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Ry_guy

Seaman
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About Ry_guy

Previous Fields

  • Service Connected Disability
    70%
  • Branch of Service
    Army

Ry_guy's Achievements

  1. Thanks for your response. However, after reviewing the links. My questions have not been answered.
  2. Hi, I was recently approved for 3 years of Voc Rehab to attend the local university for a bachelor's degree in computer science. The reason I went through Voc Rehab is because I had used all but 3 months and 5 days of my post 9/11 G.I. Bill and I knew there was no way to finish a bachelor's without utilizing Voc Rehab. So basically, this approval will add 36 months of Voc Rehab to the 33 months of post 9/11 I already used (for a combined total of 69 months). During my appointment the counselor said I was approved (but I'm pretty sure she has to get it approved from her superiors when you are extending beyond 48 months of combined total training). She gave me a checklist of things to complete so I can start the summer semester. My Voc Rehab counselor set an appointment with me for next month and she said we would go over all the other details including pay rates. However, I really need to know now so I can plan accordingly. I met with my academic advisor at the university and we sat down for awhile and plugged away classes so it looks like I will be able to attend the university every semester (including summers) full time from start to finish. Anyway, this is what I cannot seem to figure out and where I have heard mixed information: I heard that, because I have 3 months left of post 9/11 I can elect to receive post 9/11 BAH instead of the Voc Rehab stipend. And even though I only have 3 months left on my post 9/11 G.I. Bill, the entire Voc Rehab program that I was approved for (36 months for a bachelor's in Computer Science) will be at the post 9/11 stipend. Is this True? I also heard that, because I have 3 months left of post 9/11 I can elect to receive post 9/11 BAH instead of the Voc Rehab stipend. However, as soon as I use up the first 3 months, my BAH will revert to the standard Voc Rehab rate for the remainder of the training program (33 months for a bachelor's in computer science). Is this True? I also heard that, because I have 3 months left of post 9/11 I can elect to receive post 9/11 BAH instead of the Voc Rehab stipend. However, since I'm going to college and there are natural breaks in between semesters, during those unavoidable breaks, I will not be considered full time, I will not be paid for those days, and my post 9/11 stipend will revert down to the standard Voc Rehab rate for the remainder of the training program. Is this True? Although my Voc Rehab counselor is supposedly going to explain all of these things next month. I need an idea now so I can properly prepare because there is a huge financial difference and impact between receiving post 9/11 BAH for the whole program or only receiving the standard Voc Rehab stipend through the program. Thank you
  3. Hello, Thank you for your response. I am 28 years old. I have in the past received treatment from multiple VA hospitals for PTSD but I am often inconsistent due to my geographic inconsistency (I moved like 5 times in the past 2 years) I do plan on getting back involved with the Mental Health side of VA . Tomorrow I will reach out for an appointment. What does "died in the water" mean? I don't know if I'm eligible for SSDI. I was in the army for over 5 years and paid taxes so I assume I am eligible. I applied once when I was in Florida, but at the time they requested more information from me I was homeless and unable to get them that information so they denied my claim. Would I need to re open a claim now that I'm in Texas or would I have to file an appeal? Plus I currently attend online school and therefore receive BAH as I am, at this point, absolutely dependent on it as I've been unable to maintain gainful employment since I left the army over 4 years ago. Which is really scary, because it will run out soon. I think if you go to school than SSDI automatically disqualifies you. Are you suggesting that I file a claim for TDIU so I can get the ball rolling while I wait on my appointment for VR&E just in case they decide i'm not a good fit due to my disabilities? I was thinking the same thing, so tomorrow I am going to the VA to file a claim for TDIU. I agree that I'd rather have a decent paying career than TDIU for myself and for my son. The problem is, my criminal background seems to be a barrier as I have already been turned away due to background checks after receiving job offers for good careers. It's very demoralizing and makes me feel hopeless about future employment or being able to get anything other than trivial work. I'm waking up depressed and hopeless at this point. Not good. But, yes TDIU would be enough for me to cover my bills and live off of.
  4. This is a 2 part question: Am I a good candidate for Voc Rehab even with a criminal background? Am I a good candidate for TDIU because my criminal background (which I attribute to acquiring through my PTSD) is preventing me from finding gainful employment? I have applied for Voc Rehab and I am to meet with a counselor in a few weeks to go over my disability (70% PTSD) and to decide if I am to be a good fit for Voc Rehab. I want to request that they allow and pay for me to go back to the local college for my bachelors in computer science. However, one of the serious (in my opinion) barriers to employment that I face is my criminal background. A D.U.I and a Domestic Violence conviction (I threw a plaque out of anger and it put a dime size hole in my apartment wall, this was by accident, but all employers see is Domestic Violence and don't care to hear the rest). Anyway, I got these charges literally right after I got out of the military and back from my second tour in Afghanistan. Things got worse from there but I feel I'm on the upswing at the moment. I have been offered 3 full time jobs this past year just to be later told, "oh you failed the background check, never mind". That's after applying to about 50 jobs, only getting 5 interviews, then receiving a job offer only 3 times, then being told all 3 times, "no, because of your background." The convictions are 3 years old (2012), the state of Texas allows employers to look back up to 7 years, I don't see myself getting around it. At my C&P exam the examiner took an interest in my criminal record, I'm assuming she attributed my PTSD for leading into these criminal charges. That's how I feel at least; I didn't drink alcohol or have violent outbursts before I joined the military. Look, I understand that some jobs will or may look past your criminal history. The problem is, I haven't found a job that will look past my criminal history that will pay a wage that I can live on. I feel really scared because the 70% is not enough to meet my financial obligations and take care of my son and so far I've had no luck getting around my criminal history to be gainfully employed. So I'm thinking, be completely upfront with Voc Rehab about my barriers, and if they decide I'm a good fit than do my best to be retrained and be cooperative as they try to place me in suitable (I'm assuming that's how it works) employment. Or, if they decide I'm not a good fit, take the denial letter for Voc Rehab and apply for TDIU. Either way, I have to do something. My ultimate goal is to be able to pay my bills on time and take care of my son and myself. If I would have received either of those 3 job offers this past year than I'd have already accomplished that. But at this point, I'm desperate. Your advice is greatly appreciated.
  5. This is a 2 part question: Am I a good candidate for Voc Rehab even with a criminal background? Am I a good candidate for TDIU because my criminal background (which I attribute to acquiring through my PTSD) is preventing me from finding gainful employment? I have applied for Voc Rehab and I am to meet with a counselor in a few weeks to go over my disability (70% PTSD) and to decide if I am to be a good fit for Voc Rehab. I want to request that they allow and pay for me to go back to the local college for my bachelors in computer science. However, one of the serious (in my opinion) barriers to employment that I face is my criminal background. A D.U.I and a Domestic Violence conviction (I threw a plaque out of anger and it put a dime size hole in my apartment wall, this was by accident, but all employers see is Domestic Violence and don't care to hear the rest). Anyway, I got these charges literally right after I got out of the military and back from my second tour in Afghanistan. Things got worse from there but I feel I'm on the upswing at the moment. I have been offered 3 full time jobs this year just to be later told, "oh you failed the background check, never mind". That's after applying to about 50 jobs, only getting 5 interviews, then receiving a job offer only 3 times, then being told all 3 times, "no, because of your background." The convictions are 3 years old (2012), the state of Texas allows employers to look back up to 7 years, I don't see myself getting around it. At my C&P exam the examiner took an interest in my criminal record, I'm assuming she attributed my PTSD for leading into these criminal charges. That's how I feel at least; I didn't drink alcohol or have violent outbursts before I joined the military. Look, I understand that some jobs will or may look past your criminal history. The problem is, I haven't found a job that will look past my criminal history that will pay a wage that I can live on. I feel really scared because the 70% is not enough to meet my financial obligations and take care of my son and so far I've had no luck getting around my criminal history to be gainfully employed. So I'm thinking, be completely upfront with Voc Rehab about my barriers, and if they decide I'm a good fit than do my best to be retrained and be cooperative as they try to place me in suitable (I'm assuming that's how it works) employment. Or, if they decide I'm not a good fit, take the denial letter for Voc Rehab and apply for TDIU. Either way, I have to do something. I will be more than happy to work if they can place me in a position that pays more than minimum wage, as I can't afford to work for minimum wage. (this is not to sound better than but I'd literally blow my brains out if I had to believe that because my service led me to acquiring PTSD and acting out on that led me to acquiring a criminal record which in turn led me to never be allowed to have a respectable job again...) My ultimate goal is to be able to pay my bills on time and take care of myself and my son. If I would have received either of those 3 job offers this year than I'd have already accomplished that. But at this point, I'm desperate. Your advice is greatly appreciated.
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