Benefits Division Programs

1

• Benefits Division Programs

2

• State Soldiers Assistance Program
• Established in 1944 and provides assistance to
  veterans, their dependents and survivors which
  includes
• Subsistence (including Shelter Utilities)
• Dental
• Optical
• Special Needs
• Education

3

• Subsistence
• Provides cash assistance to veterans, their
  dependents and widows or widowers when the
  veteran is disabled.
• In addition to personal needs grants the
  department may pay
• -Shelter Cost
• -Utilities
• -Health insurance premiums

4

• OPTICAL DENTAL
• Veterans , their dependents and widows or
  widowers who are Minnesota residents and who meet
  the income and asset limitations may qualify for
  optical and dental assistance.

5

• Optical Assistance
• Limited to once per year
• - Veterans and dependants who qualify may receive
  up to 400 for an eye exam and prescription
  eyewear. (includes contact lenses).
• - Veterans and their dependents applying for
  optical assistance provide the name, address, and
  telephone number of the optical clinic where they
  are seeking the Optical Assistance.

6

• Dental Assistance
• There are three (3) stages of the Dental
  Assistance program
• Routine - up to 1000 (includes exams, cleanings,
  fillings, single tooth extractions, crowns and
  bridges).
• 2) Extractions in Preparation for Dentures -up to
  2000 Lifetime limit.
• 3) Dentures- up to 3000 Lifetime limit.

7

• Special Needs
• Special Needs Grants are a once in a lifetime
  event and are granted on a case by case basis.
• Examples of assistance provided are
• Wheel Chair Ramps
• Furnace Replacement
• Delinquent Rent and Utilities

8

• Education
• Veteran Education Program A one time 750 grant
  is available for Minnesota veterans who have
  exhausted their federal resources.
• MDVA Surviving Spouse/Dependent Education
  Benefit Is available to children spouses of
  Minnesota residents who were killed in action or
  died of a service connected condition.

9

• MDVA Surviving Spouse/Dependent Education Benefit
• Admission to Minnesota institutions of
  university grade (MNSCU Minnesota State
  Colleges and Universities AND the University of
  Minnesota) free of tuition until a bachelors
  degree (or equivalent degree) has been obtained.
  
• A maximum payment of 750.00 in any one fiscal
  year (July 1 June 30). This amount may be used
  for fees, books supplies, and/or room board.
  At institutions where the free tuition part of
  the program does not apply, it may also be used
  toward tuition.
• This program may be used at a postsecondary
  educational institution located in the state that
  either (1) is operated by the state, or (2) is
  operated publicly or privately and, is determined
  by the office, maintains academic standards
  substantially equivalent to those comparable
  institutions operated in this state.

10

• LINKVET LINE1-888-LINKVET(546-5838)
• FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION
• PROVIDES INFORMATION REFERRALS, CRISIS
  INTERVENTION, PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING 24/7.

11

• Veterans Preference
• The Minnesota Veterans Preference Act grants
  veterans a limited preference over non-veterans
  in hiring and promotion, and also provides
  protection against unfair dismissals, demotions
  and layoffs.

12

• STATE APPROVING AGENCY (SAA)
• State Approving Agencies (SAAs) are authorized
  by Title 38 of the United States Code. Each state
  has a SAA that is responsible for the approval of
  education and training programs to ensure that
  each program meets the requirements of Titles 38
  and 10 of the United States Code. For veterans to
  receive GI Bill education benefit payments, the
  education or training program in which they
  intend to enroll must be approved by the SAA. The
  SAA also provides continued program
  administrative oversight.
• MN SAA APPROVED PROGRAMS
• In Minnesota, there are more than 200
  institutions that are SAA approved and over 6,500
  programs that are SAA approved. In addition,
  there are over 50 SAA approved On-The-Job (OJT)
  and Apprenticeship Training Programs.

13

• The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
• The cemetery is located in Little Falls, MN and
  is operated by the Minnesota Department of
  Veteran Affairs.
• Qualified veterans and their dependents are
  eligible for burial in the cemetery.