VA Benefits and Services. Briefing for Courts and Veteran Courts

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1 VA Benefits and Services Briefing for Courts and Veteran Courts

2 VA benefits can affect a Veteran now, and for the rest of their life

3 Veteran Outreach Initiative Goal of Veteran s Justice Outreach (VJO) Initiative is to partner with law enforcement and the courts to divert veterans into treatment whenever possible. VJO Tasks Gain access to the jail Identify Veterans and Determine Eligibility Conduct outreach, assessment, and casemanagement for Veterans in local courts and jails Provide/coordinate training for law enforcement personnel Linkage to VA and Community Services/Resources - Collaborate with Veteran Courts VJO s in Michigan Ann Arbor, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Melody Powers, Bradford Watkins Battle Creek, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Karen Hinderliter, April Coleman Detroit, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Nanette Colling, Tracy Golliday-Champagne Iron Mountain, Iron Mountain VA Medical Center, Michael Matwyuk Saginaw, Adela E. Lutz VA Medical Center, Terry Troxell

4 VA Veterans Health Administration All VA health care services Administered by VA Medical Centers, Ambulatory Care & Community Based Outpatient Clinics, etc. Veterans Benefits Administration All VA benefits - Compensation, Education, Home Loan Guaranty, etc. Administered by VA Regional Offices National Cemetery Administration National and State Veterans Cemeteries Headstones & Markers Presidential Memorial Certificates

5 Health Care

6 Eligibility for Health Care Eligibility will be determined by VA upon review of a Veteran s discharge paper, (DD-214). VJO and HCRV Coordinators can assist the veteran with obtaining this document. Basic requirements include but are not limited to: Honorable or General Discharge from service. Veterans who enlisted after September, 1980 must have 24 months of continuous service National Guard and Reservists may also qualify for VA benefits if they were called to active duty (other than for training) by Federal order. Eligibility determination is based on each individual s service; we encourage all veterans to apply for VA services

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10 Health Care comprises the largest of all VA services VA provides up to five years of free health care for enrolled Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations and are seeking care for conditions related to their combat service

11 Hospital Based Acute Inpatient MH Unit (AIMH) Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry (C/L) Veterans Empowerment and Recovery Center (VEAR)-PRRC Substance Use Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program (SUD-IOP) Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (MHC) Substance Abuse Clinic (SAC) PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) [Includes ServMH & Telemental Health] Primary Care-Mental Health (includes ED/Urgent Care setting) CBOCs Toledo, Flint, Jackson Neuropsychology Community Based Mental Health Intensive Case Management [MHICM] Program Veterans Empowerment and Recovery Center (VEAR)-PRRC Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT) HCHV/HUD-VASH Program College/University Outreach Special and Targeted Initiatives: Recovery, Suicide Prevention, Veteran Justice Outreach Nationally regarded and highly competitive training: Integrated multidisciplinary, regional affiliations Research: Several ongoing VA/DOD/NIMH funded clinical, neurobiological and services (SMITREC/HSRD) research projects including RCTs

12 Readjustment Counseling Service Vet Centers provide quality readjustment counseling in a caring manner. Vet Centers understand and appreciate veterans military experiences while assisting them and their family members toward a successful post-military adjustment in or near their community.

13 Compensation for Service-Connected Disabilities

14 Compensation A service-connected disability is a disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty. The disability does not have to be combat or wartime related.

15 Compensation Disability Examples Torn knee ligament Amputation Heart disease Post traumatic stress (including the result of sexual trauma) Skin condition such as psoriasis

16 Compensation - Sample Rates Rating Vet Only Vet+S Vet+S+1C Vet+S+2C Vet+S+3C 10% $127 N/A N/A N/A N/A 20% 251 N/A N/A N/A N/A 30% % % ,007 60% 1,009 1,102 1,169 1,215 1,261 70% 1,272 1,380 1,459 1,512 1,565 80% 1,478 1,602 1,692 1,753 1,814 90% 1,661 1,800 1,902 1,971 2, % 2,769 2,924 3,037 3,114 3,191 S Spouse C = Child(ren) Rates effective Dec 1, 2011

17 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 Disability need not be related to service Within income limits to qualify for this benefit

18 Other Benefits and Services

19 College Assistance Post 9/11 GI Bill Montgomery GI Bill Both provide tuition reimbursement and stipend for living expenses while enrolled in school VA Home Loan Vocational Rehabilitation VA Life Insurance

20 General Information Michigan Number of veterans: 723,368 VA expenditures in Michigan: $2.3 billion Compensation and pensions: $1.1 billion Readjustment benefits: $70 million Medical and construction programs: $1.1 billion Insurance and indemnities: $34 million

21 Number of veterans receiving disability compensation or pension payments: 80,487 Number of Michigan veterans using GI Bill education benefits: 9,344 Number of home loans in Michigan backed by VA guarantees: 3,391 Number of Michigan participants in VA vocational rehabilitation: 1,859

22 VA on the Internet Information on all VA benefits and services is available Visit

23 Brad Watkins LMSW VJO Program Coordinator VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (734)