Veteran Benefit Administration ( VBA ) is "organizational elements of the US Department of Veterans Affairs ". The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for managing Departmental programs that provide financial and other forms of assistance to Veterans, their dependents, and survivors. Key benefits include Veterans compensation, Veterans retirement, survivor benefits, rehabilitation and employment assistance, education assistance, home loan guarantee, and life insurance coverage.
Video Veterans Benefits Administration
Misi VBA
The Veterans Benefits Administration Mission, in partnership with the Veterans Administration of Health and the National Funeral Administration, is to deliver the benefits and services to veterans and their families in a responsive, timely and loving manner in recognition of their services to the Nation.
"... to care for him who will bear the battle and for his widow and orphan..." - Abraham Lincoln, Address 2nd Inauguration
Maps Veterans Benefits Administration
Program Managed by VBA
VBA is one of three administrations that fall under the larger umbrella of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Together with the Veterans Health Administration and the National Cemetery Administration, VBA is responsible for managing the various non-medical benefits of VA. According to the VA 2010 Briefing Organization Book, VBA is further divided into business lines that include specific benefits:
Compensation and Retirement Services
The Compensation and Pensions Program provides direct payments to Veterans, dependents and survivors as a result of disability related to veterans services or due to financial needs.
- Disability Compensation is the benefit of money paid to a Veteran with a disability that is the result of illness or injury that occurred or exacerbated during the active military service. The amount of allowance is given according to the veteran's level of disability on a scale from 10 percent to 100 percent (with a multiple of 10 percent). It is possible to have a non-compensation rating (zero percent) for defects as well. Veterans may receive free treatment in the VA medical system for such conditions but will not receive any money compensation for it.
- Dependency and Indemnity (DIC) allowance is generally paid to survivors of servic members who died while on active duty or survivors from Veterans who died from disabilities related to the service.
- Pension Program is designed to provide income support to Veterans with wartime services and their families for disability or death of non-connected services. These programs are for low-income veterans and survivors.
- Funeral and Interment Allowments are paid out to certain Veterans. A higher rate of funeral allowance applies if Veteran's death is connected to the service.
- Spina Bifida Monthly Spend under 38 U.S.C. 1805 is reserved for children born with Spina Bifida who are children of individuals serving in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam Era or served at or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during the period 1 September 1967, until 31 August, 1971 Payment is made at one of three levels and is based on the level of disability suffered by the child.
- Vietnamese Veteran Girls Be Born with Specific Disabilities This program provides monetary allowances, health care and vocational training benefits for eligible children born to women serving in the Republic of Vietnam during the period that began on February 28, 1961, and ended May 7, 1975, if they suffer from certain birth defects. VA identifies birth defects as being associated with maternal services in Vietnam and resulted in permanent physical or mental disabilities.
- S. 2258, Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Cost Adjustment Act 2014 : a 1.5% survival benefit warrant for disability compensation, and other specified categories.
Education Program
The Education Program provides resources to Veterans, service personnel, reserves, and dependents of certain Veterans to help re-adjust and recover lost education opportunities due to services to the country, to expand the benefits of higher education for qualified persons who may not be able to afford them , to assist in military recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel, to encourage membership in the Selected Reserve, and to improve the national workforce. Details can be found at www.gibill.va.gov.
- Post-Vietnam Veterans Post-Graduate Education Program (VEAP) is available for qualified Veterans who enter active duties between 1 January 1977 and 30 June 1985. Benefits and rights are determined by the contribution payable while on active duty and Veterans have 10 years after separation to use the benefits.
- Montgomery GI Bill - Active Assignment (MGIB) provides educational benefit programs that can be used when on active duty or after separation. There are several different eligibility categories. Generally a Veteran will receive 36 months of rights and have 10 years after separation to use the benefits.
- Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) is a program funded and administered by the Department of Defense (DoD) and is available to members of Selected Reserve. VA manages the program but the Department of Education determines the eligibility of members. Generally qualified members of the Reserve will receive 36 months of rights and will have 14 years to use the benefits.
- The Education Trust Assistance Program (REAP) is a program funded and administered by the Department of Defense and available to Selected or Ready Sue members who are called in active duty to support contingency operations. VA manages the program but the Department of Education determines the eligibility of members. Generally Qualified members of the Selected or Ready Reserve will receive 36 months of ownership and will be able to use the benefits as long as they remain in the Selected or Ready Backup.
- National Call to Services is an educational support program that can be used when on active duty or after separation. The person must be registered on or after October 1, 2003, under the National Call for Services program and select one of the two educational incentives provided by the program. A Veteran will receive an educational allowance based on a selected educational initiative. These are (1) educational benefits of up to 12 months of MGIB benefits (3 years level) or (2) educational benefits of up to 36 months of MGIB benefits (half 2 years).
- The Dependents Education Help Program (DEA) is designed to assist Veterans' dependents who (1) have been set to 100 percent permanently and completely disabled due to conditions connected to the service; (2) conditions connected to the service, or (3) dies while on active duty. Dependents typically receive 45 months of eligibility. The criteria for using these benefits are:
- Children have 8 years to use this benefit.
- Couples from surviving veterans have 10 years to use this benefit.
- The surviving spouse of a Veteran who died with a 100 percent service connection condition has 10 years to use this benefit.
- The surviving spouse of a Veteran who died from active duty has 20 years to use this benefit.
- The Post-9/11 Education Assistance Program (Post 9/11-GI Bill) is a new education assistance program for certain individuals with an active service qualification period after September 10, 2001. Individuals will meet conditions for educational assistance in the form of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowances, and one book and supplies. The new program also gives certain individuals the opportunity to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouse and children. The new program is effective August 1, 2009. Bill GI Post-9/11 also includes the Program Sergeant Naval Uniform John David Frye for children of servicemembers who died while on active duty.
Insurance Program
The Insurance program was created to provide life insurance at a "standard" premium rate for members of the armed forces exposed to extra dangers from military service. Veterans are eligible to retain their VA life insurance after discharge. In general, new programs were created for every period of war since World War I. There are four life insurance programs that still cover coverage as well as a program of traumatic injury coverage:
- Group Life Insurance Servicemembers (SGLI) - Provide up to $ 400,000 life insurance coverage to active members of Uniformed Services and members of the Reserve, cadets and midshipmen from four service academies, Training Corps members The Backup Officer, and the volunteer member for the assignment to the mobilization category on the Individual Ready Backup. SGLI also offers Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) up to $ 100,000 in coverage for couples servicemember, if the service is active on duty or a member of Ready Reserve of uniformed services. All dependent children are automatically insured with $ 10,000 at no cost.
- Veteran Group Life Insurance (VGLI) - Individuals who are separated from services with SGLI coverage may change their coverage to VGLI, regardless of health, by submitting applications with a first month premium within 120 days of discharge. After 120 days, the individual may still be given VGLI by providing evidence that insurability is filed within one year from the end of the 120 day period. If the member is completely disabled during separation, the SGLI coverage continues for free for two years, after which VGLI may be granted without evidence of insurability.
- Veterans-Disability Insurance Services (SDVI) - Veterans with a disability rating related to VA services but expressed in good health may apply for life insurance coverage of up to $ 10,000 within two years from the date of notification by the VA of the status connected to the service. This insurance is limited to Veterans who leave service after 25 April 1951. If Veterans is completely disabled, premiums are waived, and he may apply an additional $ 30,000 coverage under the program.
Loan Guarantee
The Loan Guarantee Program provides assistance to Veterans, certain couples, and service members to enable them to buy and maintain homes. Assistance is provided through a partial guarantee of VA loans made by private lenders in lieu of large down payment and personal mortgage insurance required in conventional mortgage transactions. This protection means that in most cases, qualified Veterans can obtain loans without a down payment. Also, the Loan Guarantee Program offers the following:
- Adapted Special Grant (SAH) Grant is available to Veterans with special service-related disabilities for the purpose of building a customized dwelling or modifying existing dwellings to meet Veterans needs. The goal of the SAH Program is to provide a barrier-free environment that gives Veterans an independent level of living that they may not enjoy.
- Direct Native Home Direct Loans are available to qualified Native American Veterans and, in certain circumstances, couples wishing to buy or build houses on trust land. This loan is a direct loan made by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Help Services provide assistance for borrowers having difficulty in making their loan payments. Help can take some form but the goal is to try to keep the Veteran on the property and avoid foreclosure.
- Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) - Mortgage life insurance coverage of up to $ 200,000 is available for severely handicapped Veterans who receive SAH Grant.
- Traumatic injury servicemembers (TSGLI) - are motorists for SGLI policy and provide automatic traumatic injury coverage for all members of the servicemembers under SGLI effective December 1, 2005. It provides for payments between $ 25,000 and $ 100,000 (depending on the type of injury) to SGLI members who suffered a traumatic injury that caused certain severe losses. The benefits are retroactive until October 7, 2001, if such losses are a direct result of injuries occurring in Operation Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.
Vocational and Work Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR & E) is endorsed by Congress under Title 38, USC, Chapter 31 and Federal Code Regulations, Section 21. Sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program. The program helps Veterans with disabilities connected with services for preparing, finding, and maintaining suitable work. For Veterans with disability related to such a severe service that they can not directly consider the work, the program offers services to enhance their ability to live independently. Services that may be provided by the VR & E Program include:
- Comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine skills, skills and interests for the job
- Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services
- Employment services such as job training, job search skills, continuing development, and other work preparedness assistance
- Helps find and keep jobs, including employer incentives and workplace accommodations
- About Job Training (OJT), internship experience, and unpaid work experience
- Post-secondary training in college, vocational, technical or business schools
- Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals
- Self-service live for Veterans can not work due to the severity of their defects
References
External links
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Administration of Veteran Benefits
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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