VAC Rehab program

Depending on your individual needs and goals, your rehabilitation plan may fund one or more of the following types of services:

Medical Rehabilitation. Health care experts work with you to stabilize and restore your health to the fullest extent possible.
Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Health or rehabilitation professionals help you develop skills to support independence and adjust to living with your health problem or disability. This can include life skills training, pain management strategies, and more.
Vocational Rehabilitation. Vocational professionals will work with you to help transfer your skills and education to build a rewarding civilian career. Vocational rehabilitation or vocational assistance may include:
help to identify a suitable job;
career finding services (such as résumé writing and interview skills);
financial support for training and related costs (such as tuition and books).
You will build your vocational rehabilitation plan with the direct assistance of our service provider Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services. If you are receiving benefits from the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP), you and your case manager may also work with a SISIP vocational rehabilitation counsellor.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/transition/rehabilitation/services

Also from the Mandate Liberal promises to Veterans number 5:

5. Create a new Veterans Education Benefit that will provide full support for the costs of up to four years of college, university, or technical education for Canadian Forces veterans after completion of service.

Can anyone here give some more insight on this program on the vocational side? Is it possible to do University? I'm currently with SISIP but took no education or re-training with them. I don't expect to stay with SISIP and be put over to VAC ELB (already approved) and then onto this program. Are these tests mentioned above required for all who enter the program? Thanks

When attending SCAN seminars they tell you that, when releasing 3b, ‘Rehabilitation Program and Vocational Assistance Services Application for Veterans’ is automatically approved (when submitted within 120 days of release date). Others say that it ‘kicks in’ on the first day of release if submitted before release. Is this all a BS? I was told that by VAC office on the base and Case Manager (medical). I released this summer, submitted forms right away and … was told by VAC that it has to be reviewed and approved by them. Nothing automatic nor guaranteed. Sounds like another “we have power over you and you can do nothing about it” game being played by VAC.
I sent a note of concern to O’Tool and … they replied (looks like computer generated email response): read all the policies, brochures, new charter, etc. Looks like bs response. Now I know who I am voting for this election.
Has anyone had any similar experience? I guess I should call ombudsman, maybe his office will not send me a generic ‘read policies’ reply. For those who are releasing 3b and getting the same bs on their Bases: ask for it in writing!
Thanks for all your replies

I pretty much agree with what bigrex suggested rigger/fitter. But you are talking about putting your feet to the fire, no one elses, and we all have different thresholds, limits.
Here's old news... keep a support person, family member, best buddy, someone you trust extremely close by during the 2 days.

I'm reminded of VAC medicals. A senior ex-VAC employee once told me to go there without my meds. He REALLY emphasized that point albeit just for physical pain. For them to see me unmasked without my meds on a bad day (on ones worst day) not nice. Still doesn't make sense now but all was very favourable for my benefit.

Hope that helps. pinger.

Rigger, I would not take any meds, so that you only do what your body allows. Trust me, the OT's that conduct the test will not push you beyond what your body can handle. They are not there to hurt you. So if your body is only able handle an hour or two, per day, without meds, then that will likely be all they request of you. I wasn't able to do the full thing, and they understood that. If you power through the test, using pain killers, you would only do yourself a disservice, because their report would not accurately detail your real limitations, and force you to keep heavily medicating yourself, just to support yourself.

HI good folks...need some advice on this topic.

I also am needing to do a 2 day assessment in order to get T.P.I again...........i lost it in 2011 due to cm inadequate help and understanding of my conditions(5)
4 of them all contribute to my extreme pain and that triggers the ptsd(yea me),after reading the requirements bigrex mentioned in his reply post i thought i would ask how to handle the whole 2 days of torture i will have to endure.
The tests themselves are not the problem,with enough pain meds in me i could pass a pt test ,the issue is do i Not take pain meds and endure the pain and puke from nausea,and have a highly elevated ptsd episode?or do i take the meds just enough to get through it all?and then when the 2 days are over,i know i will be down hard for at least a week,or more taking extra oxy like a pez dispenser...............basically i am worried about the embarrassment of passing blood out my anus,puking all over the place,and then the ptsd ride. am in need of some good advice from people who understand.
Thanks

wild thing. Be nice and be smart... honey catches more bees than vinegar

I am extended ELB until 65 and they have not bothered me for years. Wish they would at least come and visit me. That would be more concrete than QOL paperwork or going to see a vac doctor. . I don't know if that is your situation. Perhaps your in the 2 year window. If that's the case, I have heard of hoops alright.

Again...Be NICE and be smart... honey catches more bees than vinegar my friend
.
Don't get pxxsed off, get even (but be nice).  pinger

cm called this morning went into defensive mode soon as I answered the phone she would not explain the process of rehab how can I trust them if they cannot be truthful with me still pissed off told her to call back in a month and I would let her know cannot do that crap you explained anyway. I will never be able to trust them or deal with the bullshit I just become angry and hostile. thanks big rex

I assume that you are referring to the functionality assessment. I can't remember exactly what they did when, but they do things like making you lift ten pounds off the floor, and place it on a shelf around waist high, and then back onto the floor. They also have you push and pull a sled, increasing the weight, until it becomes too difficult. There are dexterity tests, memory tests, and a grip test. They time how long and how well you can walk, stand, and even sit. Everything you do, even while in the waiting room, is assessed. They will tell you what kind of jobs you are physically capable of doing, and how long you can work. If you are too disabled to make working feasible, they declare you TPI. When I did mine, they said that I could only work 3 hours/week. I've been getting the benefits since 2012, and have yet had to redo any paperwork, or tests, for those benefits. But I have had to have three home assessments completed, for approval of specialized mobility equipment. Like last week, I had an OT come in, because VAC thought I might have needed a wheelchair for getting around inside my home.

here is a question do they leave you alone after you qualify for elb/pia or do they control your life and make you jump through hoops when ever they feel like. this is a two day assesment what do they do day one, and what day two.

I'll add something I didn't hear. Someones age can also impact the plans or goals czerv (don't know your age). Something to bear in mind though. A 30 year old vs. a 60 year old. Furthermore, the 30 year old could've been on vac's books for 10 years as opposed to the 60 year olds initial approach.
Mmm?
So so much can be taken into account. And as much as vac may have a flexible cookie cutter some days, just be careful... and focused. pinger.

Heartfelt thanks for such quick and superb replies and suggestions!
This helps a lot.
Cheers

There are so many different things that the rehab program can include. It isn't restricted to just retraining, like SISIP is. Even if you are working full time, but need ongoing psychiatric sessions, or routine physiotherapy to maintain a certain level of functionality, the rehab program can be approved, based on those needs. Then once on the rehab program, you can start collecting other benefits, such as ELB and PIA, depending on your personal situation. It would be best if you could have a sit down with a VAC CM, when filling out the application, as they should be able to advise you of what you may be entitled to. For example, when I had to quite working, because it was just too painful to continue, I called VAC to see about applying for just the PIA, in hopes that it would partially replace the money lost from not getting a paycheck anymore, or risk losing everything. When the CM came to my home, she assessed that I was too disabled to go back to school, so she applied for the Rehab Program, ELB, (even though the PA pension was still being clawed back at the time), PIA and PIAS, and requested a functionality assessment for the purpose of determining TPI. Needless to say, my life changed drastically because of that one visit.

Applying! That is the easy part, being accepted that is a different storey.  If accepted they will have numerous people involved in establishing that 1. You have a condition and 2. Did it arise out of your service and 3? At what extent. From there you will have access to 1-800-number, claim processing agent(s), vocational rehab professional(s), case manager(s), psychologist(s), doctor(s), lawyers(s), specialist(s)…etc., and I emphasize the (s) because I have dealt with so many different people. So much for your privacy.

well as for the plan that is something you would need to make in conjunction with your CM once you have your goal/goals . a phone call may work in person is best .

as for the goals that's depends on your condition and weather you can work or not I will throw out a few so you get the idea .

if you can work ;

1.would like to work again.

2. would like to work in this specific feil/job again .

3 and 4. same as 1 and 2 just add without pain to each.

if you can no longer work;

1. would like to walk again .

2. would like to swim again.

3 and 4. the same as 1 and 2. just add without pain to each.

5. would like to get more than 3 hours sleep a night.

im sure you get the idea .

hope this helps

propat