V E T S U C C E S S

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

VOCATIONAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND REHABILITATION AND

EMPLOYMENT SERVICEEMPLOYMENT SERVICE

June 6, 2012June 6, 2012Greg Alleyne, Employment and Outreach Greg Alleyne, Employment and Outreach

SupervisorSupervisor

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Agenda

VR&E Overview Services Employer Partnerships Employment Outcomes Employer Incentives Tax Credits VetSuccess.gov

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VR&E Program Purpose

To provide services and assistance to Servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities Assist Veterans in obtaining and

maintaining suitable employment Help Veterans achieve independence

in daily living

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VetSuccess Eligibility and Entitlement

Active Duty Servicemembers: Expect to receive a honorable discharge upon separation from active

duty Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services Obtain a memorandum rating of 20% or more from VA Entitlement based on establishment of employment handicap resulting

from SCD Sec. 1631(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (PL 110-181)

established VR&E eligibility for severely injured active duty individuals before a VA rating is issued. Sec. 231 of PL 112-56 extends the sunset date of NDAA to Dec. 31, 2014.

Veterans: Honorable or other than dishonorable discharge VA service-connected disability rating or memo rating of 10% or more Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services Entitlement based on establishment of employment handicap resulting

from SCD Serious employment handicap establishes entitlement for veterans

rated 10%

VetSuccess

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Basic Benefit Information

48 months of entitlement May be utilized within 12 years from

the date of initial VA disability rating notification

Exception for those with a Serious Employment Handicap

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VetSuccess Process218

Rehabilitated Employment Services Application Entitlement Decision Evaluation and Planning Tracks

• Application received (VONAP or 28-1900)

• Veteran’s eligibility established (GED processing used to establish pending 719)

• Schedule veteran for initial counseling appointment if eligible

• VRC meets with veteran• Conduct VR&E orientation to

include Five Tracks Video• Conduct vocational evaluation to

assess skills, abilities & interests• Determine employment handicap

(VR&E entitlement criteria) and serious EH

• Determine feasibility for employment

• Work with veteran to identify track

• Establish vocational or independent living goal

• Define services needed• Develop written plan of services

• On-going case management (max of 18 months)

• Provide employment services• Vetsuccess.gov• Interview skills• Job placement assistance• Referral to DOL

• Held suitable employment or improved ability to live independently

Indep. Living(24 mo. max with 6 mo.

Ext by VR&EO)

Employment Thru Long-Term

Services

Self Employment(monitor 1 yr min)

Rapid AccessTo Employment

Re-Employment

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Re-employmentFor individuals separating from

active duty, National Guard, or Reserves

Return to previous employersServices include:

Job accommodations Job modifications Work adjustment assistance Consultation with employer

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Rapid Access to Employment

For individuals seeking employment soon after separation or who already have necessary skills to be competitive in the job market

Services include: Resume writing and job search assistance Interviewing skills training Job accommodations Refresher courses Licensure and certification Post-employment adjustment services

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Self-EmploymentFor individuals with limited access to

traditional employment, or who need flexible work schedules or a more accommodating work environment due to their disabilities

Services include: Analysis of viability of business concept Development of a business plan Training in small business operations Marketing assistance Guidance on obtaining resources

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Employment ThroughLong-Term Services

For individuals needing specialized training and/or education to obtain and maintain suitable employment

Services may include: On-the-Job Training (OJT) Apprenticeships and internships Higher education or vocational training Tuition/fees/books/tools Tutoring Subsistence allowance

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Independent LivingFor individuals not able to work who need

rehabilitation services to live more independently

Services include: Comprehensive in-home assessment Assistive technologies Independent living skills training Connection to community-based support

services Case management services Coordination with VA’s Specially Adapted

Housing Program

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Employer Partnerships VR&E continuously meets with non-profit, private sector, and

government employers to enhance employment opportunities for Veterans with the goal to decrease the unemployment rate amongst all Veterans

According to BLS, as of February 2012, the Veteran overall unemployment rate has decreased to 7% (.5% decrease from January 2012).

More specifically, the Post-9/11 Veteran unemployment rate has decreased to 7.6% (1.5% decrease) and Veteran unemployment between the ages of 18-24 has decreased to 12.4% (7.8% decrease

Over the past several months, VR&E has been aggressively involved in establishing partnerships with U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Patent Trademark Office, U.S. Forest Service, AT&T, Chase Bank, Center for Energy Workforce Development, and Health Resources and Services Administration, to name a few, to focus efforts on shortage areas in the labor market and identify Veterans that have the aptitude, interest, and ability to work in those fields

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Employment Outcomes

Fiscal Year 2011 Career Categories of Rehabilitated Veterans*

Number of

Veterans

Avg. Annual Wages Prior to VR&E

Program Entrance

Avg. Annual Wages at Rehabilitation

National Average 7420** $7,498.92 $35,718.84Professional, Technical, and Managerial

5,603 $9,834.84 $39,638.52

Service 419 $6,457.00 $28,149.74Clerical 418 $6,357.24 $30,069.07Miscellaneous 313 $5,981.60 $32,226.21Machine Trades 295 $6,256.52 $31,768.64Structural (Building Trades) 180 $6,832.00 $34,686.60Sales 86 $5,361.35 $27,701.72Benchwork 52 $8,059.62 $29,622.69Agricultural, Fishery and Forestry

33 $4,712.73 $19,661.09

Processing (Butcher, Meat Processor, etc.)

21 $6,331.43 $29,019.43

*Source: VR&E Program Management Reports – VR&E Rehabilitated Participants during Fiscal Year 2011.**Excludes 2,442 Veterans Rehabilitated in an Independent Living program

VR&E Employment Outcomes FY 2011

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Career PlacementsDecember 2011 Career Placements

By Employer Type

0.35%

51.21%

4.67% 13.49%

30.28%

Private FBCOState & Local FederalSelf Employed

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VR&E ServicesBest Practices and Resources for employing Veterans include:-Non Paid Work Experience (NPWE)-On-The-Job Training (OJT)-Special Employer Incentive Program (SEI)-Job Accommodations

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What is Non-Paid Work Experience? Provides eligible Veterans with practical job

experiences Placement can be at any government

facility that will provide the Veteran with a work experience consistent with their vocational rehabilitation goals

There is no cost to the employer; the Veteran receives a subsistence allowance from the VA

(Authorized by Public Law 94-502)

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Non-Paid Work Experience

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Benefits for Employers…

Minimal paperwork is required by the participating government agency

High quality worker at no expense Allows agency to assess Veteran’s fit for

noncompetitive appointment into a permanent position

Easy access for the government agency to participate in the NPWE program

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Non-Paid Work Experience

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On-the-Job Training

What is an OJT? Provides training for specific

positions with the employer Veteran is hired at the

apprenticeship wage Results in permanent full-time

employment

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On-the-Job Training

Benefits for the Employer Hiring qualified Veterans at the training

wage VA VR&E purchases necessary tools,

uniforms, other required supplies VA VR&E evaluates the need for job-site

accommodations VA provides support during training and

placement follow-up phases Minimal paperwork Tax incentives (Work Opportunity Tax

Credit)

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Special Employer Incentive

General Information... To assist Veterans who face

extraordinary obstacles in obtaining employment.

For Veterans who have completed training under Chapter 31.

SEI programs may be authorized for a maximum of 9 months.

Payment to the employer maybe monthly or in one lump sum.

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Special Employer Incentive

Benefits for Employers… Reimbursement of up to 50% of the

Veteran’s salary during the SEI program, via direct reimbursement from VA Chapter 31, to cover:Compensation for additional expenses

incurred for cost of instructionCompensation for loss of productionCompensation for additional supply and

equipment costs Minimal Paperwork Employee is trained by employer’s

standards

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New Tax CreditsReturning Heroes Tax Credit - New hiring tax credit that will provide an incentive for firms to hire

unemployed veterans- Short-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $6,000 of

wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks

- Long-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $12,000 of wages (up to $4,800) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months

Wounded Warrior Tax Credit - Double the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with

service-connected disabilities- Maintain the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit for veterans with

service-connected disabilities (currently the maximum is $4,800)- A new credit of 40 percent of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for

firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed longer than 6 months

- The paperwork process for claiming these credits will be simplified by streamlining the burdensome certification that firms had to undertake to claim previous credits

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VetSuccess.gov VetSuccess.gov

Connects over 121,000 Veterans with over 2,500 Employers (as of January 2012)

Employers can search existing resumes for direct hiring of Veterans

Searchable job database of over 8,000,000 jobs

VetSuccess.gov, fully integrated with Ebenefits, VAforVets, and the National Resource Directory, will be a one stop location to support all Veterans in finding employment and advancing their careers

Automatic registration with VetSuccess.gov through Ebenefits integration

VetSuccess.gov will seamlessly integrate all of the tools and

information Veterans and Employers will need to find each other

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VetSuccess.gov Themed webpages for Veterans

In Transition On Campus In the Community At Work At Home For the Veteran’s Family

A user-friendly, searchable U.S. map links the Veteran with the specific resource he/she is seeking

Veteran-specific Resources College campus information Vet Center and Medical Center location and contact information Community resource links Military Skills Translators Support Groups and Mentoring programs Veteran Success Stories Resume and job interview skills training Updated Veteran news articles Links to Post 9/11 GI Bill and VA social media Integration with E-Benefits and VAforVets New National Resource Directory Job Search Widget

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Questions?

Contact InformationWebsite: www.VetSuccess.govGreg Alleyne202-461-9600