Moving to a different state, whatever the reason, comes with a host of difficulties. You have to pack up your entire house, figure out the best way to transport all your belongings several hundred miles, and keep your family in order while everything is going on. For veterans who receive disability benefits, however, moving might come with an additional task: changing regional VA offices. HOW DOES MOVING AFFECT MY VA DISABILITY BENEFITS?
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR GOLDEN YEARS 3 TIPS FOR CHANGING CAREERS LATER IN LIFE It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and your alarm clock blares in your face. You groan and, with the thought of another week looming over you, pull yourself out of bed. But the early wake-up call is the least of your worries. Another week has begun, and you’re still stuck in a job that you no longer love or maybe never did. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may believe changing careers isn’t worth the hassle, especially if you’re close to retirement, but here’s the secret: It’s not too late! There’s nothing stopping you from finding a career you love later in life. Here are three tips to get you started. BE FLEXIBLE If it’s been a while since you’ve hunted for a job, then you may have forgotten what it’s like. Job searching can be exhausting, and some job requirements can look overwhelming. But getting stuck in your ways and focusing on the things you cannot do will only hinder your ability to find a job you actually love. Instead, take a deep breath and be open to what comes. You may discover a hidden talent or passion! FORGET THE MONEY Money matters, but it shouldn’t be your first priority on the job hunt. Instead, consider what’s going to make you the happiest. What’s your dream job? What have you always enjoyed doing? If money wasn’t an option, what would you be doing right now instead of counting down the hours to 5 p.m.? Be realistic in your goals and find something you love. SEEK GUIDANCE Remember, you’re not alone in this fight! Plenty of people switch careers midway through their lives to focus on something they really enjoy. Seek guidance from those who have had a similar experience and look to professional job hunters or consultants for help. Furthermore, after years in the same job or industry, you’re bound to have made a few connections. Reach out for professional support. Regardless of what path you choose, remember that a career you enjoy is always possible. We can’t promise that you’ll love getting up at 6 a.m., but at least you won’t dread what comes next.
The first step in this process is updating your address information in your VA.gov profile, which is a pretty
straightforward process. Just log onto your profile, and click the “edit” option next to any of the address information that needs changing. Once you do this, your information
will update across benefits and services such as VA health care, disability compensation, pension benefits, claims and appeals, and vocational rehabilitation and employment (VR&E). Unfortunately, the whole process isn’t as simple as updating an online profile. You’ll also have to contact your old regional office in
advance of your move. The reason for this is simple: They have a physical copy of your file on hand, and they need to send it to your new regional office. The process is more
complicated than just sending your file through the US Postal Service; you have to request that your claims file be transferred to your new regional VA office. A few other things are worth keeping in mind as well. If you’re moving in-state, you’ll still have to update your address info, but more than likely, you will not have to change regional offices. Only four states have more than one regional office: Texas; Pennsylvania and New York, both with two offices; and California, with three. At the same time, depending on where you’ll be moving, the VA regional office might service your new county in the neighboring state. Make sure you check this, too. If you’ve applied for veterans’ benefits before and your application has been denied, talk to Danielle and Teri and Obiorah Fields, LLC. They have three decades of experience between them, and they can help you fight for your benefits. Call them at (404) 994-6218 for a free case evaluation.
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