or 50 percent of the less-than-three-year rate under MIGB-AD for 36 months Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship - children of Service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, Eligible for up to 36 months under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 24

25 Veterans Benefits Administration Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Mission: Help Veterans with service-related disabilities, achieve and maintain suitable employment and gain independence in daily living Vocational counseling and planning for education or vocational training Job-seeking skills and assistance in finding employment Independent living services Training in activities of daily living; personal adjustment counseling and support services; and technological assistance VetSuccess on Campus program helps ease the transition of Service members to Veteran status in schools across the Nation $849 million to 121,236 participants in FY 2012 Application for Vocational and Educational Counseling (VA Form ) at 25

26 Veterans Benefits Administration Employment VBA is leveraging new and existing resources in the Veterans employment arena while ensuring coordination with the Department of Labor (DOL) Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) Retraining for 99,000 unemployed Veterans ages Over 113,000 Veterans have applied and over $225M in benefits have been paid program ends March 2014 Vetsuccess.gov site Connects 170,000 Veterans with 4,700 employers and 21,000 jobs Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Participation is now mandatory TAP was redesigned in FY 2012 and updates are ongoing VBA-supported employment events and efforts VA4Vets (federal employment) VA job fairs and virtual fairs Chamber of Commerce job fairs Congressional events on employment and federal benefits Over 50% of VBA employees are Veterans 26

27 VA-DoD Joint Assistance to Transitioning Warriors - TAP & DTAP Transition Assistance Program (TAP) - partnership among the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor Three-day workshops at selected military installations nationwide. Helps service members and their spouses make the initial transition from military service to the civilian workplace with less difficulty and at less overall cost to the government. An independent national evaluation of the program estimated that service members who had participated in TAP, on average, found their first post-military job three weeks sooner than those who did not participate in TAP. Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) - 2-hour briefing for those with a service-connected disability or an injury or illness aggravated by service. Also available online at 27

28 THE VOW TO HIRE HEROES ACT TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The VOW Act combined provisions of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act and Hiring Heroes Act, creating a comprehensive jobs package to reduce Veterans unemployment by: Expanding Education and Training Enhanced Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Facilitating Seamless Transition Translating Military Skills and Training Offering Employers Tax Credits to Hire Unemployed Veterans Legislative Requirements Began November 21, 2012: Continuation of pre-separation counseling Mandatory attendance at the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), to include National Guard and Reserve Component Service members demobilizing after 180 days or more of active service Mandatory VA Benefits Briefings Mandatory DOL Employment Workshop Service Members Will be Better Prepared for the 21st Century Job Market by Receiving: Pre-Separation Counseling: Individual assessments and one-on-one counseling with Military Service Representatives Individual Transition Plan: Customized roadmap to tailor individual needs for success Employment Workshop: DOL assists with translating military skills, searching for jobs, writing resumes and interviewing Enhanced VA Benefit Briefings: Comprehensive benefit workshops covering the entire spectrum of VA benefits for Veterans, Service members, their families and survivors 28

29 VA-DoD Pay and Benefits* for a Catastrophically Injured E-6 Service-Connected Disabled Veteran Requiring Skilled Care Active Duty Monthly Compensation Veteran Disability Monthly Compensation Service Base Pay (over 10 years) $3,299 Housing Allowance in Washington DC Area $2,679 Subsistence Allowance $352 Related Combat Pays (HFP/IDP, FSA, HDP-L) / Pay & Allowance Continuation $575 Social Security Disability Pay $2,533 (100%) VA Disability** $3,166 Total = $9,021 Total = $14,526 Caregiver Compensation (SCAADL) $2,116 Total = $2,533 Combat Related Special Compensation $129-$3,166 (all but $825 tax-exempt) DoD Medical Retirement Pay $825 (taxable) Caregiver Compensation $2,126 Special Monthly Compensation (R.2) including Aid & Attendance $8,409 $100,000 TSGLI *As of Aug. 2013; married Veteran with two children VA Vocational Rehab and Employment Subsistence Monthly Allowance $980 VA Post 9-11 GI Bill Maximum Monthly Living Allowance (DC Area) $2,679 VA Home Health Care $752 $22,550/per month VA Automobile Grant $18,900 Other Benefits and Compensation VA Adaptive Housing Allowance $64,960 Automotive Adaptive Equipment $19,505 29

30 Memorial Affairs 30

31 National Cemetery Administration Providing Burial Benefits and Access Coast to Coast 131 National Cemeteries National Shrine Commitment Full Casket Interments Cremation Interments Columbaria Scattering Gardens Memorial Walls 118,158 Interments in National Cemeteries 89 State/Tribal Veteran Cemeteries 31,162 Interments in State/Tribal Veterans Cemeteries Memorialization 354,573 Headstones & Markers 7,470 Medallions 733,812 Presidential Memorial Certificates 31

32 National Cemetery Administration Employing and Empowering People Employs the highest percentage of Veterans of any Federal agency. 1,702 Employees 74.4% are Veterans 78% of Cemetery Directors are Veterans 346,263 Volunteer hours donated in 2012 *As of 9/30/11 32

33 National Cemetery Administration Eligibility Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies on active duty Any Veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable National Guard members and Reservists with 20 years of qualifying service, who are entitled to retired pay or would be entitled, if at least 60 years of age Spouses and minor children Certain eligible parents 33

34 VA provides a wide range of Burial Benefits National Cemeteries State Cemeteries Headstone, Marker, or Medallion Burial Flag Presidential Memorial Certificates Burial Cost Reimbursement Gravesite Opening and Closing Assistance with Military Honors 34

35 Service members & Veterans can help their Families Prepare in Advance 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 35

36 Accessing VA Office of Interagency Collaboration and Integration Office of Policy and Planning Department of Veterans Affairs 36

37 Service members, their families and Veterans can access VA through numerous ways Home page - ebenefits - ebenefits.va.gov Returning Service members - oefoif.va.gov facebook.com/veteransaffairs Twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs Benefits information am to 9pm Eastern Time Education Benefits (888) Health Care Eligibility (877) SGLI/VGLI (800) VA Life Insurance (800)

38 ebenefits One-stop shop for benefits-related online tools and information: Access on-line TAP briefing on VA benefits Transfer Education Benefits Download DD 214 Apply for benefits View claim status and benefit payments online Print VA home loan guaranty Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) 38

39 DS Logon provides lifetime access to Service members use their CAC to get a Defense Self-Service (DS) Logon your lifetime personal identity to access: ebenefits - TRICARE Online (TOL) Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) MyHealtheVet health information and VA Blue Button downloads 39

40 VA Blue Button Gives you a detailed view of your MyHealtheVet information which you can view, save, download and/or print. It may include Information that you selfentered in your My HealtheVet Personal Health Record, your VA Electronic Health Record, and Military Service information from the Department of Defense (DoD). Share your My HealtheVet self-entered and VA health record information with your health care team, caregiver or others you trust. Over 1 million users 40

41 The National Resource Directory (NRD) connects Service members, Veterans, & their families with services that support them The NRD is an interagency partnership between VA, DoD, and Department of Labor Provides access to a wide range of National and Local programs that support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration: Benefits & Compensation Education & Training Employment - The Veterans Jobs Bank provides quick and easy access to public and private sector job openings Family & Caregiver Support Health Homeless Assistance Housing Transportation & Travel Volunteering 41

42 VA/DoD Collaboration Office of Interagency Collaboration and Integration Office of Policy and Planning Department of Veterans Affairs 42

43 The Office of Interagency Collaboration and Integration deals with a wide range of key collaborative issues between VA and DoD Transition issues Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) VA-DoD Veterans Employment Initiative Task Force Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Access to benefits information ebenefits Separation Health Assessments Mental and psychological health Integrated Mental Health Strategy Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Suicide Data Repository Care and case management Federal Recovery Coordination Program/Recovery Care Coordination Program Interagency Care Coordination Committee Electronic data sharing Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Integrated Electronic Health Record (iehr) Joint sharing agreements James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Joint Capital Investment Planning Joint Pharmaceutical issues Toxic exposures and environmental hazards Camp Lejeune Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) Longitudinal studies Joint Strategic Communications Congressional Testimony and Briefings 43

44 Questions? 44