Evidence of meeting #26 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was employment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Cheryl Flohr  Acting Deputy Director, Pre-Discharge and Retired Pay Programs, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Margarita Cocker  Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Michael Fisher  Program Analyst, Readjustment Counseling Service, Vet Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Joel Scholten  Associate Chief of Staff, Rehabilitation Services, Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Susan McCrea  Executive Assistant, Intergovernmental Affairs, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

4:55 p.m.

Program Analyst, Readjustment Counseling Service, Vet Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Michael Fisher

Yes. I don't have the slide here, but I had it in other presentations. At the past two major league baseball world series, we had a mobile Vet Center at that event. We actually had representatives from the Veterans Benefits Administration as well as the VA medical centres, with Vet Center staff providing information and referrals to all VA services.

We use it. Anywhere there is an event that a veteran might be at, we bring a mobile Vet Center; we bring Vet Center staff, or VA staff, to provide information and referrals.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

Réjean Genest NDP Shefford, QC

Thank you very much for this information.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Right on the minute. Thank you very much, Mr. Genest.

Ms. Adams, for four minutes.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

That is a very talented parliamentarian, to time it so accurately.

I'd like to thank you all for taking the time to share some of your best practices with us.

I believe that at the beginning of your presentation, Margarita, you indicated what the minimum disability percentage is in order to receive services. What was that figure?

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

For an admitting service member, it's 20% or higher. For an individual who is already a veteran, it is 10% or higher. That's the basic eligibility, and then there are requirements in addition if they have an employment handicap.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Perfect. Thank you.

Michael, you had mentioned that any family member can access the services you have at your job placement office. I assume that you provide priority to veterans in placing them in employment in the public sector. Is that correct? And is there a similar priority given to family members of veterans?

March 27th, 2012 / 4:55 p.m.

Program Analyst, Readjustment Counseling Service, Vet Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Michael Fisher

Employment is one of the issues we tackle at a Vet Center, but it's primarily readjustment counselling. Under this heading is employment. That could include individual, group, marriage, or family counselling. We have social workers, licensed professional counsellors, and psychologists providing their services. The family members are given access to Vet Center services when it's found to help in the readjustment of the veteran. There's always a connection to the veteran's service, the veteran's experience, and the veteran's readjustment to civilian life.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Is priority in the public sector given to your veterans?

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

Are you referring to public sector employment and employing the veterans in the federal government?

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Yes.

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

Yes, they receive priority points. Veterans with service-connected disabilities of 30% or higher get the maximum points in the hiring process, which I believe is 10 points. Veterans who meet other criteria are eligible for up to 5 points. So we do give hiring preference to veterans.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Do you maintain metrics in your department? What percentage are veterans?

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

We do, and I believe, Susan, we've had some statistics for the VA.

4:55 p.m.

Executive Assistant, Intergovernmental Affairs, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Susan McCrea

I think it's about one-third. The secretary wants to move that to 40%.

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

So the secretary of the VA has a goal of 40%. Then within each business line we keep metrics as well, and we have initiatives in place to hire more veterans and veterans with disabilities.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Is there any priority given to family members of veterans?

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

There is a priority scale, and I'm not so familiar with that. For spouses or dependants of veterans who died as a result of a service-connected disability or who are permanently and totally disabled...there is a priority for hiring dependants.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

As you look forward in your department, where would you say your focus is in improving benefits for veterans? Is it enhanced benefits? Is it faster service delivery? Reduction of red tape? Where do you see your department going?

4:55 p.m.

Acting Deputy Director, Pre-Discharge and Retired Pay Programs, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Cheryl Flohr

I think we would all have a slightly different answer depending on the benefit program we're administering. For the compensation and pension business lines, I would say the focus is on providing higher-quality service and faster benefit delivery.

4:55 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

In rehabilitation, I would say the focus is on faster services but also more extensive outreach to make sure that more veterans take advantage of the program.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Right now, if somebody appeals to you, does it go to your department, or is it referred to an arm's-length group?

4:55 p.m.

Acting Deputy Director, Pre-Discharge and Retired Pay Programs, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Cheryl Flohr

The initial appeal process is within the VA. There is an internal appeal process. If the veteran is not satisfied with the outcome of that internal process, he or she can appeal to an independent part of the VA , to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. If the veteran is still not satisfied with the outcome, he or she can appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, then on to the U.S. Federal Circuit Court, and finally the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeals process starts within VA and then goes out into the federal courts.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON

Thank you.

5 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Thank you.

We'll go to our guest appearance today on the committee, and that's Mr. Chisu.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and my thanks to the witnesses for their excellent presentations.

As a veteran of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Afghanistan, I appreciate the work you are doing for the veterans in the United States.

I have a question for you regarding the reintegration of the veterans in civil occupations. I worked with several U.S. servicemen in Bosnia and also in Afghanistan, and I know their deployment was 14 months to 16 months, continuous. They were mostly National Guard and would be going back to a civilian occupation. There is a gap there, a gap of skills.

How are you able to serve these veterans who are not disabled but want to reintegrate themselves into civilian occupations, say, as professional engineers or in different technical occupations? I know that the Vet Centers are probably offering these kinds of services. Could you elaborate on that?