Anyone ever work for the Department of Veterans Affairs?

[nthemedia]

The family and I are looking to move to Jackson in the new year and I am looking at jobs.

The VA seems like a good place to work. I'm looking at HR and other office jobs.

Has anyone worked for them? In a non-medical capacity?

thoughts? concerns?

[Hermione]

Haven't worked for them, worked for another agency and had to deal with them fairly often, plus my Dad was a long-term VA patient. It's a government agency, which means it's a big cumbersome rule-bound organization in which it's difficult to get a straight answer or get anything done. The people in the trenches were always pretty nice, but like me at that time, were hamstrung by the latest regulatory idiocy. Typical of all other government agencies, except the IRS, who are to be actively feared.

[countrygirl]

Just my opinion, they don't take care of our vets like they should!

[Hermione]

The rules and policies of government agencies come from Congress. When people used to sit at my desk and get angry and threaten to call their Congressman, I would always say, "Please do! They're the only ones who can change the rules." The poor guys behind the desks and on the phones have very little power to do anything.

[MMA]

Quick question, why in the hell would anyone move to Jackson??

[nthemedia]

Quick question, why in the hell would anyone move to Jackson??

Family

[MMA]

When you start looking for housing, don't look in Jackson unless you are a trained and efficient sniper. Look in the surrounding small cities.

[nthemedia]

I know, my inlaws live in Brandon so we are looking around there

[CUPCAKE]

"You get what you pay for. I'm not knocking anyone who works there, but increased capital upgrades and increased salaries will improve the final product. When you pay a pittance, expect an equivalent result in your work. "

I, too, had heard horror stories about VA Hospitals; however, in 2005, after four years of pain and therapy, three neurosurgeons at the VA Hospital in Jackson consulted and recommended the dreaded back surgery. My surgery is a complete success....no pain! I had three herniated discs with a piece of bone impinging on the sciatic nerve along with spinal stenosis. My neurosurgeon, his staff, and his CNP are exceptional. Follow up visits were very well handled and I don't regret having the surgery. Daily phone calls during convalescence was standard operating procedures for them. I have nothing but praise for the VA in Jackson.

I don't consider serving your country for twenty-plus years "paying a pittance", and believe Veterans deserve the best of medical care. Some may believe that care is free; however, unless your injury or illness is service connected it is not a "give-me". Retired service members carry TRICARE insurance, which can be a pain when health care providers don't cross all t's and dot all i's. Surgery in Hattiesburg exceeded $12,000 and, when the surgeon's insurance clerk misfiled, it took me over six months to clear the error. I was told by the clerk that it was my fault and she would not re-file. After arguing for those long months, TRICARE called the clerk personally and walked her through how to file. It was paid within four days and, guess what, the error was her fault, not mine. It took, eight weeks to schedule an MRI locally and only three days at the VA. Upon calling the local facility their excuse was that "it had slipped through the cracks".

[CUPCAKE]

Just my opinion, they don't take care of our vets like they should!

Its not the hospitals, its Congress. The Woodstock Museum and yellow snail darters are more important than our Veterans. :smt009

[MMA]

Flowood is nice also, growing like crazy. Madison if you can afford it, moved here four years ago, love it. Can recommend a good real estate agent if you like, did a good job for me.

[nthemedia]

"You get what you pay for. I'm not knocking anyone who works there, but increased capital upgrades and increased salaries will improve the final product. When you pay a pittance, expect an equivalent result in your work. "

I, too, had heard horror stories about VA Hospitals; however, in 2005, after four years of pain and therapy, three neurosurgeons at the VA Hospital in Jackson consulted and recommended the dreaded back surgery. My surgery is a complete success....no pain! I had three herniated discs with a piece of bone impinging on the sciatic nerve along with spinal stenosis. My neurosurgeon, his staff, and his CNP are exceptional. Follow up visits were very well handled and I don't regret having the surgery. Daily phone calls during convalescence was standard operating procedures for them. I have nothing but praise for the VA in Jackson.

I don't consider serving your country for twenty-plus years "paying a pittance", and believe Veterans deserve the best of medical care. Some may believe that care is free; however, unless your injury or illness is service connected it is not a "give-me". Retired service members carry TRICARE insurance, which can be a pain when health care providers don't cross all t's and dot all i's. Surgery in Hattiesburg exceeded $12,000 and, when the surgeon's insurance clerk misfiled, it took me over six months to clear the error. I was told by the clerk that it was my fault and she would not re-file. After arguing for those long months, TRICARE called the clerk personally and walked her through how to file. It was paid within four days and, guess what, the error was her fault, not mine. It took, eight weeks to schedule an MRI locally and only three days at the VA. Upon calling the local facility their excuse was that "it had slipped through the cracks".

Thats just my sig. Its a quote from Southernmisstv about another company..

[CUPCAKE]

Thats just my sig. Its a quote from Southernmisstv about another company..

I realized it was your signature, but it fits so many situations, doesn't it? I hear so much about the VA and that is exactly what some people would say. I was not offended and hope that if you do secure employment at the hospital or with some of their other programs you will enjoy it and be an asset to the program. Not knowing your skills, experience, etc., I can't say. I have a friend who works as a Field Rep in establishing benefits. He loves the job. Another is a a CNA (a retired LTC) who wouldn't work anywhere else. As I said, I can't say anything bad about VA. It must be a good place to work because I don't notice a big turn-over in the staff.

[marion]

Cupcake,

This is a little off subject but there's something I've been thinking about and I think you might just be the person to answer it. My grandpa was a veteran and had some of the best health care available and he never had to worry about paying for anything (if he did pay it was minimal). His military retirement was also not bad either, granted he was not only a WWII veteran but also a Master Sergeant in the National Guard for years. Therefore, it is hard for me to believe that our veterans aren't being taken care of.

But yet, I read the story the other day about how more homeless people are veterans. And then there was the story about a while back about a WWII veteran in Petal who was living in terrible conditions (no plumbing, etc), so bad that the city wanted to raze the house. He didn't have money to move but eventually, someone (the VFW maybe, or one of the veterans groups) gave him a trailer with nice new furnishings.

I'm just wondering, how do things like that happen? How do veterans get overlooked and how many more are living in squalor or having a hard time paying bills? Does the govt just not provide (too much bureaucracy), or do the veterans just not know where to get help or have too much pride to ask for it? Are there groups out there whose main purpose is to help veterans? I think the VFW does but then they are made up of veterans, right? Are there groups that aren't made up of veterans to look after them?

[nthemedia]

I think you have to have put in 20 years to get the good stuff?

Also you must have a residence to receive benifits.

[CUPCAKE]

Cupcake,

This is a little off subject but there's something I've been thinking about and I think you might just be the person to answer it. My grandpa was a veteran and had some of the best health care available and he never had to worry about paying for anything (if he did pay it was minimal). His military retirement was also not bad either, granted he was not only a WWII veteran but also a Master Sergeant in the National Guard for years. Therefore, it is hard for me to believe that our veterans aren't being taken care of.

But yet, I read the story the other day about how more homeless people are veterans. And then there was the story about a while back about a WWII veteran in Petal who was living in terrible conditions (no plumbing, etc), so bad that the city wanted to raze the house. He didn't have money to move but eventually, someone (the VFW maybe, or one of the veterans groups) gave him a trailer with nice new furnishings.

I'm just wondering, how do things like that happen? How do veterans get overlooked and how many more are living in squalor or having a hard time paying bills? Does the govt just not provide (too much bureaucracy), or do the veterans just not know where to get help or have too much pride to ask for it? Are there groups out there whose main purpose is to help veterans? I think the VFW does but then they are made up of veterans, right? Are there groups that aren't made up of veterans to look after them?

Marion, http://www.va.gov/ gives insight into what is provided Veterans. No, you don't have to serve the full 20 years; however, benefits will be limited (i.e., pharmacy, home loans, etc.) for eligible service men and women.

I believe that much of what happens when Veterans fall through the crack depends on their personal efforts and the fact that many don't have family or their families don't care. As Soldiers return from the War on Terror they are required to meet with VA Field Representatives who explain benefits to them. They know where to go for health care issues, treatment for PTSD, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation, financial assistance, job training, etc. There is a VA representative within driving distance for any veteran who wishes to establish benefits. They can also go to Jackson to complete the paperwork. It is, I'll admit, a long, drawn-out process because of backlog. Once paperwork is submitted, a physical evaluation is done to determine eligibility for health related benefits.

National Guardsmen begin receiving retired pay at age 60; however, if they are veterans of the current war, the 24-month rule you'll see on the website is in play.

I hate to say it, but there are veterans who take advantage of the system, thus depriving others who are more deserving of the quick and adequate care they need. I read an article in Readers Digest where one veteran was receiving 100% for chronic veneral disease.....go figure!

As for organizations that help veterans that are not made up of veterans, I just don't know. Some organizations will adopt veterans, but its just for small things like clothing, food, etc. The VFW worked with me on a national level following Hurricane Katrina. EXCELLENT!


We sometimes launch letter writing and telephone campaigns when legislative matters concerning the veteran is on tap and it does sometimes help.


It humbles me to know that your grandfather served so many years. He deserved all the good care and retirement he received.


By the way, retirement depends on number of years served and rank at time of retirement. National Guardsmen begin receiving theirs at age 60 based on a point system for active duty days served. They are provided some benefits; however, such as commissary and PX, on a limited basis.


Any other questions, PM me.

[SoMissTV]

Thats just my sig. Its a quote from Southernmisstv about another company..

Thanks for the compliment.