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March 29, 2024

Federal Employee Retirement and Benefits News

Tag: veteran

veteran

Green Light a Veteran – by Dianna Tafazoli

VeteranWith Veteran’s Day quickly approaching more and more attention is being placed on Veterans and rightly so.  There is one company that is doing more than just talking about Veterans, Walmart is leading the way in making a difference and highlighting the faces and lives of the men and women who serve their nation in uniform – they are members of the armed services.    Walmart recognizes that there is really no way to identify Veterans when they are out of uniform.  They live and work in our communities and often go unnoticed.  Walmart is asking neighborhoods and the country to green light a Veteran and thank them for their service to the country.  The phrase Green Light was chosen because almost every where a green light means GO.

Walmart hired its 100,000th Vet in October as part of its commitment to  hire  250,000 Veterans by 2020.  Walmart has also set-aside $20 million dollars to assist organizations that provide services and programs to assist Veterans in job placement and the education needed to achieve the careers they desire.  Walmart is not simply Green Lighting a Veteran on November 11, 2015- Veteran’s Day- but has demonstrated a commitment to recognize Veterans for their contributions and service, by putting forth effort and dollars to make sure we give back to our brave men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

So on this Veteran’s Day Green Light a Vet and let that green light signal your efforts to GO the distance every day to make the life of a Veteran and his/her family easier.  They deserve it.  GO – GREEN LIGHT- a Vet.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

Dianna Tafazoli

 

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IS VETERAN’S DAY JUST NOVEMBER 11, 2015 – by Dianna Tafazoli

Each year we look at our calendars and there is a special notation marking the celebration of Veteran’s Day – November 11th.  Typically when we think of a celebration it is for a defined time not something that goes on without end.  It’s your birthday and when that special day passes, it is no longer your birthday until the next year rolls around.

It seems that we treat Veteran’s the same way as an annual thought.  We get ready with the fanfare and decorations and celebrations in the nation’s capital and all over the country congratulating those individuals who have served in the armed forces.  There are parades and the President of the United States lays a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns.  But what happens when the confetti, the balloons and the lights are gone and the marching bands stop marching, hang up their uniforms and go back to their normal lives?  What happens to the Veterans?  Where are they and who are they without the celebration?

The Veterans are the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives to keep the rest of us safe. Those who serve in the armed forces go into areas bravely and willingly where most of us would never go.  While we want the balloons and all the fanfare on November 11th, we want the recognition, the support and the investment in our military every day.  Honoring our Vets is not just a day of celebration set aside for one day – but a commitment to the Vets of this nation that must be ongoing.

We are proud of the men and women who serve this nation in uniform as a part of the armed forces.  We honor them and salute them every day.  We respect these brave men and women for the sacrifices made.  We should stand behind Veterans the same way they stand out in front of us – on the front lines – as shields against battle and deadly harm.  I am in awe of what these special human beings do for their country.  We see battles fought that are now played out in the media of horrific warfare and destruction taking place in other countries almost common plan.  We see wounded-men, women and children – blood soaked from the ravages of war and yet for the most part, few of us have ever bore witness to such atrocities on American soil.

This Veteran’s Day should be a call to remembrance that our debt to our Veterans is much too big to be compacted into one day.  They went into battle be it war or peace.  The hardest  battle was that they had to leave family and loved ones behind and travel to unknown lands, putting  up a brave front so as not to further wound the hearts of those they left behind.  Veterans are much too important and valued to simply fit into November 11th.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

Dianna Tafazoli

Honoring the U.S. Commitment to Veterans by Dianna Tafazoli

Honoring the U.S. Commitment to Veterans

OPM

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced an increase in Veteran hiring in FY 2014.  The President’s Council on Veteran Employment has been pushing with great effort to move the Veteran hiring initiative since President Obama established the Council more than five years ago.  Data shows that there has been a consistent increase each year in the percentage of veterans hired into the Federal civilian service.  FY 2014 showed a record increase of 33.2 percent surpassing the 31 percent reported in FY 2013.

Remarkably the Executive Branch showed an increase in hiring Veterans which coincided with an overall increase in new employees hired in the Federal service.  Katherine Archuleta, Director of the Office of Personnel Management also serves as the Vice-Chair of the President’s Council on Veteran Employment.  Katherine Archuleta asserts her confidence in the Council moving in the right direction to the achieve the President’s goal to increase veteran hiring in the Federal civilian service.

Katherine Archuleta is joined on the Council by 24 Cabinet level agencies and other independent agencies.  Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs, Thomas Perez and Robert McDonald respectively also serve as co-Chairs of the Council.  To ensure Women veterans are represented in the hiring initiative, Director Archuleta has called on Catherine Emerson, Chief Human Capital Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, to lead the effort.

The Council is also pushing forward an addendum to the Veterans Recruitment and Employment Strategic Plan FY-2014-2017,  a government-wide initiative, to include women veterans and diversity goals to expand the current goals of Leadership, Commitment, Employment, marketing and the Information Gateway.

Veterans are some of the most highly qualified leaders in the nation with exceptional skills and a superior acumen to work in teams and build teams.  Hiring qualified Veterans in the Federal civilian workforce is America’s commitment to honoring the brave men and women who put their lives on the line everyday to keep America safe and secure.

Dianna Tafazoli

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

 

Hiring Our Heroes

GovernmentLast year in Fort Belvoir, Virginia minutes away from the nation’s capital, a job fair was held to hire America’s Veterans.  This is a two-fold dynamic.  On the one hand, it is a good thing that special emphasis is being placed on hiring Veterans.  However, on the other hand, why would someone who has served his/her country have to go through the often unrewarded hassle of a job fair?

Job fairs are only valuable when the organizations have direct-hire authority and actually intend to fill positions most immediately and not use the data as part of their outreach efforts on paper.  I have been to a lot of job fairs as a hiring vendor.  For research purposes I have also used myself and members of my staff to act as job seekers.  The outcome as a hiring vendor reaped great results because I went there to hire and not buttress a report about hiring efforts.  I needed to hire a record number of Social Workers for the Government.  I had asked for and been given direct-hire authority of which I used every morsel of that authority to hire 300 Social Workers with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and a Licensed Graduate Social Work license (LGSW).  I hired qualified Social Workers on the spot.

It is as fresh in my mind as it was when it happened back in 1997-98.  I went to job fairs at The Catholic University of American that hosted other District of Columbia Universities (Howard, George Washington, Georgetown, American, Trinity, and the University of Maryland).    I traveled along the East Coast to the University of Maryland at Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, Pennsylvania, New York University, and Temple.  The Universities I could not get to in person were informed via other means.  In essence, our recruitment efforts spans the country into Puerto Rico.

It was nearing graduation time in the USA, the best time to recruit to fill positions with new energy and enthusiasm and pair them with seasoned personnel to make the learning curve seamless.   For many Veterans, there is no learning curve because they have received some of the best training possible via the military.  They have the unique skills of discipline, leadership and the ability to work cohesively in a team, all proven ingredients for success.  Veterans may have a slight adjustment to transitioning from the Military to the Civilian world, but that pales in comparison to the skills they bring to the table.

We hired more than 300 Social Workers in the 3 month period given and even beat that deliverable by 15 days.  Veterans have given their all to protect and defend America’s shores.  They need jobs, housing and health care.  They need to be taken care of. It is time to put all Americans back to work.  It is time to show our appreciation to Veterans and connect them with jobs now.

We’ll check back with Ft. Belvoir in a couple of months and see if we can get any statistics on how well the Hiring Our Heroes job fair did for our deserving Veterans.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

 

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Is There an Income Limit for the VA Improved Pension?

Is There an Income Limit for the VA Improved Pension?

VA

Many veterans and/or their family have called their local VA office inquiring about the Improved Pension (also known as the Aid and Attendance or Non-Service Related Compensation program). This program is for wartime veterans and their widows/widowers.  Many times the person who answers the phone asks how much income is coming in each month. They (many times) are told they make too much money.

In all reality, how much you bring in is irrelevant.

Where the confusion comes up is twofold:

Firstly, the VA has many different programs and each program works differently. It is difficult for an overworked VA employee or VSO to understand (let alone remember) each and every rule.

Secondly, the Improved Pension has what the VA calls the “Maximum Annual Pension Rate” (MAPR). Many people believe this means this is the maximum amount you can make a year. Actually this number is the most the VA would pay under a certain circumstance. To confuse things further, if you bring in more than that amount, the VA will pay nothing. Simple, right? Actually there is more to the formula.

With this program, there are three levels of benefit; base, house bound as well as aid & attendance. Doctor forms must be completed to show what the medical imitations are (if there is a spouse, both the spouses need to complete the doctor forms). Depending on the claimant’s (the veteran or widow) health, would determine where you fall on the chart (and what the MAPR is).

From there, the VA will look at all the income coming into the household and subtract from that the cost for all the ongoing medical expenses (primarily they look at the cost for a caregiver or a community providing care as well as medical insurance costs).  What is left over is the Income for VA Purposes (IVAP).

This is the number you would use for the benefit!

For example, let’s say you have a WWII vet who is bringing in $2,800 a month from pension and Social Security. Let’s further assume he needs assistance of another person so he would be awarded the Aid & Attendance add-on to the Improved Pension. That amount (as of this posting) is $1,780.00 per month. If the veteran does not need (or better yet, have) a caregiver or community helping to take care of him, the only expense we probably can use is the cost for his medical insurance. Let’s assume it is $300.00 a month. If you subtract that $300 from his income of $2,800, he nets out to $2,500.00.  This is still above the MAPR, so he receives nothing.

Should he give up? No! Read on…

If this same veteran has a caregiver come into his home or moves to a community who is taking care of him and ALL of his income is going for his care, then his IVAP (income for VA purposes) falls to zero. In this situation, he would now get the maximum benefit of $1,780.00 per month (2014 limit).

Now please understand I have OVERLY simplified this case and the formulas for informational purposes. PLEASE get help from a qualified (and ideally VA accredited) professional who understands all the intricacies of the program. There are many hurdles and pitfalls you must overcome to achieve an approval (and keep the benefit).

Bottom line, remember this is a program that was EARNED by the veteran. It is waiting for him/her and/or their widow/widower. Do not let anyone tell you that there is an income limit, you make too much money or (my favorite) you don’t qualify because of your income.

 

Will the VA Pay for the Care of the Veteran’s Spouse?

Will the VA Pay for the Care of the Veteran’s Spouse?

VA

There is a fantastic program called The Improved Pension (also known as the Aid and Attendance or Non-Service Related Compensation program). This program is for wartime veterans and their widows/widowers.  Many times, when the veteran is still living, the spouse of the veteran may be the person who is in need of care.  Many times the family asks the VA if the spouse can apply for benefits.

The “book” answer is NO.

The real answer is, YES.

You see, when the veteran is still living, the spouse cannot apply for benefit (because he/she is not a widow/widower yet). However, the VETERAN may apply for the benefits!

With the Improved Pension, there are three levels of benefit; base, house bound as well as aid & attendance. Doctor forms must be completed to show what the medical imitations are for both the spouse and the veteran. If the veteran is perfectly healthy, he may be rated as “base”. If the spouse needs care it triggers a formula. That formula is “Income Less Ongoing Medical Expenses”.

The VA will look at all the income coming into the household and subtract the ongoing medical expenses (which includes the care for the spouse). This may trigger a “pension” for the veteran. The maximum BASE amount of pension (as of the date of this article) is $1,380.00 per month!

I have many veterans I have helped get this money from the VA to help offset the cost for the spouse’s care (as well as take care of the veteran).  It is possible to get this benefit, but there are many moving parts to this program. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not available or possible, because it is. Do realize there are many moving parts to this program so you should make sure you deal with a qualified (VA accredited) professional to help you navigate the VA maze.

 

Does the VA Help to Pay for Nursing Care?

Does the VA Help to Pay for Nursing Care?

Veterans AdministrationAs the population keeps aging, more and more people are needing care within their home as well as moving to a community for their care needs. Fortunately the level (and quality) of care has greatly improved from the time of our grandparents.  Unfortunately the cost to receive that care has skyrocketed.

For those who served our country, there may be money available through the Veterans Administration.  Three great programs I recommend every Veteran research are:

Veteran Directed Home and Community Based Services program (sometimes referred to as the Waiver program). This program is actually a medical benefit. It is for veterans who need assistance with daily living activities. It is a flexible amount used to pay for home caregiving. A great place to find out more about this program is through your VA Social Worker. Contact your local VA Medical Center to find one near you.

TriCare for Life is a program for service members who retired from the military. If there is need for long term care (usually skilled care) TriCare for Life may cover some, all or none of this cost. Speak directly with your VA Social Worker and/or call the TriCare for Life customer service number at 866-733-0404 for more details.

The VA Improved Pension (sometimes referred to as the Aid and Attendance Benefit or Non-Service Related Compensation). This program is specifically for veterans who served during wartime (they do not need to be retired military, nor did they need to see action or be overseas). There are three levels of benefit: base, housebound as well as aid & attendance. There are many moving parts to this program and can get confusing quickly. The VA will look at your income, your on-going medical expenses as well as your assets. Unlike Medicaid, you are allowed to do planning around the asset and income formulas to help qualify and maximize the benefits. (DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY OR HAVE TOO MANY ASSETS.) Make sure you deal with a qualified (and VA accredited) professional for guidance through this maze.

These are great programs that can help our veterans. Be careful who you deal with regarding assistance in obtaining these programs, there are many traps built within the system. (There may also be benefits and programs through the state and/or County in which you live. The Department of Aging in your area may be a good resource.)

 

 

President Obama Nominates Bob McDonald Secretary of the VA

Veterans AffairsPresident Barack Obama will nominate Bob McDonald as the new Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Mr. McDonald is the former CEO of Procter and Gamble and a Vet.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served in the Army for five years.  Mr. McDonald is also a businessman with a lot of executive experience under his belt.  He is esteemed like Dr. Cosgrove of the Cleveland Clinic, but it appears that the President wanted to move away from appointing another decorated general, a doctor or a politician.  Nevertheless, the nomination remains in the arena of males who have served in the military.

It is amazing a workforce as large as the Federal Government seems to only be able to identify major glitches in management responsibility after a crisis or a scandal.  There is something called proactive management, the anticipation of problems and the immediacy of solving those problems before they become national headline negative news.  It serves no purpose to write up a 200 page report of the ills at the VA after the dams have burst and a tsunami of water is running in the streets.  Reports that an internal audit was completed in May by VA that revealed approximately 1,700 veterans were at-risk of falling through the scheduling cracks in a Phoenix facility because they were no where on the wait list.   This makes good press to underscore what a poor job the VA is doing.

The question is, however, does it help the veterans to talk about these dynamics after the fact.  Proper and appropriate management means periodic audits, consistent monitoring and evaluation to make certain the pistons are properly firing.  In the world of reasonable thinking, you don’t take the car to have the oil changed, after it has blown up on the highway.  Federal workers make up the largest civilian workforce in the world.  These individuals perform some pretty significant work to keep the nation moving forward.

It matters not how decorated or esteemed any appointment to a position is if the understanding is not there to be proactive from the top to the bottom.  Good leaders never have to tell anybody that they are in charge, their actions simply demonstrate that.  When we listen to our Vets not being taken care of, that sentiment should resonate with the heads of every agency within the Federal Government to begin doing an inventory of the tasks involved in their mission.

Leaders are often imbued with writing and making lofty statements that sound good.  Secretary Shinseki, former Secretary of the VA, along with his senior staff put beautiful words on paper:  being people-centric, results-driven, and forward-looking.  There were those 16 initiatives including eliminating veteran homelessness and transforming health care delivery through health informatics.  The VA is being whipped because they are tasked with providing very important services to veterans and their families, real life and death provisions unique to that agency.  The VA has very complex and monumental responsibilities to take care of those who defend the nation.  The tasks of the VA can be accomplished, just as the tasks of every federal agency. However, some hard, consistent work is required by not just a few people but all the people involved in the business of each individual agency.

The Federal Government must examine employing the technology of the CLOUD or some similar technology.  The work of the Federal Government, particularly for an agency like the VA, is too complex and time sensitive for one entity not to know what another is doing.  Collaboration and corroboration must take place with integrity to ensure customers are getting even more than the service they expect.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

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Taking Care of Vets and Their Families

Taking Care of VetsThe Department of Veterans Affairs has been a headliner in the news for a few months now.  It appears from all reports that the second largest civilian agency in the Federal Government is not getting a good report card when it comes to taking care of Vets.  The Department of Veteran Affairs has a most noble mission to care for those who defend the nation.  Abraham Lincoln said it best  – “…to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan….”  What more can be asked of a human being than to lay down his life for his country.

The Department of Veteran Affairs has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of quantity and capacity since its inception.  When the Plymouth colonists fought against the Pequot Indians back in 1936, the Pilgrims passed a law stating that disabled soldiers would be taken care of by the colony.  Then in 1776, the Continental Congress decided that offering pensions to disabled soldiers would be an enlistment incentive.  States and communities took care of disabled soldiers when the country was first forming.  In 1811, the first medical facility for veterans was authorized by the Federal Government.  The veterans assistance program was expanded during the 19th century to encompass benefits and pensions for veterans and their families.

At the end of the Civil War a number of State run veteran homes began to crop up.  Veteran homes provided treatment for all injuries and diseases whether service related or not.   When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the Congress established a new system of veteran benefits which included Veteran insurance programs for service persons and veterans, vocational rehabilitation for the disabled and disability compensation.  The Veterans Bureau, the National home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department administered the various benefits to veterans during 1920; making three different federal agencies responsible for providing benefits to veterans.

It was not until the 1930s that Congress authorized the President to established the Veterans Administration which consolidated all government programs impacting services to veterans.  The three separate agencies became bureaus within the Veterans Administration.  Brigadier General Frank T. Hines was named the first administrator of Veteran Affairs.  He remained in that post until 1945 just at the close of World War II.  The VA grew from 54 hospitals in 1930 to 152 hospitals, 800 community-based clinics, 126 nursing home care units and 35 domiciliaries.

World War II dramatically increased the number of veterans, including those with disabilities.  The increase in the needs of veterans also broadened the number of benefits available to them.  The GI Bill signed into law in 1944 provided veterans with and opportunity to receive an education they had only imagined.  Getting an education, receiving a college degree enabled veterans to create a better life for their families because of greater opportunities in the job market.

Although the Department of Veteran Affairs has little or no resemblance to the Pilgrim’s idea of taking care of disabled veterans in 1636, the mission remains the same.  This noble mission is a work in progress since veterans from around the country are saying to the nation – “you are not doing enough to take care of us.”   President Obama appointed Secretary Eric K. Shinseki in 2008 to transform the second largest civilian agency in the federal government into a high-performing, strategic entity poised to take better care of our Vets.  It is the consensus of many Vets and their families that it didn’t happen.

President Obama, like his predecessors, has appointed persons of high-caliber to the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  Prior to 1989, the VA Secretary was not a cabinet-level position.  President George H. W. Bush appointed two Secretaries to the post from 1989 to 1993.  President Bill Clinton appointed four Secretaries from 1993 to 2001, followed by President George W. Bush’s appointment of four Secretaries from 2001 to 2009.  President Barack Obama has appointed two Secretaries from 2009 to present, to include acting Secretary Sloan Gibson who replaced Secretary Shinseki.

There is news that President Obama is considering Dr. Delos “Tony” Cosgrove as the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Dr. Cosgrove is a Vet and a heart surgeon of renown.  He is also the CEO of the famed Cleveland Clinic and is reported to have made a number of notable achievements.  He has something in common with the past twelve Secretaries.  He is, of course male, a Vet and imminently qualified for the job, bringing a high-degree of management success from the acclaimed Cleveland Clinic.  Although the Cleveland Clinic is as distinctly different from the Department of Veterans Affairs as night is to day,  the connecting dynamic is that people come to each institution seeking quality medical care.  They also come to the VA seeking benefits from disability to laying the Vet at his/her final resting place.  No other organization is going to have the same complex mission as the VA, it is unique.  It was formed to provide for Vets and their families.

Each President has had the best interest of Vets and their families at heart when they appointed fine men to head up the Department of Veteran Affairs, but the veterans are still in need of so much.  Every Secretary who has held the post had one thing in common – they were Veterans and male.   One does not have to be a Vet to understand the needs of veterans and their families.  Hospitals many years ago decided to move away from hiring physicians as CEOs of hospitals.  Instead they began recruiting MBAs with the knowledge of operating businesses to lead hospital operations.  Many physicians realizing they needed something else in order to be more effective business leaders, combined their MD degrees with MBAs and MPAs.

Being a good and forward thinking strategists sometimes demands changing course.  At least twelve men who were Vets have been Secretaries of the VA. Why not a woman who has the knowledge, skills and compassion to understand what Vets and their families need and make sure they get it?  These Vets in many cases have made the ultimate sacrifice to their country, and we are obligated to give them what they need.  The woman does not have to be a Vet, but if she is give her an opportunity to serve her country, just like the twelve men who served their country and then became Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs, serving their country once more.

Vets serve in the military and many transition to the Federal Government looking for opportunities to better support their families.  One day they, like the rest of the federal workforce, will retire.  But long before that, it might be time to change course and get about the business of doing what President Lincoln promised – “to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan…”

P.S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

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Veterans Benefits for Women

Women Veterans Benefits

veterans benefitsObviously both Men and Women receive Veterans Benefits. Aren’t we extraordinarily proud of our women veterans and women in uniform.  The military was once thought of a place for men.  Veterans were men.  Wounded warriors were men.  The soldiers returning from wars were men.  Now the paradigm has shifted 180 degrees.  Women are soldiers.  Women are Veterans.  Being the forward thinking human being that I am, it still gives me pause to see women who have lost their limbs in war.  Then I snap out of the daze of yesterday and I say, these are warriors, these are patriots, these are defenders of our nation’s borders – they represent today’s military and I am proud of them.

In reality women have always served in the military in some capacity or the other.  The difference today is that they are much more visible.  They are capable and focused and recognized for their talents and skills.  They are leaders who are as committed to safeguarding their country and its citizens as the next soldier.

Because the military has been traditionally geared towards men, many facilities and services within the VA have had to be expanded.  Comprehensive health services are available to Women Vets from primary care, mental health services, to reproductive treatment.  Maternity care is covered and treatment options include OB/GYNs, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Family Practitioners.

The VA also covers the cost of care of newborns of Veteran women for a period of seven days after birth.  There are also limited services for infertility assessment and evaluation.  The military has changed and women have been instrumental in bringing about a change that demonstrates the fortitude of women committed to serving the nation amid great sacrifice.

HAIL TO THE WOMEN – OUR HONORED VETERANS

P.S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.

Veteran Related Articles

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Veterans Benefits Basic Requirements

Veterans Benefits Reqirements

veterans benefitsIn order to qualify for basic veterans benefits via the VA one must have served in the active military, naval or air service and was honorably discharged.  If called to active duty for reasons other than purely training, both National Guard and Reservist members may also qualify for VA health benefits given they completed the full term for which they were summoned or ordered to active duty.

Veterans must have served 24 continuous months or the full term for which they enlisted in order to qualify for health benefits if the enlistment occurred after September 7, 1980 or came on active duty after October 16, 1981.

The 24 month minimum requirement may not be applicable if the Veteran was discharged due to a hardship, a disability or an aggravation of the disability in the line of duty or as a result of an early out.

To receive all the benefits and information the VA has to offer, most Veterans must enroll in the VA Health Care System.  Veterans can enroll online at VA.gov or via phone (877)-222-8387.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

Veteran Related Articles

Veteran Employment Initiative and Federal Employment

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Veterans Benefits: The VA and DOD

Veterans Benefits: VA and DOD

veterans benefitsI write about 12-15 blog articles per week in addition to a weekly newsletter.  That’s a lot of writing and more over, I choose my own topics.  I do have a little help from the classes I teach and the many wonderful people I get the opportunity to talk with.  I am always getting flooded with loads of questions.  I like it because the questions give me something interesting to write about.  The questions also let me know what is on the minds of people concerning retirement, veterans benefits, planning and how to make sure their families are going to be okay in the event they are not around.

When I told some people that I was going to be dedicating this week’s articles to our active and retired military personnel, did they have lots of topics for me to pull from.  I thought the question about the difference between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) where health care was concerned was a great topic to tackle in brevity.

The VA and DOD are distinctly different federal agencies.  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health is tasked with implementing medical assistance programs for the VA via outpatient clinics, medical centers,community-based outpatient clinics and nursing homes.   These services collectively come under the Veterans Health Administration which is a component of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Department of Veterans Affairs sponsors a health benefits program called CHAMPVA wherein the VA shares in the cost of certain health related services and supplies to beneficiaries eligible to participate in the insurance program. CHAMPVA is essentially the civilian health and medical program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for all of the U.S. military hospitals around the world where medical services and treatment are provided to service members and their eligible family members.  One of the most noted military hospitals is located in the nation’s capital – Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  It is a military hospital and not a VA facility.

TRICARE is a major part of the Military Health System managed by the Defense Health Agency under the auspices of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.  TRICARE is a health care program for service members and their families around the world whether they are active, retired, guard or reserve.

Hope this gives some clarity to the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) via health care facilities and visions  provided to service members retired and active.

P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.

 

 

More Veteran Related Articles

Applying For Veteran Benefits

The Inherent Dilemmas of a Schedule “A” Appointee – Houston, I Think We Have A Problem!

Hiring Our Heroes

Honoring The U.S. Commitment to Veterans by Dianna Tafazoli

MIlitary Tricare and FEHB

Veteran Benefits: Application

Applying for Veterans Benefits

veterans benefitsIf you are applying for Veterans benefits or if you ever need to, the journey will be made easier if you know what you need to get started.  All of your important papers should be kept in a safe, secure and accessible place.  Your family members or someone you trust should also know where you important papers are.

Sometimes injuries might prevent you from taking care of a lot of your important business on your own.  Communicating with family members or individuals you trust is perhaps one of the most important things you will do.  Knowing where your vital information is and being able to get to it as quickly as possible could take the headache out of getting your benefits in a timely manner.

Always keep your service discharge papers in a safe place that is easy for you to put your hands on and the person or persons you have designated to represent you in the event you cannot represent  yourself.

As a Veteran seeking benefits initially, you will need a copy of your service discharge form – a DD-214, DD-215, or a WD form for World War II Vets.  The service discharge form outlines service dates, the type of discharge and the Vet’s full name, military service number and branch and dates of service.

If family members are applying for death benefits for a deceased Veteran they will need to present certain documents in order to process the claim:  If married, a certificate of marriage is needed from the surviving spouse or children.  Birth certificates of natural or adopted children are needed to determine the benefits the children are eligible to receive.  A copy of the Vet’s birth certificate is also needed to determine if there are any benefits belonging to the Vet’s parents and the Vet’s death certificate if he/she did not pass away in a VA hospital or facility.

Putting plans in place before a crisis is a good idea.  Talking to family members and outlining benefits available during active and non-active military service save time and will undoubtedly help to expedite getting your benefits when you or your family need them most.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

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Veterans Benefits – What Wartime Benefits Do You Qualify For?

What Veterans Benefits Do You Qualify For?

veterans benefitsThere are some veterans benefits that are categorized as Wartime Service.  In order to receive such benefits one must have served in at least one of the wars recognized by the Department of Veteran Affairs.  The VA lists the wars and the dates of service that qualify as wartime service on its website.

1.  Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1016 – April 5, 1917)

2.  World War I (April 6, 1917-November 11, 1918; for Veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917, through April l, 1920; extended – July 1, 1921, for Veterans who had at least one day of service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918.)

3. World War II (December 7, 1941, – December 31, 1946)

4. Korean War June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955).

5. Vietnam War August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for Veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964) – May 7, 1975.

6. Gulf War  (August 2, 1990 – a date to be set)

Although the Iraqi and Afghan war were not listed on the Veterans Administration website as of January 1, 2013, it would be wise to check for the status of Veterans who served in those wars.  Other stipulations may apply.  Check with your VA benefits Office to check your wartime status for veteran benefits.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

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Veterans Benefits

Veterans Benefits

veterans benefitsI did a job for the Department of Education (ED) a few years back that focused on Veterans Benefits.  The time to complete the project was very short, but I accepted the challenge because I feel indebted to render services to Veterans whenever and however I can.  I was called upon to do an online guide for Transitioning Veterans from the Military to the Federal Service.  It was a great project, particularly having the opportunity to work with an outstanding Vet whose commitment to her fellow Vets is nothing short of remarkable.

I have worked in Human Resources leadership for a number of years and am driven to do as much as I can to make certain workers understand their benefits now and how they work in retirement.  After working for the greater part of our adult lives, retirement should be a bonus, a happy transition into the next adventure of one’s life.

Veterans are eligible for a wide and diverse range of benefits that are under the auspices of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Benefits offered may be taken advantage of while on active duty and after appropriate discharge.  Qualifying for benefits is generally based on the active full-time service member’s discharge status – barring that there has not been a dishonorable discharge.  Individuals may have served in the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Army, the Coast Guard or as commissioned officers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Public Health Service and the Environmental Science Services Administration.

If you are a Vet and are serving a prison term you should still contact the VA to check your eligibility status.  Persons who have been dishonorably discharged or have been discharged because of bad conduct via courts-martial are generally not qualified for VA benefits.   Veterans or their dependents who have outstanding felony warrants also do not qualify for VA benefits.

Contact a VA Benefits Office to determine your eligibility status and benefits that may also cover your family members.  When you serve your country with honor, you deserve the honor of accessing benefits that will provide the assistance and support you need.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

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To learn more about Military Time Buyback read this

How does Military service impact your Federal Retirement?

Federal Retirement: Veteran Employment Initiative

Federal Retirement and the Veteran Employment Initiative

federal retirementI think most Americans carry the banner for supporting our Veterans.  Veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to protect our borders and keep us safe from harm and they seek federal retirement.  They volunteer to make sometimes what becomes the ultimate sacrifice – losing their lives, leaving families behind to make it without them.  Our military personnel volunteer to perform a most profound service to their country, they are not drafted.  They choose to put themselves often in harms way so that the rest of us won’t have to.

We have also seen an untold number of Veterans returning from war and service with tremendous injuries, often times limiting their ability to work and recapture their lives.  The President has asked Secretaries Thomas E. Perez (Labor) and Erick Shinseki (VA) to co-chair an Initiative, along with OPM Director Katherine Archuleta as Vice Chair, of increasing the number of Veterans that we employ.

The Initiative will help Veterans secure jobs in the Federal Government.  The initiaitive will also assist them in navigating the transition from the military to the federal service.  Military personnel have impeccable leadership and time management skills, both great attributes the federal service can never run a surplus with.

The Initiative has brought about an amazing collaboration between OPM, Labor and the Veterans Administration.  We applaud the respective agency heads for answering the President’s call to support Veterans in their job search, in their efforts to continuing building their careers and lives for their families.

P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.

 

Veteran Related Articles

Veterans’ Benefits

As A Veteran – What Wartime Benefits Do You Qualify For?

Applying for Veteran Benefits

To learn more about Military Time Buyback read this

How does Military service impact your Federal Retirement?

 

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