For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
See also: In The Military
Program trains veterans
for civilian employmentQuestion: I recently separated from the service and need some assistance in finding suitable employment. I heard about Veterans' Workforce Investment Program. How do I look into this?
Answer: The Veterans' Workforce Investment Program provides employment and training programs to increase employment, job retention, earnings and occupational skills of recently separated veterans and veterans who have service-connected disabilities, significant barriers to employment or who served on active duty in the armed forces during a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
These programs are usually conducted through state or local public agencies, community-based organizations or private, nonprofit organizations.
Job counseling, resume preparation, job development and placement services are also available to help homeless veterans re-enter the work force.
Veterans should contact their nearest state employment service office (in Honolulu it's the State Workforce Development Division at 586-8700) for more information.
Q: I am receiving service-connected disabled veteran's benefits, and obtaining life insurance is difficult.
Does the Department of Veterans Affairs offer any such insurance?
A: A veteran who has a service-connected disability but is otherwise in good health may apply to VA for up to $10,000 in life insurance coverage at standard insurance rates within two years from the date of being notified of service-connected status.
This insurance is limited to veterans who left service after April 24, 1951. Veterans who are totally disabled may apply for a waiver of premiums.
For those veterans who are eligible for this waver, additional coverage of up to $20,000 is available. Premiums cannot be waived on the additional insurance. Call the VA's benefits section at 433-1000 for more information.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin,
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
