New research from Voya and Easterseals finds veterans with disabilities experience gaps in their workplace benefits - Seite 2

The researchers asked disabled veterans and employers about benefits, programs and services identified with disabled veterans’ needs in mind. Disabled veterans are most interested in receiving help from their employers to maximize their benefits from all sources, both from employers and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While most employers are interested in offering specific workplace benefits to support disabled veteran employees, few currently offer each of the benefits cited through the research. As a result, more than half of veterans with disabilities believe the following benefits to be particularly helpful:

• Help to maximize dollars spent across VA benefits and employer benefits, such as retirement plans, health savings accounts (HSAs), healthcare insurance, and other voluntary benefits (66%);
• A workplace emergency savings fund to put money aside through payroll deduction (61%);
• Support and resources to help make the transition from military service to civilian jobs (58%);
• Help estimating income needs in retirement, including future health care costs, as well as personalized advice services and financial planning for retirement (57%); and
• Expanded health insurance coverage for mental illness (56%).

“The transition from military service to civilian life can present complexities and difficulties, particularly for those who have service-connected disabilities,” said Kendra Davenport, president and CEO of Easterseals. “Veterans develop valuable skills during their military service, skills that are valued by employers, but it is not always clear to employers how those skills translate into the civilian workforce. Caregivers provide critical support to our veterans, and they also experience some of the same career challenges and financial insecurity that veterans face. Every day, Easterseals engages local organizations and communities to connect veterans and military families with what they need for meaningful employment, education and overall wellness. That’s why we conducted this study to identify the challenges disabled veterans and their caregivers face, so we can work together to help improve the lives of those who bravely served our country.”