2 minute read
Veterans Benefits
VA OFFERS RESOURCES TO FORMERLY INCARCERATED VETERANS
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has introduced new efforts to better help veterans reenter society after incarceration.
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In partnership with the Social Security Administration and Bureau of Prisons, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is streamlining information sharing processes to ensure VBA receives prison release dates for veterans within 30 days after release to improve timeliness in reinstating benefits.
Assistance available to impacted veterans includes:
• Expansion of the VA’s existing outreach campaign to state prison systems and jails to increase the number of veterans to whom it can offer individualized reentry services and connect more veterans to post-release services while they are still incarcerated.
• Assistance through the VA’s Veterans Reentry Search Service, a free web-based tool criminal justice partners, and prison and jail staff can use to identify incarcerated veterans and connect them to needed services post-release.
• Help through Veterans Justice Programs, which identifies justice-involved veterans and engages them through outreach to facilitate access to VA services at the earliest possible point.
• Outreach by Veterans Justice Programs specialists to link veterans to needed Veterans Health Administration services and other community resources.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports there are approximately 107,400 veterans in state or federal prison. Following release, these veterans are at increased risk of homelessness, suicide and death by drug overdose.
Do you need help filing a claim for the VA? Volusia County’s Veterans Services Office can help. Counselors assist all former and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents in preparing claims for compensation, pension, vocational training, and other benefits and privileges to which they are entitled. Schedule an appointment by calling 386-254-4646.
Raymond Allen Jr., U.S. Army SFC (RET.. Volusia County Veterans Services 123 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32720 Phone: 386-740-5102 Fax: 386-740-5101
