XPost: az.politics, sci.military.naval, sac.politics   
   XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, alt.society.liberalism   
   From: noreply@mixmin.net   
      
   Veterans can sometimes run into issues with law enforcement and the   
   criminal justice system resulting in incarceration. It is important   
   justice-involved Veterans are familiar with VA benefits including what   
   VA benefits they may still eligible to receive, what happens to the VA   
   benefits they are already receiving if they become incarcerated, and   
   what programs are available to assist them with reintegrating back into   
   the community once released from incarceration.   
      
   VA Benefits   
   Despite the circumstances, some justice-involved Veterans may be   
   eligible for VA benefits. Disability compensation, pension, education   
   and training, health care, home loans, insurance, Veteran readiness and   
   employment, and burial. See our Veterans page for an overview of the   
   benefits available to all Veterans. Please be aware many VA benefits can   
   be affected by incarceration. The following sections provide information   
   for justice-involved Veterans.   
      
   VA Programs for Justice-Involved Veterans   
   Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) Program   
   The HCRV Program is designed to help incarcerated Veterans successfully   
   reintegrate back into the community after their release. A critical part   
   of HCRV is providing information to Veterans while they are   
   incarcerated, so they can plan for re-entry themselves. A primary goal   
   of the HCRV program is to prevent Veterans from becoming homeless once   
   they are reintegrated back into the community.   
      
   Learn more about the Health Care for Re-entry Veterans Program.   
      
   Veteran Justice Outreach (VJO) Initiative   
   The VJO initiative is designed to help Veterans avoid unnecessary   
   criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration by ensuring   
   eligible justice-involved Veterans receive timely access to VA health   
   care, specifically mental health and substance use services (if   
   clinically indicated) and other VA services and benefits as appropriate.   
      
   Learn more about the Veteran Justice Outreach Initiative.   
      
   How Incarceration Affects Eligibility for VA Benefits   
   VA can pay certain benefits to Veterans who are incarcerated in a   
   Federal, State, or local penal institution; however, the amount depends   
   on the type of benefit and reason for incarceration.   
      
   Disability Compensation   
   VA disability compensation payments are reduced if a Veteran is   
   convicted of a felony and imprisoned for more than 60 days. Veterans   
   rated 20 percent or more are limited to the 10 percent disability rate.   
   For a Veteran whose disability rating is 10 percent, the payment is   
   reduced by one-half. Once a Veteran is released from prison,   
   compensation payments may be reinstated based upon the severity of the   
   service connected disability(ies) at that time. Payments are not reduced   
   for recipients participating in work release programs, residing in   
   halfway houses (also known as "residential re-entry centers"), or under   
   community control. The amount of any increased compensation awarded to   
   an incarcerated Veteran that results from other than a statutory rate   
   increase may be subject to reduction due to incarceration.   
      
   Pension   
   Veterans in receipt of VA pension will have payments terminated   
   effective the 61st day after imprisonment in a Federal, State, or local   
   penal institution for conviction of a felony or misdemeanor. Payments   
   may be resumed upon release from prison if the Veteran meets VA   
   eligibility requirements. Failure to notify VA of a Veteran's   
   incarceration could result in the loss of all financial benefits until   
   the overpayment is recovered.   
      
   Apportionment to Spouse or Children   
   All or part of the compensation not paid to an incarcerated Veteran may   
   be apportioned to the Veteran's spouse, child or children, and dependent   
   parents on the basis of individual need. In determining individual need,   
   consideration shall be given to such factors as the claimant's income   
   and living expenses, the amount of compensation available to be   
   apportioned, the needs and living expenses of other claimants as well as   
   any special needs, if any, of all claimants.   
      
   Additional Information:   
      
   VA will inform a Veteran whose benefits are subject to reduction of the   
   right of the Veteran's dependents to an apportionment while the Veteran   
   is incarcerated, and the conditions under which payments to the Veteran   
   may be resumed upon release from incarceration. VA will also notify the   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)