What is VOC Rehab, In Houston?

July 10, 2020 by

For anyone in Houston who has a type of disability and wants to work, vocational rehabilitation, or VOC Rehab, maybe an answer.

The VOC Rehab program is administered through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in conjunction with the Rehabilitation Council of Texas. The TWC’s program assists those with disabilities to train for, find, and maintain gainful employment. The program also works with employers and businesses to recruit, keep, and accommodate employees with disabilities.

What is "VOC Rehab” In Houston?

Eligibility

If you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to find and/or keep employment and need services in order to get to the point of employment, TWC’s VOC Rehab program may be able to help you get to that point.

Disabilities such as:

  • Learning, developmental and intellectual
  • Physical disabilities such as:
    • Paralysis
    • Impaired movement
    • Back injuries
    • Spinal and brain injuries
  • Drug or alcohol addiction
  • Hearing impairment
  • Behavioral/mental health conditions
  • Visual impairments including blindness

You can apply for these services at your Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services office, call TWC Vocational Rehabilitation Inquiries at 800-628-5115, or by email at customers@twc.state.tx.us. Include your name, address (including city, state, and zip code) and your phone number in your email.

There are services for both adults and for youth and students and are based on need and eligibility. Youth services include vocational counseling and opportunities for post-secondary education, as well as on-the-job training and internships.

For Veterans: Vocational Rehab & Employment

If you’re a veteran, there are additional services available that can help you if you have a service-connected disability.

The VA has its own VR&E program to offer veterans the assistance they need to find employment and achieve independent living.

If you:

  • Received a discharge that was not dishonorable
  • Have at least a 10% disability rating from the VA, and
  • You apply for VR&E services

Your period of eligibility will end 12 years from the date you separated from active-duty military status, or the date you received notice of your first VA disability rating for a service-connected condition. If your vocational rehabilitation counselor (VRC) finds that you have a serious employment handicap, the period could be extended.

Active-duty military members who are “short-timers” (leaving the military soon) may also be eligible for VR&E if they have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (a “memorandum rating”), participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) process, or are awaiting discharge due to a service-connected injury or illness that occurred in the line of duty.

VR&E services can include, as needed:

  • Skillset and abilities evaluation for employment
  • Vocational counseling
  • Job readiness training, including resume preparation and job training
  • On the job training (OJT), including apprenticeships and unpaid work opportunities
  • Post-secondary training at a college, business school, vo-tech or trade school
  • Supportive rehabilitation services as needed (i.e., counseling, medical referrals, case management, etc.)
  • Assistance finding and keeping a job, which may include special employer incentives and job accommodations

You can find out more about these benefits here and submit your application here.

We’re Ready To Help

The Herren Law Firm has helped over 4,000 Houstonians get the veteran’s benefits they deserve, and we’ll be happy to help you get yours. Call us at (713) 682-8194 or (800) 529-7707 or use our online contact form for a free consultation. You can ask questions, and we can discuss your legal options. We offer a contingency fee arrangement, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.

 

Filed Under: Long Term Disability Tagged With: , ,

Long Term Disability Exclusions To Watch For In Houston, TX Insurance Policies

April 25, 2019 by

Applying for long term disability to protect you when you’re not working is a long, difficult process. After the doctor visits, test results and treatment plans, you’ll wait for a decision, sometimes for a while. You may also receive a denial letter, based on your condition.

Long Term Disability Exclusions Houston Texas

“Exclusions,” as they are called, are one of the many intricacies of long term disability policies—the things the policy and/or carrier doesn’t cover. The first step is to review your policy and find the Long Term Disability exclusions so you’ll have a better understanding. Here we’ll discuss the different types of exclusions.

What A Policy Won’t Cover

The most common LTD exclusions include:

  • Car accidents when you are driving under the influence
  • Self-inflicted injuries, whether sane or insane
  • Normal pregnancy
  • Suicide attempts

Some policies may also exclude:

  • Injuries caused by aircraft (exception: passengers on regularly scheduled flights)
  • Injuries on the job (these are covered by worker’s compensation)
  • Criminal actions you commit (or attempt to)
  • Civil disobedience actions, including riots, rebellions and insurrection
  • Other intentional acts that cause disability.

Some insurance policies also have a 2-year limitation on disabilities partly caused by substance abuse.

Pre-Existing Conditions

These are conditions that are currently diagnosed and you are currently being treated for when acquiring your policy. A pre-existing condition will require you to wait a designated period of time before you can be covered for it.

If you have a pre-existing condition, there are two periods: a “lookback period,” which can be anywhere from 90 days to as long as a year, and a “waiting period” before you can be covered.

Your insurance company will look back through your medical records for that period to see if you’ve been tested, treated, or otherwise knew that you had the condition.

Once that’s established, you’ll have a period where you must be covered before that condition can be covered. With some conditions, it could be as long as one to two years.

Getting LTD With A Pre-Existing Condition

You can, of course, get long-term disability with the pre-existing condition—you just won’t be covered for it. Anything in your medical  records is findable and fair game. Even if you don’t tell them, there’s a good chance they will find out eventually, and will use that as a Long Term Disability exclusion to deny you payments.

Different companies handle them in their own way, and some simply won’t cover you. Coverage will also depend on the severity of the condition, and you will likely pay higher premiums. But insurers also distinguish between recoverable conditions and non-recoverable conditions like cancer.

Mental/Nervous Disorders

One sticking point for a number of policyholders is the limit or exclusion of mental and nervous disorders, such as anxiety, depression, stress, and dementia. While some policies don’t exclude them, many do. Other policies have limits on these disorders, typically for 24 months or less.

However, if your disorder that is the result of a different physical condition or injury, (such as a back injury) there may be no limit or exclusion.

Alcohol/Substance Abuse

While this is classified in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), coverage may only extend for 24 months. Many policies don’t cover alcohol or substance abuse at all, so review your policy for this potential Long Term Disability exclusion.

Houston’s LTD Claims Attorney

Over 4,000 Houstonians have come to us for help with Long Term Disability exclusions, applications, claims, and appeals. With this experience The Herren Law Firm can help you with your LTD legal issues as well. Contact us today at 713-682-8194 (or use our online contact form) to schedule your free consultation with our Houston Long Term Disability attorney. There’s no obligation, no up-front fees, and we only collect if we win your case.

 

Filed Under: Long Term Disability Tagged With: , , ,

As A Veteran That Was Exposed To Agent Orange Can I Qualify For Long Term Disability In Houston, TX?

January 10, 2019 by

If you’re one of the many veterans who was exposed to Agent Orange during military service, you may have also experienced chronic health problems. Skin rashes, chronic pain, Type 2 Diabetes, respiratory issues, and peripheral neuropathy are just some of the identified disorders that are known side effects of Agent Orange and other powerful herbicides deployed during the Vietnam War.

As A Veteran That Was Exposed To Agent Orange Can I Qualify For Long Term Disability In Houston, TX?

The VA presumes that an individual who Veterans who served anywhere in Vietnam from 01/09/1962 to 05/07/1975 are presumed to be exposed to these harsh chemicals.

Were You Exposed?

The VA lists on its website where exposure could have occurred during your service tenure. You’re presumed to have exposure if you served:

  • On C-123 Airplanes, between 1/9/1962 and 05/07/1975
  • On Thailand Military Bases, between 01/09/1962 and 05/07/1975
  • In Vietnam or Korea, between 01/09/1962 and 05/07/1975
  • Outside of Vietnam or Korea, between 01/09/1962 and 05/07/1975
  • In Testing and Storage Areas Outside of Vietnam, between 1944 and a yet-to-be-determined date
  • On U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Ships in Vietnam, between 01/09/1962 and 05/07/1975
  • In waters in or near Vietnam, between 01/09/1962 and 05/07/1975

Long Term Disability

You may have already applied to the VA for benefits due to AO exposure. But if you’re now working in a civilian occupation and are having issues with a service-related medical condition, long-term disability may be a possibility.

If you are facing disability, the first thing to do is request and review your LTD policy. Your coverage specifically depends on what your policy says. Some policies may specifically exclude military service-connected conditions, or call them “injuries or illnesses sustained due to an act of war.” It’s important to know before applying if your policy will cover you or not. Illnesses after AO exposure may also be considered “pre-existing conditions,” excluding them from LTD.

But if your service-related exposure did not manifest, such as cancer, until long after your service career ended, you may need a re-evaluation by a medical professional. Many conditions may occur during the service, but don’t exhibit symptoms until much later, interfering with your ability to work now.

You should also find out if your LTD policy contains an “offset” clause. That is, if you are receiving VA benefits for a disability related to AO exposure, your insurance company may reduce your LTD payments by the amount you receive from the VA or other sources (such as SSDI.)

You should also anticipate that your insurance company will work hard to deny your claim any way it can. This is where an experienced disability attorney can help defend you against an insurance company’s “bad faith” actions.

Resources For AO Veterans

The website for the Vietnam Veterans Of America offers information and resources for veterans, including an entire section on Agent Orange. Included are brochures on veterans health, including a self-help guide to Agent Orange exposure.

The VA also offers additional information about Agent Orange exposure on its website.

We Help Houston Veterans

Long-term disability can be a difficult process. William Herren is a disability attorney who has helped more than 4,000 Houstonians get the benefits they deserve, including veterans. Call The Herren Law Firm today at 713-682-8194 (or use our online contact form) to schedule your free consultation. There’s no obligation, and we’ll take your case on a contingency fee basis, with no up-front charges. You don’t owe a fee until we win your case.

Filed Under: Long Term Disability Tagged With: , ,
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