My basic presentation on Veterans Resources and Benefits. With discussion this takes about an hour.

1. Veterans Benefits
Josh Penner
Veterans Program Manager
Chihak & Gustad, Disability Attorneys

2. Assumption
Every Veteran you’ll ever work with may need
your help in accessing some level of benefits
from somewhere.

3. What are benefits?
• Housing
• Cash Assistance
• Education
• Burial
• Disability
• Recognition
• Whatever you find – whatever you’re looking
for

4. Considerations
• Discharge Status
• Length of Service
• Type of Service
• Job Role
• Location(s) of Service
• Type of Separation

5. Considerations
• Discharge Status
– Honorable
– General
– OTH
– BCD
– ELS
– Dishonorable

6. Considerations
• Type of Separation (Less than Honorable)
– Administrative
– Court Martial

7. Considerations
• Length of Service
– Title 10
– Regular Duty
– Reserve / NG Duty
– Sea Service / Deployment

8. Considerations
• Type of Service
– Active Duty
– Reserve
– National Guard
– Other?

9. Considerations
• Job Role
– Grunt
– POG
– Arty
– Medic / Corpsman
– Comm
– Flightline

10. Considerations
• Location of Service
– Combat Zone
• Where? How Long?
– CONUS v OCONUS

11. Service
DD214 Name
Record of
Service
Medals, Awards, Decorations
(“Snapshot” of service
history”)
Military
Education
General Remarks
Discharge Type

12. Where to Look for Benefits?

13. Where to Look for Benefits?
• For
– Federal
• Soldiers
– State
• Continue
– County
• Looking
– Local

14. Federal
Resources

15. Federal Level (For)
• VA
• Other Considerations
– SSA
– DOD

16. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
DVA
Veterans Veterans National
Benefits Health Cemetery
Administration Administration Administration

17. What can the VA do for YOU?
• Health Care
– Physical
– Mental
– Hospitals
– CBOC
• Compensation for Service Connected Disabilities
• VA Pension (NSC, MOH)
• Education and (re)Training
• Home Loan Guaranty
• Life Insurance
• Burial and Memorial Benefits
• Partnerships with Service Organizations
• Vet Centers
• VASH

18. How to work with the VA
• Think
– Who
– What
– When
– Where
– Why
– How

19. How to work with the VA
• Think
– Who is the VA looking for?
– What are the VA’s eligibility requirements?
– When do you need services, can you work other
options while waiting for the VA?
– Where is the best VA office for your need(s)?
– Why are you going to the VA?
– How to get services from the VA?

20. VA Eligibility Requirements
• “Eligibility for most veterans’ … benefits is
based solely on active military service in the
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast
Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II),
and discharged under other than dishonorable
conditions.”
 www.va.gov

21. VA Eligibility Requirements
• Active Duty = 2 years or more
• Reserve/NG = 180+ Days under Title 10 orders
* There are exceptions to these guidelines

22. Record of
Service
Medals, Awards, Decorations
(“Snapshot” of service
history”)
Discharge Type

23. How to work with the VA
• Start local –
– Website
– Vet Centers
– 1-800-827-1000
– Local Advocates
– State & County Veterans Program
– Hospital
– Federal Building
*Always try to obtain/bring a copy of DD214

24. Other Federal Benefits
• Social Security
– SSI
• Cannot work / federal welfare
• $674/mo vs $985/mo for NSC*
– SSDI
• Insurance Program, out of work 12+ months
• Fully compatible with Service Connected Disability

25. State
Resources

26. WDVA
• Washington Department of Veterans Affairs
– Mission Statement: “Serving Those Who Served”
• Serve as their advocate for all VA entitlements;
• Help Heal their seen and unseen wounds of war;
• Give Help to the homeless;
• Provide quality Care in our Veterans Homes
• Honor Veterans in their final resting place.
• Counseling for War Trauma/PTSD

27. Other Services By the WDVA
• Emergency Financial Assistance
• Veterans Conservation Corps
• License Plates
• Veteran Service Officers
• Homeless Veterans Reintegration
• Incarcerated Veterans Reintegration*
• PTSD Counseling
• Reduced Fee Passes
– Hunting, Fishing, Public Transportation
– 30% disabled – Free National Park Access

28. Secondary Benefits?
• Knowledge Base!
– Most/all of the WDVA employees are
extraordinarily helpful.

29. How to I Engage the WDVA?
• Central Office:
1-800-562-0132
• King County Call Center
1-877- 904-VETS (8387)
• www.dva.wa.gov
• Email a Benefits Specialist:
– benefits@dva.wa.gov

30. County
Resources

31. County Level Benefits
• All counties in WA have Veterans ‘Programs’
• http://cvcwashington.org/
– County Veterans Coalition (CVC)
– Provides County by County Veterans assistance
information
• County Programs/ contact
• Service Offices
• Points of Contac
• http://cvcwashington.org/StateMap.htm

32. King County Benefits
• King County Veterans Program
– Offices in Seattle and Renton, Outlets in Auburn,
Carnation, Lake City, Enumclaw, Federal Way,
Kirkland, Maple Valley, & Redmond (2011)
– Offers emergency financial, Veterans Incarcerated
Project (VIP)*, Employment assistance, Case
Management, and…
Specialized knowledge of Local Resources

33. Contacting KCVP
• http://www.kingcounty.gov/socialservices/veterans
• Make an appointment: 206-296-7656
• Unemployed – Frank Pratt and team host a twice
monthly Veterans Orientation to benefits and
resources in Renton.

34. Other County Business
• King County Veterans and Human Services Levy
http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/DCHS/Services/Levy.aspx

35. Local
Resources

36. Local Resources?
How to find them:
• Become a Google Warrior!
• What is available on the local level.
– Recipient of much of the $ from a higher level
• End user housing, mental health, medical, education,
work placement assistance
• Think local & ‘non-local’ non-profits and
charities.

37. Recap:

38. Recap:
1) Every Veteran qualifies for resources/benefits
from at some level
2) Know what the pertinent history of the
Veteran is: DD214 and/or other source
documentation.
3) For Soldiers Continue Looking

39. Recap:
Example:

40. Questions?
Josh Penner
206-838-3320
jpenner@chigus.com