Incarcerated Veterans Family Support

The Department of Corrections is committed to assisting incarcerated veterans to access the many benefits and services that may be available to them and their families. This web page provides information and links to state and federal veterans’ benefits, programs and services. As a counselor, volunteer, staff person or CCO, you may provide this information to offenders in order to help them and their families access these services.

President Obama signed the “VOW to Hire Heroes Act” into law on November 21, 2011. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides businesses that hire unemployed veterans a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers businesses that hire veterans with service—connected disabilities a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.

U.S. Dept. of Labor, Secretary Hilda Solis P3 Campaign:

Prepare, Provide, Protect — for the Nation’s Veterans

In the next five years, 1.5 million military personnel will be transitioning from active duty to civilian life. Helping our military heroes find good jobs is a challenge — and a sacred obligation — that has been embraced by the Department. In its efforts, the Department has adopted a P3 campaign — to Prepare transitioning service members for civilian employment; to Provide resources and priority case management to veterans through the American Job Centers network; and to Protect their employment rights. The Department is also part of the President’s newly created Veterans Employment Initiative Task Force, designed to develop proposals to maximize the career readiness of all service members. This effort aims to give separating service members a clear path to civilian employment success in an academic or technical training program or successful start–up of an independent business entity or nonprofit organization. The Task Force includes the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Education, Small Business Administration, and the Office of Personnel Management. The department’s commitments to veterans are being led and coordinated by the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.

National Resource Directory

The NRD provides: Benefits & Compensation, Education & Training, Employment, Family & Caregiver Support, Health, Homeless Assistance, Housing, Transportation & Travel, Volunteer Opportunities

The Real Warriors Campaign

The Real Warriors is a multimedia public awareness campaign designed to encourage help—seeking behavior among service members, veterans and military families coping with invisible wounds. Launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) in 2009.

Employment Opportunities

Helmets to Hardhats

If you’re looking for a career, you’re in the right place. Helmets to Hardhats connects quality men and women from the Armed Forces with promising building and construction careers.

VETNET – A Career Service for Those Who’ve Served

VETNET is a collaboration between veteran–focused nongovernmental organizations designed to help vets and their families find careers. Transitioning from military to civilian life presents unique challenges. To make things easier and provide structure, a few of the leading organizations in veteran career development have combined forces to create one easy place to start.

  • Get your resume and career search skills squared away
  • Connect with industry leaders
  • Attend classes to learn how to start your own business

O*NET OnLine (Occupational Information Network)

O*NET is a web–based application that can provide military personnel with a crosswalk of jobs worked in the military to jobs in the civilian workforce that have similar job requirements.

Department of Veterans Affairs

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) website and the Washington State Veterans Affairs (WDVA) website both have many helpful pages including the following:

The City of Lacey is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Tacoma Vet Center to provide services and resources to eligible Thurston County Veterans and their families, making trips to the nearest Vet Center in Tacoma a thing of the past. Services are offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of each month from a state–of–the–art mobile center parked at Lacey City Hall, 420 College St SE. Assistance at the Lacey location includes:

  • Department of Veterans Affairs benefits explanation and referral
  • Employment referral
  • Medical referral
  • Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse assessment and referral
  • Military sexual trauma counseling and referral
  • Marriage and family counseling
  • Suicide prevention referral
  • Support for successful transition from military to civilian life

Appointments in Lacey can be made by calling the Tacoma Vet Center at (253) 565–7038 or (877) 927–8387. Drop–in visits are also accepted on a space available basis.

Available publications

Brochures

Forms

  • Information Regarding Apportionment of Beneficiary’s Award (VBA 21–0788)

    • A veteran may only receive a portion of the full amount payable for his or her disability rating. Typically, a veterans compensation benefits are reduced to the 10–percent rate on the 61st day of incarceration following a conviction. However, the remaining balance may be apportioned to the individual’s dependent family if they can show financial need for such amount. This applies to the spouse, children or dependent parents who are involved in the application. If the veteran continues to receive benefits after the 60–day grace period, it will result in an overpayment. As a rule, the veteran loses most, if not all, financial benefits until the VA recovers the entire overpayment. Family members will not be entitled to receive an apportionment until the debt is completely recovered.

  • Notice to VA of Veteran or Beneficiary of incarceration status (VA form 21–4193)

    • Form 21–4193 needs to be filled out at the time of incarceration by a DOC Counselor or family member informing the VA the offender is now incarcerated. The aim is to get this form to the VA within the first 60 days of incarceration. This form is used for those offenders who are receiving Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits.

  • Request for (DD214) Military Records (Standard Form 180)
  • Statement in Support of Claim (VA form 21–4138)

    • Form 21–4138 Statement in Support: The offender needs to fill out this form, attach a copy of their DOC release papers and give it to the VA in order for their Disability or Pension benefits be reinstated.

Posters

Videos

Outreach Resources website has more brochures and videos such as these titles:

  • Overview of Five–Year Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans
  • A Second Chance for Justice Involved Veterans
  • Suits: Support for Incarcerated Veterans
  • Assisting Justice Involved Veterans

The DOC veterans contact is:

Mike Paris, Administrator (360) 725-8922

For information about this web page, contact: Karen Duranceau, Corrections Specialist 4, (360) 725-8210