Veteran Services
The Division Of Veteran services Assists NJ Veterans obtain Both federal and state benefits they deserve.
Organizer:
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Employment and Training
Employment and Training
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
USERRA replaced the Veterans’ Reemployment Rights Law. USERRA guarantees reemployed person’s pension plan benefits that accrued during military service, regardless of whether the plan is a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan.
USERRA provides health benefits continuation for service members and their families during military service for up to 18 months.
USERRA is enforced by the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS).
Eligibility – The Act applies to persons who perform duty, voluntarily or involuntarily, in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, as well as the Reserves of each. Federal training or service in the Army National Guard and Air National Guard is also included. Uniformed service includes active duty, active duty for training, inactive duty training (such as drills), and initial active duty training. USERRA covers all employees except those serving in positions where there is “no reasonable expectation that employment will continue indefinitely or for a significant period” i.e. seasonal work.
Basic Provisions/Requirements – Service members returning from a period of service in the uniformed services must meet five eligibility criteria to be covered by USERRA:
The person must have held a civilian job;
The person must have given notice to the employer that he or she was leaving the job for service in the uniformed services;
The period of service must not have exceeded five years;
The person must have been released from service under honorable conditions; and
The person must have reported back to the civilian job in a timely manner or have submitted a timely application for reemployment.USERRA establishes a 5- year cumulative total on military service with a single employer, with certain exceptions allowed for call-ups during emergencies, for reserve drills and annually scheduled active duty for training, etc. USERRA also allows an employee to complete an initial period of active duty that exceeds 5 years, not including reenlistments. Under USERRA, restoration rights are based on the duration of military service rather than the type of military duty performed, e.g., active duty for training, inactive duty, etc.
Time limits for returning to work under USERRA, with the exception of fitness-for-service examinations, depend upon the duration of a person’s military service. The applicable time limits are as follows:
Less than 31 days service: By the beginning of the first regularly scheduled work period after the end of the calendar day of duty plus time required to return home safely. If this is impossible or unreasonable, then as soon as possible. 31 to 180 days: Application for reemployment must be submitted no later than 14 days after completion of a person’s service. If this is impossible or unreasonable through no fault of the person, then as soon as possible.
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181 days or more: Application for reemployment must be submitted no later than 90 days after completion of a person’s military service.
Service-connected injury or illness: Reporting or application deadlines are extended for up to two years for persons who are hospitalized or convalescing.
Contact – Information regarding USERRA may be obtained by calling the US Department of Labor at 1-866-487-2365 or going online to: http://www.dol.gov
NJ ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve)
ESGR, a Department of Defense office will develop and promote employer support for Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws, and resolving conflict between employers and service members. ESGR also informs and educates service members and their civilian employers regarding their rights and responsibilities governed by USERRA. ESGR does not have statutory authority to enforce, but serves as a neutral, free resource to employers and service members. ESGR’s trained ombudsmen provide mediation of issues relating to compliance with USERRA.
For more information call 1-609-562-3987/5550 or visit http://www.njesgr.org
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)
The mission of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) is to provide Veterans and transitioning service members with the resources and services to succeed in the 21st century workforce by maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights, and by
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meeting labor-market demands with qualified Veterans. Additionally, there are supportive services provided to help make the Veteran employable.
Employment Services for Veterans
The U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) offers employment and training services to eligible Veterans through a non-competitive Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program. Under this grant program, funds are allocated to State Workforce Agencies in direct proportion to the number of veterans seeking employment within their state. The grants support two principal staff positions:
Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists (DVOP)
Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVER)
This grant provides funds to exclusively serve Veterans, other eligible persons, transitioning service members, their spouses and, indirectly employers. The grant also gives the State the flexibility to determine the most effective and efficient distribution of their staff resources based upon the distinct roles and responsibilities of the two positions.
DVOP and LVER staff provide services to all Veterans that Title 38 indicates are eligible for their services, their efforts are concentrated according to their respective roles and responsibilities, on outreach and the provision and facilitation of direct client services to those who have been identified as most in need of intensive employment and training assistance. The DVOP and LVER staff, through outreach with employers, develop increased hiring opportunities within the local work force by raising the awareness of employers of the availability and the benefit of hiring Veterans.
Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists provide intensive services to meet the employment needs of disabled Veterans and other eligible Veterans. The maximum emphasis is directed toward serving those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, including homeless Veterans and Veterans with barriers to employment.
DVOP specialists are actively involved in outreach efforts to increase program participation among those with the greatest barriers to employment, which may include but should not be limited to: outplacement in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program*offices; VA Medical Centers; routine site visits to Veterans’ Service Organization meetings; Native American Trust Territories; Military Installations; and other areas of known concentrations of Veterans or transitioning service members.
The case management approach, taught by the National Veterans’Training Institute, is generally accepted as the method to use when providing vocational guidance or related services to eligible veterans identified as needing intensive services.
Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives
Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVER) conduct outreach to employers and engage in advocacy efforts with hiring executives to increase employment opportunities for veterans to encourage the hiring of disabled Veterans, and generally assist Veterans to gain and retain employment. LVER & staff conduct seminars for employers and job search workshops for Veterans seeking employment, and facilitate priority of service in regard to employment, training, and placement services furnished to Veterans by all staff of the employment service delivery system.
To meet the specific needs of Veterans, particularly Veterans with barriers to employment, the DVOP and LVER staff are thoroughly familiar with the full range of job development services and training programs available at the State Workforce Agency One-Stop Career Centers, Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program locations.
Eligible Applicants
Applications for funds under the Jobs for Veterans Stale Grants Program will be accepted only from the designated administrative entity that operates the employment service delivery system within the State.
For more information regarding Employment Services for Veterans and VETS’ other programs and services, visit our website at: http://www.dol.gov/vets.
Veterans Civil Service Benefit
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is the agency that determines Veteran Preference for hiring in New Jersey civil service and Veterans Status for New Jersey civil service pension plans. War period Veterans who pass the civil service examinations are given absolute preference over non-veterans when applying for state, county or municipal employment.Absolute preference is not extended to promotions, but if a Veteran ranks highest on a promotional certification, a non-Veteran cannot be offered the appointment before the Veteran. Veterans with service connected disabilities (at least 10 percent) who pass the civil service examinations are given preference over other Veterans and non-Veterans. Eligibility requirements apply, e.g., specific time periods of active duty, discharge status etc. Spouses, widows and parents of deceased
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or disabled veterans are eligible under certain circumstances. For information call Veterans Benefits Bureau at 1-609-530- 6954.
There are additional retirement and pension benefits offered to Veterans who are members of the Public Employees’Retirement System (PERS). For more information call the New Jersey Division of Pension and Benefits at 1-609-292-7524.
Helmets to Hardhats
The New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council program (NJ H2H) is designed to help transitioning military personnel find careers in the building and construction industry. The program seeks to help military members find a career in one of 15 affiliated trades, such as carpenters, electricians, painters etc. Unions have been proactive in placing Veterans in good paying, skilled positions through their Helmets to Hardhats and recently rolled out Hire a Hero programs.
For registration and information visit online at http://www.njbctc.org/nj-h2h/ or call 1-732-499-7295
Small Business Administration Vet Loan Program Patriot Express Loan Program
The Patriot Express initiative builds on more than $1 billion in loans SBA guarantees annually for veteran-owned businesses, and offers counseling assistance and procurement support for military service members,Veterans,service-disabled Veterans and Reserve members and their spouses. http://www.thebalancesmb.com
Citizen Soldier for Life
Citizen Soldier for Life’s mission is to prepare and connect Army National Guard (ARNG) Soldiers and their immediate Family with employment and education opportunities in
order to maintain a ready and resilient force capable of accomplishing the State and Federal missions.The Program focuses on:
Individual case management
Increasing financial literacy
Delivering Career Readiness Standards (CRS) to Soldiers in the initial phase of the Soldier Life Cycle (SLC) and throughout the Soldiers career.
Providing employment services to Soldiers and Families throughout the SLC that are unemployed, over-employed, or under-employed.
Connecting and building lasting partnerships with, available resources, employers and community entities.
Call: 1-609-496-9241
Email: cedwardson@patriotenterprisesllc.com- 0 Replies
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