Benefits Access Support ServicesBenefits Access Support Services

Leading Veterans Administration BenefitsPensionDisabilityHealth Care

Lesser Known VA BenefitsCaregiver ArrangementsHousing and Automotive AdaptationDependent Educational AssistanceDependency Indemnity CompensationAdditional Benefits

Work Restoration Additional Education Programs

Available to wartime veterans who meet one of two qualifications: Over the age of 65, or Any age if permanently or totally disabled

Paid in three levels: Maximum benefit: married veteran Midrange benefit: single veteran Reduced benefit: surviving spouse

Qualification Details:

If over 65, other monthly income must be less than $1,388

If over 65 and qualifying for Aid and Attendance, married Veterans’ other monthly income must be less than $1,949

If over 65 and qualifying for Aid and Attendance, unmarried Veterans’ other monthly income must be less than $1,644

The disability results from injury or disease Acquired during active military service Exacerbated by active military service

Complications with the VA Acceptance of claims Absolute compliance with VA terminology and processes

Veterans’ issues Discouragement Proverbial “runaround”

Bottom line – veterans either: Succeed in the quest

Veteran receives legitimate benefit Family stress is reduced to a manageable level

Give up Veteran adopts a “You can’t fight city hall” attitude Veteran gives up; makes do

Pension and Disability BenefitsPension and Disability Benefits

It has been estimated that around 10 million seniors - 25% of all of those currently past the age of 65 – likely are eligible for VA pension benefits alone

Only about 5.4% of those who may be eligible currently receive the benefit

VA healthcare system is the nation’s largest Eligibility based on 24 continuous months’

active service and honorable discharge Some Veterans can be reimbursed for travel

for healthcare Veterans traveling for service-related conditions Veterans whose service related disabilities are

30% or more VA pension recipients Veterans meeting other requirements

New program as of May, 2011

Helps pay for several types of home-based care:

Outside professional home healthcare Respite care for family caregivers Caregiver education and training programs for

family caregivers Caregiver support groups Other services

Other services – these are only a sampling:

Family counseling Pastoral care Medical equipment Family leisure and recreational activities Transportation assistance for some Veterans to and

from medical appointments Prosthetic and sensory aides Financial assistance with home mobility and access

issues – i.e., ramps, etc. Temporary lodging in Fisher Houses

Housing adaptation grants Available to disabled Veterans and service

members No repayment Lifetime maximum cap of $63,780

HISA provides grants for Entrance to and exit from the Veteran’s residence Bathroom access and independent use Kitchen accessibility Improving entrance paths or driveways to enhance

Veteran accessibility and mobility

Available to specific disabled Veterans

One-time use only

Maximum amount is $11,000

Can be used for automobile purchase or automotive adaptation equipment purchase and installation

Available to dependents of Deceased Veterans Veterans suffering total and permanent service-

related disability

Spouse may take correspondence courses Children may receive assistance for

45 months in an educational or workplace setting Degree and certificate programs Apprenticeship On-the-job-training

Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Monthly benefit paid to surviving spouse

(base rate $1,154), children and perhaps parents of a Veteran or active service member who has died and was: Active duty or inactive duty Veteran dying from service-related injury or

disease Veteran dying from a non service-related injury or

disease while fully service-connected disabled

VA offers internal programs Incentive Therapy – psychiatric inpatient work Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) – paid on-campus

work at 35 VA Medical Centers CWT/Transitional Work (CWT/TW) – partnership

between VA Medical Centers and local businesses CWT/Supported Employment (CWT/SE) – full- or

parttime work in the community, in conjunction with VA clinical supervision. Focuses on Veterans with psychosis and is phased out as soon as possible

TCB Caring Hands will offer complementary but very different work restoration support

Post-911 GI Bill New benefit for Veterans on active duty on or

after September 11, 2001 Based on length of service, provides sliding scale

for Tuition and fees Monthly housing allowance Books and supplies up to $1,000 a year $500 one-time relocation assistance to urban areas

Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program – imposes additional requirements for special circumstances

EveryEvery day is

Veterans’ Day

There are many other benefits offered by and through the VA. Others will be added As Veteran demand requires Where there is a complementary nature among

VA programs and non-VA TCB Caring Hands programs

Some that TCB Caring Hands will focus on in the early stages are Travel Reimbursement Work Restoration Additional Education Programs

RationaleOutside Agency UseInternal AccreditationLong Term Objectives

Path to Benefits Access Services

All agents or representatives MUST be accredited by the VA to work on behalf of the Veteran

Accreditation training requires several months’ study

Many accredited agents are attorneys, but even paralegals and other staffers must themselves be accredited

TCB Caring Hands can begin with an outside accredited agent while gaining internal accreditation

Use of an outside agent allows immediate operation

The agent must be accredited for legal operation

Provides insight into time required for individual case completion

Gives greater control of the process to TCB Caring Hands

May enhance efficient use of private, donated funds

Should improve communication with Veteran clients

Maximize private funds for other uses

Increase the number of Veterans receiving the benefits that their service entitles them to

Tap into as much federal monies as legitimately possible, freeing up TCB Caring Hands’ funds for non-entitlement uses

Enhance Veterans’ understanding of the gratitude of the nation

Positively contribute to Veterans’ enhanced quality of life

Initial Points of FocusProgram CostsProgram Expansion

Least-used VA benefits Non-service related improved veterans pension VA health benefits – sliding scaled based on

income Caregiver programs and services Vocational assistance and therapeutic work

programs Disability compensation

Many Veterans unaware that they qualify for various programs

Cost to Veterans None for initial application Only accredited agents can charge for appeal TCB Caring Hands assumes all costs for Veterans

Cost to TCB Caring Hands No application costs owed to VA Internal expenses only:

Administrative support salaries Accredited counselor salaries Accredited legal salaries

This service can be operational in any city at any time

Administration will be centered in TCB Caring Hands’ Orlando office

There are no geographical boundaries

Veterans need to be made aware that these programs exist and that TCB Caring Hands will help them file for those which they are eligible

TCB Caring Hands will collect all necessary documentation and identify appropriate Veterans’ programs

TCB Caring Hands will file claims, follow up and appeal rejected claims

TCB Caring Hands will fill gaps with private, donated funds and appropriate private programs

About Accreditation & Fees. (n.d.). Senior Veterans Service Alliance. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from http://www.veteransaidbenefit.org/about_accreditation_and_fees.htm.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. (2011). Military.com. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from http://www.military.com/benefits/survivor-benefits/dependency-and-indemnity-compensation.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). (2008, December). Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved September 3, 2011 from www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/survivors/dic.doc.

Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors: 2011 Edition. (2011, June 16). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp.

VA to Take Applications for New Family Caregiver Program. (2011, May 3). Veterans Administration. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2088.