When a Veteran struggles with finances, transportation, mental health, accessing services and readjusting, it’s often a VA social worker there to assist.
Veterans receive help through a network of more than 16,200 masters-prepared social workers. VA is the largest employer of social workers in the nation and trains more than 1,500 social work trainees annually.
Veterans receive assistance in many ways through VA social workers. Their primary focus is assisting Veterans, their families, and caregivers in resolving social determinants of health challenges to health and well-being, using a person in environment perspective. Veterans, active duty, their families and caregivers, and the community receive high quality biopsychosocial interventions and programming, part of VA’s mission.
COVID-19 impact
In 1984, the White House officially recognized the month of March as National Professional Social Work Month, to acknowledge extraordinary contributions made by America’s social workers. The 2021 National Professional Social Work Month theme is, “Social Workers Are Essential.” This year’s theme focuses on the daily extraordinary efforts of social workers in communities across the nation; specifically, their call-to-duty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veterans had rapidly changing needs. VA social workers used technology to provide critical interventions for Veterans, their families and caregivers. Veterans in Community Living Centers and inpatient programs needed a substantial increase in services. Veterans in these living arrangements participated in absentee voting through the help of social workers.
Vulnerable Veterans in need of food, housing, shelter, and safety received help through social workers in VA’s homeless programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social workers participate in local food drives, delivery of necessities, and assisted with housing stability for this population. COVID-19 support groups through VA social workers help Veterans with isolation and increase connection.
Veterans needed safe and effective individual and group visits. Vet Center social workers quickly adjusted their practice to continue these services using technology and outdoor spaces. Veterans also received support through mobile Vet Centers during the pandemic, thanks to social workers.
Veterans continue to need help. VA social workers continue to provide essential work and dedication to our nation’s heroes, their families and caregivers. Veterans are seeing the 2021 theme in action: “Social Workers Are Essential.”
Story courtesy National Professional Social Work Month Committee
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My dad began going to the VA for health care services about 16 years ago. I can not speak for other VA hospitals but the Utah VA in Salt Lake City has been unbelievable. I assumed all the states had great service until the families started speaking out regarding the Phonix hospital.
When Present Trump made the changes for the VA nationwide, the service even got better…better than I ever imagined.
The President’s orders to allow veterans to go to a non-VA for care if they could not get my dad in to see them in a timely manner. The VA called my dad and told him that they could not get him in a timely and helped me know who to call to set up an appt at a private center. We would have never thought about the long wait time because my dad was not ill he just needed some therapy.
They shared with us the senior program that would help my then 85-year-old dad and sent someone to the house to meet with him because he was not able to get in the car to drive there.
Maybe some other states need to look at Utah’s VA hospital, I can promise they know what they are doing here.
Thank you to all who work there and to President Trump for his Veterans First vision that he put into action.
My heart breaks for any veteran getting the help they need. Make a stink, call the director, call DC but make them listen.
Thank you to all that served, we owe you a debt of thanks and great care. God Bless
Pretty sure no one reads these at the VA.
I was just thinking the same thing. Like who is suppose to be answering these questions so many people have?
The V A employees ONLY care about collecting a check. Not practicing medicine. Only keeping their jobs. They work there because they can’t afford malpractice insurance.
I agree. I feel like my doctors are afraid to prescribe medications and they beat around the bush for community referrals. I need help with an issue that bothers me significantly and I am having a hard time getting what I need. I know more from doing internet research about what my problem is than my doctor has informed me of. I am not stupid. It is obvious that they operate within these boundaries that keep me specifically from being treated appropriately. I’m over it and just want to see a civilian doctor. Do the referral doctor!!
I read some of these but not all and I too have a story. I left the USN I was married with two children a son who was born with cerebral palsy and a new daughter, we had medical bills. I went to the VA office to put in my first claim while I was on active duty and within the time allowed to do that but was turned away. When I got out I did not receive any assistance, nor help with a resume, nor with my job search. Sadly the VA is a political organization from my own experience and all this talk about helping veterans is just the kind of BS that politicians spew, empty promises, false offers to help and of course people being paid to do a job that refuse to do that job but are happy to receive a paycheck for doing nothing. I recall reading coffee mugs that said “Nothing is too Good for Veterans” and felt that they really meant it, for we deserved LESS THAN NOTHING in their minds. The only way we can get help for ourselves and for other veterans is to stick together, to get our families organized and to be a force to be reckoned with! Our votes count. We need to team up and to accept each other no matter who we are or where we come from! That is the only way we can get these POLITICIANS at the VA to actually do their jobs! It has been years since I left the USN, I had a awful time, tried to suicide, so depressed and despondent, gave up, no self worth. I lived it!
It is hard to be a single parent. Scary. Best advice I can give is to call on friends and family to help get through the hard times.
Hi! I have just been granted 100% disability but need help navigating thru the whole Benefits available to me. I’m so confused and lost. I have no one to help. Is there someone to help me. I need so many things but have no idea where to begin. Please contact me.
Check with your local DAV
I needed help dealing with my veteran husband who suffered from dementia. All I got was forms and requests for more forms. Then, when I thought I had finally filled out the last ones, my husband got a letter saying more information was needed on the form enclosed…but no form was there! I called as husband would not be able to respond and was told the letter was addressed to him so they could not talk to me! They would not listen to the reasoning. I was his sole caregiver, had POA and medical POA. VA is NO HELP to this veteran….they should be ashamed .
Well, I am not in the least bit surprised by any of the comments regarding the lack of knowledge of this part of the so-called VA’s mission! And that is where my question begins with all of this. EXACTLY what is the so-called VA’s MISSION? Because from what I have experienced and see over the years and I am going to include the year of my father’s struggles with the VA. The only MISSION I have ever heard that is tried and true with the VA is the whole “DENY UNTIL THEY DIE”!!! Sure they are approving more claims. But the VA is now denying more necessary and needed health care to veterans. And this is a much more effective way for the VA to up the MORTALITY RATE among disabled veterans than holding up their claims through the appeals process. It’s a WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR THE VA! The more veterans that die the less the Government has to provide any kind of services to those veterans. Thereby creating a financial windfall for the Department of Veterans Affairs budget allowing those on capital hill to look at the possibility of cutting the budget to the VA!! And whos really going to question what’s going on. After all, they have increased the number of approved claims in record time!!! And there is always talk about these wonderfully helpful programs set up to help out those veterans that really need the help so they will not be a (GET THIS) BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC SECTOR!!!! And the reason for publicly announcing these mysterious unheard-of programs is to give the public the impression that the Government is finally honoring all the contracts they entered into when EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL SIGN ON FOR ACTIVE DUTY INTO THE ARMED FORCES!!!! But it is all the usual BS. It just sounds a little different because someone in the VA got their hands on a THESAURUS!!!
Need employment
If this really worked it would be great. I’ve tried going through a social worker for quite a few things and got zero results. The social worker told me that they didn’t even know of the program I was talking about. The V.A. needs to educate veterans about the real help they can get through the v.a. I am finally 100% p/t . It took me about 8 years of appeals to attain that rating. The whole 8 years according to criteria I was eligible, but alas the v.a. raters work against the veterans not for them.
This program seems amazing! My question to the VA,Government, Social worker, housing authority etc who helps the person that has a job and transportation with a child but ends aren’t meeting up? Who helps the VET that puts in the effort to stay out of the poverty guidelines? Who helps the VETS that tries all avenues of reaching out before their lights are shut off, evictions, car repairs that will either make them lose their home if not repaired or lose their job. Why isn’t there a program that doesn’t have you at poverty income. I make ends meet but if one thing happens im behind. I recently was homeless everything that vould go wrong went wrong all at once me and my 13 year old daughter slept in my car. I went to a place a few people told me about that helps vets, i wasnt asking for money i needed a roof over our heads until i could figure things out. I was turned away because I had a job and a car. But I needed help! I’m a VET WITH A CHILD, I just needed somewhere to stay to save and find a place. I have a place now but that was the scariest part of my life living in a car, staying with people I did not know, leaving my daughter to work with people i barely knew. Who helps the VET that helps themselves? Why are all the services for proverty stricken, drug abusers, homeless and the mental health? My mental health was at jeopardy in fear of the unknown. Why cater to only the VETS with low income. And why arent guidlunes adjusted to help people employed?
I need to find a social worker. How can I get one from the Oklahoma City VA?
Thanks
I came into the Air Force to be a heavy duty equipment repair and operator and the air force told me that they would crosstrain me in 18month.I worked in weapon loading for 7 Jan1973 to 10 march 1980 wrote letters times afterward always got a reply “The USAF need you more in the field your in.with this been said I hope you can feel how this made me feel for such a long period of time. This is my PTSD story. This messed my mind up.i held it in the hold time except when I was writing letters this is all I done. Kept looking and asking for help to write another letter to heal my wounds I still hurt from PTSD.
I am a disabled veteran who submitted a claim in 2006 for a service connected injury. I have continued to get denied for not submitting my medical records which be the way are same people that borrowed my records and lost it misplaced them. In the meantime, I was found to be disabled by my doctors at the VA in Loma Linda and the Social Security Administration on the time date that they first denied my claim. I have medical issues, but I also have co-payments for my medications and every time I see doctor. Since 2006 I have paid over $15K and climbing in medical bills for surgeries, specialty doctors and medications. I lost my home recently, and with covid-19 my spouse lost her job. I have my apartment lease renewable coming up April 12, 2021 and I don’t have the financial resources. Please help me?
Peter Villa Jr
I got wonderful help from a local chapter of DAV for my brother who got Parkinson’s from the toxic water at Camp Lejeune when he was stationed there as a Marine. Much easier than going through the VA; they did not know that Parkinson’s had been listed as one of the health issues related to the Camp Lejeune water.
Personally I received no help from the social worker during my 63 day stay on the Acute psychiatric unit of Tuscaloosa VA. The homeless program was a poor help as the case worker had failed to offer assistance during my 15 day stay on the 4th floor Rttp program. I am totally dissatisfied… would never recommend.
How can i become a social worker thru the VA
Currently working as a vts driver and also worked in EMS.
I need a social worker to visit me ASAP!! I am a vet from the Viet nam Era (1965-1969 USAF) and,.up until March 2020, I was going to VA-ACC/HOSP Loma Linda, CA. Since then I have been in a hospital and now, for the past year, in.a SNF – Reche Canyon Rehab. in Colton, CA. I am now çrippled and in moderate to severe pain. I.have been in constant contact with VA Loma.Linda (under 5 miles away from here) trying to get help medically and also.to get help with living arrangements, and so far they say that they cannot do anything to help me. For this and other things I desperately.need to see a social worker (preferably from Loma Linda.VA) or at least a Patient Advoçate, right away!! Thank you so much!
VA safed my husband’s life and provided a future for our children. He passed away in 2011 with service related heart and lung cancer. He loved his VA doctor’s and PTSD counseling. He was a Vietnam combat Marine. He was a Christian man took his bible to all his meetings. His counselor told me how much he helped with the younger veterans and soldiers in these meetings. So many of these young men attended his funeral and spoke to me about him. When he passed our service center took care of everything for me. I hate it when someone only talks bad about our VA. My husband felt blessed by what he received through them and they loved him too. He gave back to the VA. He would still being that if alive today. He was my hero,my Marine, life. I thank you all for the work you do. The proudest day of my life was when that flag was laid in my arms honoring him, it was also the saddest. Thank you so much. Keep fighting for these men, women and their families.
The story about VA social worker’s helping veterans is false. I tried many times to get assistance from social worker’s at the Dallas VA and the Dallas Vet. Center and they refused to help me.
The VA requires a Master’s in Social Work and 1 year of internship at the VA before you are offered employment. Currently, I will earn my Bachelor’s in Social Work in May and then off to graduate school.
My Husband is a Disabled Retired Vietnam Veteran and he is in need of some help with his VA Loan. He’s never been able to use it because his Credit Rating is poor. It’s detrimental to his Psychological well being, and I’m thankful for the medicine he’s prescribed.
Every time he is turned down, he goes into a mental breakdown. It’s very disheartening, because a man his age Does not own a home of his own, and it makes him depressed. He needs assistance with this in the worst way.
I am a Vet. Could I get a Social Worker Please? Thanks. Lisa Empey
I need help to apply for travel pay. I am doing this for the first time.
Who can I get a hold of to get some help with my utilities. They are due to get shut off Tuesday
I want all Veterans to know that I went into my VA doctor telling her of my PTSD from my time in the Navy 1969-1972, she sent me to a social worker and the first thing this person said was she couldn’t help me. So beware seeking help with any VA so called Social worker! I’m very disturbed over this just caused me more stress in my life.
I am a vet and the caregiver for a vet. She receives services through the Oklahoma City VA hospital. How do I contact a VA social worker?
Mental health issues!!!
Do you offer services for surviving spouses of a Vietnam War Veteran? Thank you.
Maryann Frame
Why are veterans in rual counties not doing drive thru vaccines
at their local VA Clinic for covid 19 shots?
My social worker do a good job on helping me
Typo
My husband doesn’t know me.
I’ve known other vets who have social workers that have been a life saver.i have not got that lucky
I don’t know if this will get my husband help so far we’ve been told “we will get you help for your husband and for you as his caregiver” then three days later I was told ” we can’t help you”. Both times by a VA social worker!
I can’t work but 4 hours a day away from home, he’s walked off twice.
My husband has Dementia with aggression. And because it’s medical & not considered mental we can’t get help. Now he lays in his room and suddenly he does know me (after 32 years) he refuses to shower or take his medicine. He has a serious infection in his legs I’m afraid if he doesn’t get his meds, he won’t be around much longer. Now can someone please get him some help???
This program sounds wonderful.My question is I am a a widow due to the fact of my husband fighting for our country.This was his passion.He passed away in 1996.29 years of age. I receive a DIC check each month and Champ VA insurance. I can barely make it. I am disabled but can’t draw off of my husband until I think they said 62 years of age. I am in need of dire help.Myself and my doctor have made calls to the VA and it’s always the same response No were sorry.As a widow would aVA social worker from your program not be able to help me. I am dying from my mouth and teeth. I need oral surgery and dentures. I have fluid drainage and getting to my heart will cause death plus I have the black hairy tongue and the specialist said he was puzzled how I am still alive The blackness the doctor said is it’s way of saying I am going to die unless I can get the surgery done. I need housing and to be near like a VA clinic for my health. I Have a lot of health issues. I am in need of an Neuroligist I have been having seizures for about a year and was told I have a spot on my brain. I suffer really bad with PTSD. I have chronic abdominal and chronic lower back pain.This is just part of my issues. It upsets me that I lost my husband and now my children and grandchildren are going to lose me because I need help and the door keeps getting slammed in my face.Please help me.God Bless You.
Are there any Tax helpers???
Something free or low cost.
I am a Vietnam veteran that has had some very bad experience at the VA hospital. It’s good to finally see something positive about the VA Healthcare System. I know that my brother has had a very good experience recently with a social worker at the Bonham Texas VA.
Thank you very much there at the Bonham VA for PROVING that you’re providing excellent service to veterans with excellent social services employees.
NO ONE in the VA is willing to help me including social workers. I’m 100% disabled, P and T. They haven’t paid med bills and now I have liens and judgement on my tiny condo. I’m 70 yrs old, can’t walk or breathe. If I should commit suicide because of this I’ll be sure to document every name that I have dealt with that won’t lift a finger to help me. I am at the end of my rope. It’s obvious that NO ONE CARES. This article you printed is not worth a dime. It’s all a cover to make yourselves feel good. NO ONE CARES !!!
I have never been referred to a social worker as a veteran and no social worker has ever helped me I have no idea what this article was about at all
I have been struggling financially couldn’t fine any help from VA with my Mortgage or Power Bill its bn very difficult and extremely painful. The vehicle I have is old 1994 Bruick Lasbre while going to the store just stopped in the middle of the traffic no warning sign or nothing transmission went out. I am on Disability I am a Diabetic I have neuropathy and it too much for my legs to walk to the store when I am in need of things so where was the help? I dont ask for much of nothing unless I am truly in need and at the present I am seriously struggling only Faith in God keeps me going I pray in the name of Jesus the Christ maybe I can get some much need assistance. (Yours Truly Bobby R. Houston)
Well this better in the singing like a rock and looking at a rope on the wall because I can’t even get a call back or help of any kind. My electric will be shut off in 4 days my well pump quit today 2 weeks ago I am severely behind on my lot rent and nobody knows nothing.
My primary doctor told me I need knee replacement on both knees. I did the leg work myself setting up my surgeries and just before my surgery VA chose to review everything and they did this twice. Alone with my knees I was told I had 3 disk in my lower back out and 3 disk in my lower neck out. I am now a level 2 diabetic and since all my ID’s were stolen in can’t get in to see anybody at VA due to the virus. So why not give me 100% disability so I can live comfortable instead of on the streets. VA act like veterans are taking money out there pockets if we ask for help. I suffer with my legs every day and pills won’t fix my problems. I can only shake my head when someone tell me to go to VA. I been to the emergency room a few times and they had me out before the last bus. Why build a hospital when no one can be put in a room to find out what’s wrong with them. America doesn’t give a damn about veterans, but VA will collect the money so the workers can get their raises and bonuses. Why won’t they help veterans like they suppose to.
Well this was the biggest piece of garbage ever! As a veteran I can personally attest not a single social worker could/would help me or my family. We were nearly homeless twice but I had children apparently a veteran can’t get housing assistance in my area not unless I was childless, an alcoholic, dependent on illegal drugs and living on the streets. And don’t get me started on the mental health services available. VA psychologist falling asleep during sessions, lieing on official forms about the sessions, they don’t even have the necessary security clearances to actually talk with me about my experiences while in the service.
Would like to see dental care for all veterans not just veterans with disabilities but all veterans.
Knee assistance with a mortgage foreclosure???324
I need a social worker
Need assistance with a mortgage foreclosure,
Need assistance with a mortgage foreclosure,
Good evening Russell Camp, wondering if you provide any assistance with mortgage foreclosures on property I am really struggling trying to get some assistance with this
Thats a little of lucky vets if they received the help they needed. Not for me, I’m a 100% disabled vet, my wife is having a lot of of health issues in the past, I rent in a government housing through the navy, it’s a two story apt, and I remember carrying her upstairs numerous times, and my back gave out and it hurted so much I couldn’t walk, sleep, my shoulders aches and back for months, I gotten to the point that I’ve called VA, and ask to see if I can get a scooter, and that darn lady that assisted me, was rude, unwilling to hear me out, acted like she owned VA, I’m so passed off at VA, I feel as I’m being RACIALLY PROFILED CAUSE I’M ASIAN.
I’m a Veteran with PTSD/ Combat with major issues presently getting treatment @ VA Facility in Oregon. I was not aware of this service. Although I am in, inpatient care I expect to seek your help/assistance in the future. Please tell me how to proceed with you for future reference.
I would appreciate having an advocate from va. Trying to deal with things after his death is hard. He was a Marine from 1969 to 1973 and passed away may 4,2020 from agent orange side effects. Is there help? Thank you.
I have asked multiple times for help. No one has helped me. I hope one day you are in need and someone hands you a piece of paper full of nonsense like this article. I hope and Pray that God gives you a life full of disease, sorrow and regret.
I regret I ever served this Nation full of Liars.
Anyone who believes you is wasting their life.
The VA is Scum.
I have myself a good caseworker Richard Lawrence at Pennyroyal Veterans Program Center.
I am a USNavy veteran. Homeless, hungry, sleeping outside in the rain.
Please help me.
Do not send me the crisis hotline phone number, or the suicide hotline phone number.
The VA has failed me every time I have asked for help.
I want to meet a social worker face to face. Some one, anyone who knows how to get a homeless vet off the streets.
Why is this so hard to do??
This is a giant crock of crap!! 9 times out of 10 you call these jokers and they do not call you back!!
I m trying to get my DD_214 after a house fire that took everything I owned. I lost my wife in 2017 and then in 2019 I lost my home to a fire. I had to move with family because of my injuries I received while in the US Army. So I went to the VA Clinic here in Winnemucca to see a doctor the gave me a website to get my DD 214 from, so I sent my information to. They gave me a form to file so I did three times . They told me they didn’t get it but my email confirmed they got it. I need it to get medical records for them for my benefits upgrade plus SSD is needing a copy of them to approve me. Plus I need them for DMV to get my license but they told me they can’t find me. I was in the Army for almost 10 years and was honorable discharge in May 1 1992 from Ft Bliss Tx. I need help please Curtis W Farpella May 24, 1959 E-6 .
My name is Michael Davis. Im on a 30 percent service connected disability and that’s all the income I have at present. I am in desperate need of car repairs. I live in a town with no public transportation. Making it hard to get to stores, doctor’s appointments and such. Is there any financial assistance for that?
I’m a veteran need help paying rent. My job assignment end on 28 February.
I have been trying to get help for my son for the last year since he got out the military.
The struggles with a lot of mental instability, PTSD and high anxiety. I have been reaching out to the VA for help and so far no one has helped me no more than just phone calls. I really would like more information on to how to help my son and my family with him
I am a subsciber to Vantagepoint blog for Active duty military, veterans and their families which I read daily. However, I do not agreed with a lot of the articles that are written in this blog. My uncle died in 2018, from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer after being in remission for over a year. He was diagnosed in 2015 at the VA for a small cancerous cell near the abdominal area. He was treated and went into remission the following year. When I moved to San Francisco where he lived he died six months later. He did not receive any help from a Social Worker with finances or Counseling for mental depression he suffered from during the last few months of his life. My brother and I were his only living heirs and was not informed he was dying until he had to be admitted to the VA Hospice two weeks before he died. The VA has to do a better job reaching out to Veterans who have no relatives living in the same state. Veterans with out if state relatives need to be provided all the support the VA has to offer them and the VA should make it mandatory to inform next of kin out of state relatives about illnesses they determine to will result in the death of a Veteran in less than a year. I only had six months to spend with the only living uncle I had.
I’ve reached out countless times during the past year since all of the Covid restrictions began, and have not been able to get any help. I had been receiving therapy, medication through a psychiatrist, and had began steps for Voc rehab. Everything came to an absolute halt. Reaching out over and over has left me in a state of crisis and has taken all trust I had for the VA away.
how do you locate a va social worker?
I would like to talk to a social worker I am a veteran on a low income needs some assistance