VR&E Reemployment Track

This track helps you through the process of returning to the job you held before you were deployed. As a Veteran, you’re protected under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which means you can’t be disadvantaged in your civilian career because of your service. If you have a service-connected disability the Reemployment track can help your former employer accommodate your needs.

You might be eligible for the Reemployment Track if you’re a Veteran with a service-connected disability, and you meet all of the requirements listed below.

All of these must be true. You:

• Have an employment barrier or handicap, and
• Are enrolled in Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and
• Would like to return to your former job

To apply for this track you will need to apply for VR&E benefits and work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).

Rapid Access to Employment Track

This track provides tools to help with your job search, professional or vocational counseling, helping with writing your resume and preparing for interviews, and help determining if you’re eligible for Veterans’ Preference. You’ll want to consider this track if you are interested in following an employment path that uses your existing skill set.

You may be eligible for these benefits if you’re a service member or Veteran with a service-connected disability, and you meet all of the requirements listed below.

All of these must be true. You:

• Have an employment handicap or barrier, and
• Are enrolled in VR&E, and
• Already have experience, education, or training in your field of interest

Self-Employment Track

This track provides coordination services and help with developing a proposed business plan, analysis of your business concept, training in small-business operations, marketing, and finances, and guidance in getting the right resources to implement your business plan. You might choose this track if you have the skills and desire to run your own business.

You might be eligible for these benefits if you’re a service member or Veteran with a service-connected disability, and you meet all of the requirements listed below.

All of these must be true:

• You have an employment barrier or handicap, and
• You’re enrolled in VR&E, and
• Your service-connected disability makes it hard for you to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests)

Employment Through Long-Term Services Track

This track provides a complete skills assessment, career guidance, job-market evaluation, education and training for a professional or vocational field that’s a good fit for you, apprenticeship, on-the-job training, volunteer opportunities, and employment assistance. This track is ideal for someone whose service-connected disability makes it difficult for them to be successful in their current employment path. You will work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor who will help you find work in a field that better suits your current abilities and interests.

You may be eligible for these benefits if you’re a service member or Veteran with a service-connected disability, and you meet all of the requirements listed below.

All of these must be true:

• You have an employment barrier or handicap, and
• You’re enrolled in VR&E, and
• Your service-connected disability makes it hard for you to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests)

Independent Living Track

Depending on your individual needs, this track offers evaluation and counseling to identify your needs and goals, referral to support resources, evaluation to see if you’re eligible for the VR&E home adaptation grant, and guidance to help you understand if you’re eligible for our adaptive-housing programs. You might want to consider this track if your service-connected disability limits your ability to perform daily activities like bathing, dressing, and interacting with others, and makes it difficult for you to return to work.

You may be eligible for independent living services if you’re a service member or Veteran with a service-connected disability who is eligible for VR&E benefits, and you meet all of the requirements listed below.

All of these must be true:

• You have a serious employment handicap (SEH), and
• Your disabilities prevent you from looking for or returning to work, and
• You’re in need of services to live as independently as possible

To apply for any one of these tracks you will need to apply for VR&E benefits and work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). They will help you determine which track is the best fit for you and your needs.

Regardless of which track you choose, the VR&E program is a great resource for Veterans with service-connected disabilities. It helps with the transition process and getting you successfully fitted for a civilian career. For more information about Veteran career searches, check out our other blogs.

Contact Us

Have a question about your Veteran benefits? You can email us today! If you are within one-year pre to post-military separation, you can enroll in our FREE program by setting up a call with one of our transition coaches.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is available to help you pay for school or job training if you served on active duty after September 10, 2001.

You may be eligible for Post-9/11 education benefits if you meet at least one of these requirements.

At least one of these must be true. You:

• Served at least 90 days on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001, or
• Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
• Served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability, or
• Are a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying Veteran or service member.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits

If you choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill can receive up to 36 months of benefits. These benefits include:

• Tuition and fees. If you qualify for the maximum benefit, the full cost of public, in-state tuition and fees will be covered.
• The rates are capped for private and foreign schools, but updated each year on the VA website.
• Money for housing (if you’re in school more than half time). Your monthly housing allowance will be based on the cost of living where your school is located.
• Money for books and supplies. You can receive up to $1,000 per school year.
• Money to help you move from a rural area to go to school. You may qualify for this one-time payment of $500 if you live in a county with 6 or fewer people per square mile and you’re either moving at least 500 miles to go to school or have no other option but to fly by plane to get to your school.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Expiration and Usage

If you plan to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill you need to be aware of the timeline for expiration.

• If your service ended before January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will expire 15 years after your last separation date from active service. You must use all of your benefits by that time or you’ll lose whatever’s left.
• If your service ended on or after January 1, 2013, your benefits won’t expire thanks to a new law called the Forever GI Bill – Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act.

Once you’ve decided the Post-9/11 GI Bill is right for you, you’ll need to apply online at VA.gov.
The benefit amount you’ll receive will depend on which school you go to, how much active-duty service you’ve had since September 10, 2001, and how many credits or training hours you will be taking.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Eligibility

The Montgomery GI BIll Active Duty will help you pay for education and training programs if you’ve served at least two years on active duty. You may be eligible for education benefits through this program if you were honorably discharged and you meet the requirements of one of the categories below.

Category I

All of these are true. You:

• Have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
• Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, and
• Had your military pay reduced by $100 a month for the first 12 months of service

And at least one of these is true. You served continuously (without a break) for:

• 3 years, or
• 2 years if that was your agreement when you enlisted, or
• 4 years if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty (called the 2 by 4 program)

Category II

All of these are true. You:

• Have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
• Entered active duty before January 1, 1977 (or before January 2, 1978, under a delayed enlistment program contracted before January 1, 1977), and
• Served at least 1 day between October 19, 1984, and June 30, 1985, and stayed on active duty through June 30, 1988 (or through June 30, 1987, if you entered the Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years), and
• Had at least 1 day of entitlement left under the Vietnam Era GI Bill (Chapter 34) as of December 31, 1989

Category III

All of these are true. You:

• Have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
• Don’t qualify for MGIB under categories I or II, and
• Had your military pay reduced by $1,200 before separation

And one of these is true. You:

• Were on active duty on September 30, 1990, and involuntarily separated (not by your choice) after February 2, 1991, or
• Involuntarily separated on or after November 30, 1993, or
• Chose to voluntarily separate under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) program or the Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program

Category IV

Both of these are true. You:

• Have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
• Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution (meaning you paid it all at once)

And one of these is true. You:

• Were on active duty on October 9, 1996, had money left in a VEAP account on that date, and chose MGIB before October 9, 1997, or
• Entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between July 1, 1985, and November 28, 1989, and chose MGIB between October 9, 1996, and July 9, 1997

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Benefits

If you choose to use the Montgomer GI Bill you may get up to 36 months of education benefits, which will be paid monthly. The amount you’ll receive depends on the following factors:

• Your length of service, and
• The type of education or training program you choose, and
• Your category (as defined above), and
• Whether you qualify for a college fund or kicker, and
• How much you’ve paid into the $600 Buy-Up program

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Expiration and Usage

You typically have 10 years to use your Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty benefits, but his may change depending on your situation.

Once you’ve decided this GI Bill is right for you you’ll need to verify the program and school you’ve selected is supported by the VA. As long as you’re school is supported the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty will cover

• Remedial courses (classes some students must take to build up their basic skills in math, reading, or English before they can take regular college courses)
• Deficiency courses (classes some students must take in order to be admitted to a certain college)
• Refresher courses (brief courses that help people review and improve their knowledge in a certain subject area)

We hope that this breakdown of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill will be valuable in helping you determine which GI Bill is right for you. If you need any further explanation on the GI Bills you can always visit VA.gov.

Are you familiar with Veterans’ Group Life Insurance? If you are transitioning out of the military soon and currently have Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), then you are going to want to keep reading to get a better understanding of VGLI. We are going to cover the top 5 things you should know about Veterans’ Group Life Insurance.

#1 – What is VGLI?

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is an insurance plan that allows you to convert your Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to a renewable group life insurance plan after you leave service. As long as you pay your premiums, you will remain covered by the VGLI.

#2 – Who is Covered?

The VGLI covers Veterans and former servicemembers, but you must be able to meet certain criteria to qualify.
At least one of these must be true. You:

• Had part-time Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) as a member of the National Guard or Reserves, and you suffered an injury or disability (damage to your body or mind that makes it hard for you to do everyday tasks, including meaningful work) while on duty—including direct traveling to and from duty—that disqualified you for standard premium insurance rates, or
• Had SGLI while you were in the military and you’re within 1 year and 120 days of being released from an active-duty period of 31 or more days, or
• Are within 1 year and 120 days of retiring or being released from the Ready Reserves or National Guard, or
• Are within 1 year and 120 days of assignment to the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR) of a branch of service, or to the Inactive National Guard (ING). This includes members of the United States Public Health Service Inactive Reserve Corps (IRC), or
• Are within 1 year and 120 days of being put on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL)

#3 – What are the benefits of VGLI and how do I sign up?

The amount of benefits you can receive is based on the coverage you previously had through SGLI, but you can receive between $10,000 to $400,000 in life insurance benefits. When you leave the military, you can sign up through VGLI for coverage up to the amount you had through SGLI. You can also increase your coverage by $25,000 every 5 years—up to $400,000—until you’re 60 years old.

To sign up for VGLI you’ll need to apply within 1 year and 120 days of leaving the military.

If you sign up within 240 days of leaving the military, you won’t need to prove you’re in good health. If you sign up after the 240-day period, you’ll need to submit evidence that you’re in good health.
There are several different ways you can apply for coverage:

• Apply through the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), using the Prudential website. Apply online through OSGLI
• Apply online through eBenefits
• Apply by mail or fax. Fill out the Application for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (SGLV 8714). Download the Application for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (PDF)

#4 – How much does VGLI cost?

Like a traditional commercial life insurance policy, the cost of your VGLI premium will vary based on your age and the amount of coverage that you’d prefer. As your age increases, the premium cost also increases. If you are 29 years old and seeking $400,000 in coverage your monthly premium will be $28; however, if you are 49 years old and seeking the same coverage your monthly premium will be $84.

The VA has a chart at VA.gov that breaks down the cost for each age range and premium amount.

#5 – Can I convert VGLI to a traditional commercial plan?

If you decide you would like to convert your policy to a commercial policy then you can easily convert at the standard premium rates without having to prove that you’re in good health. You will just need to choose your new insurance company, apply for coverage at their local office, and give your new insurance agent a VGLI Conversion Notice.

The policy you are converting to must be a permanent policy, such as a whole life policy. You can’t convert to other types of policies, like term, variable life, or universal life insurance. Also, supplementary policy benefits, like Accidental Death and Dismemberment or Waiver of Premium for Disability, aren’t considered part of the conversion policy.

If you are within one year pre- or post-transition and you have questions about VGLI or any other transition concerns, visit SAVIvets.org and connect with one of our SAVI mentors.

As you probably know, when you transition out of the military there are tons of decisions you’ll have to make about the future for you and your family. One of the most important decisions you will have to make is whether you are going to start a career or potentially plan on going back to school. Luckily there are tools and resources available to help you make this very important decision.

Have you heard of VA Chapter 36? If you are transitioning out of the military within the next six months or you’re within one year post-transition then you’ll want to keep reading to learn more about this amazing resource.

Chapter 36 is a Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG) service available to Veterans and their qualified dependents. This tool helps to make the decision process about school or career easier and the best part is it’s personalized to each individual because we know there isn’t a one size fits all approach to this decision.

There are a few qualifications you’ll need to meet in order to start claiming these benefits. You must:

• Be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable from active duty within 6 months, or
• Separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable not more than one year ago, or
• Qualify as a Veteran or service member for educational assistance under a VA educational program, or
• Are a service member, Veteran, or dependent currently eligible for VA education benefits

If you fit into one of these categories then there is a good chance you will qualify for some great benefits provided by Chapter 36. These benefits include:

• Career counseling to help you decide which civilian or military jobs you might want
• Educational counseling to help you find a training program or field of study that interests you
• Academic and adjustment counseling to help you address issues or barriers that get in the way of your future success
• Resume support and goal planning to help you put your best foot forward

So, you are probably asking yourself “how do I apply for Chapter 36?” Well, it’s easy. There are 3 ways to apply for these benefits. You can:

• Apply online using your ebenefits account, or
• Apply by mail using VA Form 28-8832, or
• Take your application to your nearest regional office or VetSuccess on Campus counselor

Once your application is reviewed you will receive an invitation for orientation if you’re determined to be eligible.

If you have any other questions you can check out this video from the VA that gives a little more information about Chapter 36.

Contact Us

Have a question about your Veteran benefits? You can email us today! If you are within one-year pre to post-military separation, you can enroll in our FREE program by setting up a call with one of our transition coaches.

The VA offers a number of services to support family caregivers including monthly payment or stipend to designated caregivers of severely disabled veterans. Keep reading for more information on the VA Caregiver Support Program.

The first thing you are probably asking is “What is a Primary Family Caregiver Stipend?” Well, a Primary Family Caregiver stipend is monetary compensation paid to a Primary Family Caregiver for providing personal care services to an eligible Veteran enrolled in the Caregiver Support Program. The stipend benefit is not intended to replace career earnings, and receipt of the stipend payments does not create an employment relationship between VA and the Primary Family Caregiver.

Contact Us

Have a question about your Veteran benefits? You can email us today! If you are within one-year pre to post-military separation, you can enroll in our FREE program by setting up a call with one of our transition coaches.

It’s important to note that not ALL caregivers can receive this stipend. Only the designated Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran is entitled to receive a stipend. There can be only one Primary Family Caregiver designated at a time. Also, important to know that the stipend is a VA enhanced service and is not considered taxable income.
To utilize this benefit the qualified Veteran will need to be evaluated to determine their level of personal care services. The Veteran’s Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) at your assigned VA Medical Center (VAMC) will make a determination after evaluating the eligible Veteran. The PACT provides a clinical evaluation of the Veteran’s level of dependency, based on the degree to which the eligible Veteran is unable to perform one or more activities of daily living, or the degree to which the Veteran is in need of supervision or protection, based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. As a result of the clinical evaluation and score, the eligible Veteran will be rated as follows:

• High Tier: Equates to a maximum of 40 hours of care per week.
• Medium Tier: Equates to a maximum of 25 hours of care per week.
• Low Tier: Equates to a maximum of 10 hours of care per week.

Once the PACT is able to determine the tier level of the eligible Veteran they will be able to determine the stipend amount for the Primary Family Caregiver. The stipend amount is based on the weekly number of hours of personal care services that the eligible Veteran requires during the month. It is calculated by multiplying the Bureau of Labor Statistics hourly wage for home health aides, Skill code 311011, for the geographic region in which the eligible Veteran resides by the Consumer Price Index Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and then multiplying that total by the number of weekly hours of Caregiver assistance required (assigned tier level hours). This product is then multiplied by the average number of weeks in each month (4.35).

For example: If an eligible Veteran requires 10 hours of personal care services weekly (Tier 1) and the Caregiver’s hourly wage (including COLA) is $10 per hour, then the monthly stipend would be: (10 hours x $10) x 4.35 = $435.

Once the stipend total is calculated and approved it will be paid out monthly to the Primary Family Caregiver.

You can find more information about the Primary Family Caregiver Stipend from the VA by calling the Caregiver support line at 1-855-260-3274, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

You can also visit the Caregiver website at http://www.caregiver.va.gov or email: https://iris.custhelp.com/app/ask

This is a great benefit for Veterans with service-related disabilities and their families. It allows the Veteran to still maintain a quality of life and provides a way for their families to be involved in their care.

Contact Us

Have a question about your Veteran benefits? You can email us today! If you are within one-year pre to post-military separation, you can enroll in our FREE program by setting up a call with one of our transition coaches.

Do you qualify for Compensation benefits? If you are a Veteran who was honorably discharged and have a service-connected disability then you probably do and you’ll want to keep reading to learn what you need to do to apply.

So, what is disability compensation? It’s a tax-free monetary benefit paid to Veterans who have a service-connected disease or disability. This can be anything that is a physical condition (chronic illness and pain) or a mental health condition (PTSD). You might also qualify if you have a post-service disability that can be directly tied to an injury or illness that you sustained while you were in service.

Are there any other types of disability compensation? Yes, there are also disability compensation benefits available to surviving spouses, children, or parents of service members who passed away during active duty or as a result of their service-connected disability. This is called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Also, in some cases you might qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). This is an additional tax-free benefit that is provided for Veterans who require additional care or aid. An example of this might be a Veteran who lost a limb during service and requires a prosthetic limb.

How do you apply for disability compensation? You will want to start the application process as soon as you can, even before you are discharged from the military. You can apply online using your VA eBenefits account. A copy of your DD-214, medical evidence from your doctor, and records for your dependents will be required for processing your claim. You also have the option of mailing your application form directly into the VA.

How much compensation will I receive? This will be determined by your disability rating. The current 2021 rate for a Veteran with a 20 percent disability rating is $284 per month. If you have a 10 or 20 percent rating then your compensation doesn’t increase based on having dependents. If you have a 30 percent or higher rating your compensation level will vary depending on the number of dependents that you have living with you. There is a detailed breakdown of these compensation rates on the VA.gov website.

Are there any other benefits? As part of your VA compensation benefits, you might also be eligible for additional housing and insurance benefits. These include adapted housing grants, service-disabled Veteran’s insurance, and Veterans mortgage life insurance. All of these additional benefits will vary from Veteran to Veteran and will depend on your disability rating.

Disability compensation is a valuable VA benefit that every eligible Veteran should know about and utilize, so don’t wait, start your application today.

Contact Us

Have a question about your Veteran benefits? You can email us today! If you are within one-year pre to post-military separation, you can enroll in our FREE program by setting up a call with one of our transition coaches.