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Did You Know? Upstart Initiative to Expedite Disability Claims The Social Security Administration has unveiled a new initiative to expedite disability claims by veterans with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation rating of 100% Permanent & Total (P&T). Under the new process, Social Security will treat these veterans’ applications as high priority and issue expedited decisions, similar to the way the agency currently handles disability claims from Wounded Warriors. In order to receive the expedited service, veterans must tell Social Security they have a VA disability compensation rating of 100%, Permanent and Total, and show proof of their disability rating with their VA Notification Letter. Social Security plans to launch the expedited process in March 2016.
COLA Increase Passed
Disabled veterans are eligible to receive an increase in benefits next year thanks to a bill by Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., that became law over the weekend. President Obama signed Dr. Abraham’s HR 5588, the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016, on Friday, July 22, 2016. The new law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2016, the rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses. The amount of the increase will be equivalent to the increase provided under Title II of the Social Security Act. The precise amount of the adjustment will not be known until the end of the calendar year 2016.
Chapter 31 Benefits Explained The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program is oftentimes referred to as the Chapter 31 benefits program. Chapter 31 program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, search, and maintain gainful employment. For veterans with severe service-connected disabilities that they cannot work, the program offers services to improve their ability to live independently, and maintain a suitable quality of life standard. Some of the services that may be provided by the Chapter 31 program include comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation, vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning, job-training, job-seeking skills, resume development, assistance searching and maintain gainful employment, including the use of special employer incentives and job accommodations, post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school, and independent living services for veterans unable to work due to the severity of their disabilities. For veterans, the basic period of eligibility in which Chapter 31 services may be used is 12 years from the date of separation from active duty service, or the date the veteran was first notified by the Department pf Veterans Affairs (VA) of a service-connected disability rating. The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determines that a veteran has a serious employment handicap.
VA Boot Camp Training More great news for veterans and dependents. Envoy Mortgage, a Houston-based full-service mortgage banking firm that originates loans in 48 states with more than 60 retail branches, has rolled out its “VA Boot Camp” training and certification program, designed to make as many of its employees as possible experts in lending programs from the Veterans Administration. “We owe a tremendous debt to our veterans, and many of them do not fully understand the benefits of VA programs,” said Envoy CEO Pat Walden, a veteran himself. “To ensure exceptional service to our veterans we are creating experts across Envoy, and not only among those who originate loans. We are training clerical staff, managers, loan processors and all others who are critical to ensuring veterans receive the service they deserve,” Walden said. “Envoy employs many veterans, and we have learned that a surprising number of our 22 million former service members are unaware of how their veteran benefits can improve their lives. It is our mission to change that, and VA Boot Camp Certification has given us a great start,” he noted. Call 1-877-232-2461 for more details.
Note: Keep in mind, it is always
best for a veteran to work with an accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) who can explain the complex workings of the VA benefit system.
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