Agreement brings
job assistance
to severely injured

Answer: The VA and Walter Reed Army Medical Center recently signed an agreement giving severely injured service members practical help landing civilian jobs.

Under the "Vet IT" agreement VA offers vocational training and temporary jobs at its Washington headquarters to service members recovering at the Army facility. More than 30 Walter Reed patients received similar on-the-job experience at VA headquarters since a test program began in September 2004. So far, 15 have been hired permanently by VA.

For more information, call the VA at (800) 827-1000.

Q: What income is counted for means test? Is family size considered?

A: The VA considers your previous year's total household income (both earned and unearned income) for you as well as your spouse and dependent children. Earned income is usually wages you receive from working. Unearned income can be interest earned, dividends received, money from retirement funds, Social Security payments, annuities or earnings from other assets.

The number of persons in your family will be factored into the calculation to determine the applicable income threshold -- both the VA national income threshold and the income threshold for your geographic region.

The VA must identify veterans who agree to make medical care copayments and whose family incomes are below the "low-income" limits for the geographical area set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for public housing benefits.

For more information, call the VA Medical Center at 433-0604.