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Employment Services for Veterans, What you Need to Know.

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Veteran Population

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Veteran Population

• 250,000 military personnel return to civilian life each year.

• The Unemployment rate for the population is estimated to be 7.6%

• This current unemployment rate for the general population is 7.9%

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Veterans and Disability

• The unemployment rate for veterans with disabilities is over 41%

• 5.5 million veterans have a diagnosed disability• The actual unemployment rate for disabled

vets is believed to be far higher. Many live on disability payments and don't seek employment, and so they are not counted in jobs numbers.

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Veterans and Disability

• The signature disabilities of returning veterans from recent engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan are:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Traumatic Brian Injury, and/or • depression

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• As many as 30% of individuals returning from current conflicts may have PTSD (Rand Study)

• Symptoms can be varying and subtle• Individuals with PTSD are 2x more likely to

engage in criminal misbehavior• Individuals are 2-3x more likely to engage in

domestic abuse• 50% do not seek treatment

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Considerations for Work

• PTSD

Memory and ConcentrationPoor Time Management SkillsDisorganizationDifficulty coping with StressDifficulty interacting with co-workersFatigueFrequent absenteeismPanic AttacksSleep Disturbance

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Traumatic Brain Injury

• The 2008 Rand Study suggests that 19% of returning veterans have experienced brain injury

• Brain Injury can be mild concussion to penetrating head wounds.

• 80% of reported military TBI are concussive brain injury as the result of IED explosions.

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Considerations for Work

TBI

Memory or concentration problemsHeadacheDizziness or loss of balanceNausea or vomitingSensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouthSensitivity to light or soundMood changes or mood swingsFeeling depressed or anxiousFatigue or drowsinessDifficulty sleepingSleeping more than usual

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Mental Health and Veterans

• As many as 50% of returning veterans experience depression

• Most veterans do not seek treatment for Mental Health issues because of the stigma associated with treatment or fear of being diagnosed with a mental illness.

• Untreated mental health conditions can lead to other debilitating problems including high rates of unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, divorce, child abuse and suicide.

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Finding the Right Job• 80% of military occupations have a civilian analog• For those jobs that do not, the employment specialist should

take time to discover the component tasks and skills that are of value to an employer.

• O*Net can help translate military experience into civilian equivalents

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Finding the Right JobBe aware of the cultural differences between military and civilian cultures.

Military Workplace Culture• Defined Hierarchy • Promotion is clearly defined• Emphasis on Camaraderie

and collaboration for the benefit of the group

Civilian Workplace Culture• Civilian workplace is often

ambiguous• Chain of command is often

vague or confusing• Multiple career paths• Emphasis on individual

accomplishment.

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Finding the Right JobEmployer Motivation

• Patriotism vs. Return on Investment• Focus on Training, work ethic, goal oriented

results• Don’t focus only on military training. – Personality– Interests– Personal Goals

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Veteran Employment Programs• Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. USERRA.

USERRA protects the job rights of individuals who leave employment for military service. USERRA ensures that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard or other uniformed services:

• Are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service; • Are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from

duty; • Are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or

future military service.

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USERRA• USERRA protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or

involuntarily leave employment positions to perform service in the uniformed service;

• USERRA affects employment, reemployment and retention in employment, when employees serve in the uniformed services. USERRA also prohibits employers from discriminating against past and present members of the uniformed services, and applicants to the uniformed services.

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USERRAEligibility:• must hold or have applied for a civilian job. • must have given written or verbal notice to the civilian employer prior to

leaving the job for military training or service except when precluded by military necessity.

• must not have exceeded the 5-year cumulative limit on periods of service.• must have been released from service under conditions other than

dishonorable.• must report back to the civilian job in a timely manner or submit a timely

application for reemployment.

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Veterans Benefits

Service Connected Pension• Disability compensation benefit

paid to a veteran due to injuries or diseases occurring while on active duty, or made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care. The benefits are tax-free.

Non-Service Connected Pension• Pension paid to wartime veterans who

have limited or no income and are age 65 or older or who are permanently and totally disabled. The disability does not have to be "service connected". This is needs based program based on limited income. VA provides a Disability Benefits Pension Rate Table based on countable family income which is set yearly by Congress.

• This is a Means tested program

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How Work Affects Benefits• The Disability Pension program is means-tested and earned income from employment

impacts a veteran’s eligibility as well as the amount of payment due each month. • The VA will consider all income from sources such as:

– wages, salaries, earnings, bonuses, income from a business or profession or from investments or rents as well as the fair value of personal services, goods or room and board received in lieu thereof will be included.

– salary is not determined by “gross pay” before any deductions made under a retirement act or plan and amounts withheld by virtue of income tax laws.

• In the case of self-employment, the gross income from a business or profession may be reduced by the necessary operating expenses, such as cost of goods sold, or expenditures for rent, taxes, and upkeep. Depreciation is not a deductible expense. The cost of repairs or replacement may be deducted. The value of an increase in stock inventory of a business is not considered income. A loss sustained in operating a business, profession, or farm or from investments may not be deducted from income derived from any other source.

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How Work Affects Benefits

• Disability Pension is reduced dollar for dollar by any income that is deemed countable under the VA rules.

• Veterans receiving Disability Pension are required to report all income to the VA.

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How Work Affects Benefits

• Service Connected benefits are not means-tested so they are not affected by income or resources.

• Neither wages nor net income from self-employment affects Disability Compensation payments in the sense that in and of themselves they would cause a reduction or “offset” in the VA payment amount.

• Other forms of income (not related to employment) and assets are also not taken into consideration by the Disability Compensation program and have no impact on benefit eligibility or amount of monthly payment.

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Veterans Benefits

VA Benefits• Degrees of Disability• Only considers service connected

disability• Total file review, no deference

given to 1 opinion• Disability rating of 70% or higher

can help in getting SSDI• Gives little weight to SSA

disability ruling (VA does have a duty to review SSA file in determination)

SSDI• All or Nothing Criteria• Treating physician rule (deference

is given to the opinion of the individuals treating physician)

• Considers all impairments and gives great weight to the disability ruling of the VA

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Veterans Benefits• Most veterans receiving Disability Compensation (Service

connected disability) can work and have no prohibitions on obtaining and/or maintaining employment.

• Only those who receive a higher rating because they are considered “Unemployable” would run into problems by working.

Veterans receiving Non-Service Connected Pension can also work part-time so long as their income does not exceed the income cap for the program. If they are capable of working full-time, they would not meet the 100% disabled requirement for this benefit.

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Income Limits for Non-Service Connected Pension

• Veteran with no dependents $12,256• Veteran with a spouse or a child $16,051• Housebound veteran with no dependents $14,978• Housebound veteran with one dependent $18,773• Veteran who needs aid and attendant care and you have no

dependents• $20,447• Veteran who needs aid and attendant care (A/A) and you have

one dependent $24,239• Two Vets Married to Each Other$16,051• Add for Each Additional Child to any category above$2,093

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Disability Re-determination Exemptions

• When the disability is established as static; • When the findings and symptoms are shown by examinations and

hospital reports to have persisted without material improvement for a period of 5 years or more;

• Where the disability from disease is permanent in character and of such nature that there is no likelihood of improvement;

• In cases of veterans over 55 years of age, except under unusual circumstances;

• When the rating is a prescribed scheduled minimum rating; or • Where a combined disability evaluation would not be affected if

the future examination should result in reduced evaluation for one or more conditions.

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Veteran Employment Programs• HVSEP. The Homeless Veterans Supported Employment Program is

a VA Program providing rapid job development services for Veterans. This project is part of the VA’s goal to end homelessness in the Veteran population by 2015. This is a time limited program scheduled to end in September 2014.

• Eligible for VHA services. (1 of 7 different projects)• Be interested in obtaining immediate competitive employment.• Sporadic work history• Unable to obtain or maintain employment long term on your own • Short term supports

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Veteran Employment Programs• Compensated Work Therapy/Supported Employment. CWT/SE.

Offers job placement to veterans with on going support services and employer consultation .

• Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Employment. CWT/TE. Pre-employment vocational assessment program for Veterans. – Vocational assessments – pre-screening to match veterans to the specific job requirements. – Three to six month time limited – CWT/TWE functions like a temp-to-hire labor service so the expectations

of veteran workers is the same as that of other non-CWT workers in the company

– Employers do not pay benefits

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Veteran Employment Programs• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. VR&E. Assists veterans

with service connected disabilities to prepare for find and keep jobs.– Comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interests for

employment– Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services– Employment services such as job-training, job-seeking skills, resume development, and

other work readiness assistance– Assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives and

job accommodations– On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences (50% wages for

6 months)– Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school– Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical

referrals– Independent living services for Veterans unable to work due to the severity of their

disabilities

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Veteran Employment Programs• Veterans Retraining Assistance Program. VRAP. VRAP is an education and

retraining program:• Eligibility:

– Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old– Are unemployed on the date of application– Received an other than dishonorable discharge– Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI

Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)– Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability– Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

• VRAP will provide training for programs of education that lead to a high demand occupation, as determined by the Department of Labor.

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Tax Credits for Veterans• On January 1, 2013, Congress extended the Returning Heroes and

Wounded Warrior Tax Credits through December 31, 2013.

• The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides incentives of up to $5,600 for hiring unemployed veterans

– Short-term Unemployed: A new credit of 40% of the first $6,000 of wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been in receipt of unemployment insurance or compensation for at least 4 weeks.

– Long-term Unemployed: A new credit of 40% of the first $14,000 of wages

(up to $5,600) for employers who hire veterans who have been in receipt of unemployment insurance or compensation for longer than 6 months.

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Tax Credits• Wounded Warriors Tax Credit doubles the existing Work Opportunity

Tax Credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities, to up to $9,600.

– Veterans with Services-Connected Disabilities: Maintains the existing Work

Opportunity Tax Credit for veterans with service-connected disabilities hired within one year of being discharged from the military. The credit is 40% of the first $12,000 of wages (up to $4,800).

– Long-Term Unemployed Veterans with Services-Connected Disabilities: A

new credit of 40% of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been in receipt of unemployment insurance or compensation for longer than 6 months.