The Independent Living Program is a United States Department of Veterans Affairs

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...

 (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program aimed at making sure that each eligible veteran

Veteran

A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...

 is able to live independently to their maximum capacity. The program is commonly referred to as VA ILP. The program is a two-year program that can be extended up to 28 months. There is an enrollment cap of 2500 participants per year. VA ILP may include the following services:

• assistive technology
  Assistive technology
  Assistive technology or adaptive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them...
  
   specialized medical, health, and / or rehabilitation services
• services to address any personal and / or family adjustment issues
• independent living skills training connection with community-based support services
• individualized equipment to assist with possible employment
  Employment
  Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
  
  , volunteer opportunities or to decrease social isolation
  Social isolation
  Social isolation refers to a lack of contact with society for members of social species. There may be many causes and individuals in numerous generally social species are isolated at times, it need not be a pathological condition. In human society, in those cases where it is viewed as a pathology,...
  
  
• animals to assist with coping or independent movement
• attendant care during the period of transition
• transportation when special arrangements are needed
• peer counseling
• training to improve awareness of rights and needs

Who Qualifies

In order to qualify for the ILP a veteran must meet the following criteria:

• Be eligible to enroll for VR&E services
• Have service-connected disabilities that inhibit the ability to purse an employment goal
• Have a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determine that employment goals are not currently feasible

It is noteworthy to mention that enrollment into ILP does NOT affect any benefits the veteran is receiving from VA

Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...

 or the Social Security Administration

Social Security Administration

The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...

.

Process

Once the veteran has been identified as qualifying for the ILP, an evaluation of the veteran's independent living

Independent living

Independent living, as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at disability and society, and a worldwide movement of people with disabilities working for self-determination, self-respect and equal opportunities...

 needs will be conducted. The VRC assigns a VA consultant to conduct an Assessment of Needs at the home of the veteran. The Assessment of Needs is used by the VRC to create an Individualized Independent Living Plan (IILP). Based on the amount required to fulfill the IILP, the IILP is either approved at the Local (up to $25,000), Regional ($25,000 to $75,000), or Central/D.C. (over $75,000) level. Upon approval, the plan is implemented.

Individualized Independent Living Plan

The IILP, as mentioned above, is created by the VRC with input from the VA consultant. Care is taken to ensure the IILP is consistent with the principles and goals of the Veterans Affairs Administration. The philosophical framework for the IILP is composed of the following nine principles.

1. Enhance participation in activities of daily living

Activities of daily living

Activities of Daily Living is a term used in healthcare to refer to daily self-care activities within an individual's place of residence, in outdoor environments, or both...

 (ADL)

2. Assist the veteran in participating to the maximum extent possible and desirable in family and community life

3. Provide the most effective services and assistive technology based on sound research

Research

Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...

evidence

4. Provide required holistic evaluation and services for all veterans who qualify

5. Develop rehabilitation plans that provide services to address all identified independent living needs

6. Consider the veteran’s expressed interests and desires, but provide services based on objectively identified needs

7. Establish goals and measure/verify outcomes

8. Provide services that produce a sustaining influence that continues after rehabilitation services are completed, and

9. Explore the possibility of paid or volunteer employment, when feasible