Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living - S.C.A.A.D.L.
This special compensation is not necessarily brand new, but it's something that is not well known and is also something that could help a number of individuals - not necessarily a soldier wounded in combat.
A long story short, SCAADL is compensation paid to a service member who has a permanent injury or illness that is classified as catastrophic. It's intention is to offset and prevent loss of income while meeting the needs of the service member. In many situations, the caregiver (wife, mother, friend, etc.) for the service member has to leave their job, cut back their hours or in many cases hire additional help for when they need to continue working to ensure the safety of their job.
SCAADL has the potential to help a large number of individuals, but from our family's personal experience, many families and individuals are falling through the cracks. Let me rephrase: our soldiers, injured in the line of duty... soldiers injured fighting for our freedom... are missing out. I'm not okay with that.
Josh (my husband) was injured down range in a mounted IED explosion last October (2011). He was hospitalized for about 3 weeks and then med evac'd back to his duty station in mid November. Upon being discharged, our Warriors in Transition Battalion (WTB) should have started the ball rolling for our SCAADL application. In fact, we didn't know it even existed for months. When we finally learned that we qualified (a no-brainer considering his multiple spinal injuries), there was quite a bit of confusion as to WHO was responsible for filling out the application. Was it the Nurse Case Manager (NCM)? Was it his Primary Care Manager (PCM)? Another long story short, 4 months passed before an application was submitted. The hardest 4 months of Josh's recovery - when he required the most assistance (you name it, he couldn't do it)... and we missed out because our WTB chain of command dropped the ball.
Much is very specific to each individual case, but here are a few things we learned:
1. It's a law - not an allotment given by the Army, so there's less room for fudging and things are pretty cut and dry.
2. There are three tiers of compensation: High, Medium, Low that are each tied to a monthly compensation amount of roughly $1,600; $1,000; and $400 respectively.
3. The NCM should fill out the application in which the head physician will then sign off on. At least that's how it finally worked out for us. The Occupational Therapist might know all that is concerned with the ADLs, but the NCMs usually work very closely with both the service member AND the physicians.
4. This is also time sensitive. There are specific situations where inpatient care does not disqualify you, but generally speaking, it's given to outpatient individuals. Once initially discharged from inpatient care, the application should be submitted as quickly as possible. What we've been told is that they will not back-date a form and when our first was submitted, the email that came back from MEDCOM said that a date older than 2 weeks would not be accepted. We have not seen this anywhere in writing, but this is what we were told. In fact, we have yet to find in writing anything about the back dating. The point: get it done asap.
Something else to keep in mind: like I mentioned earlier, this doesn't just apply to our combat wounded. While Josh was in the PT clinic for a session, I ran into an individual that we'd seen a number of times before during his sessions. Turns out, she was permanently injured "in the line of duty". Her story is unique because of her "job" but NOT uncommon. She applied to move over to the WTB but is having trouble. I worry that because of the delay and the lack of knowledge surrounding the SCAADL, that she too will fall through the cracks. She is here alone. No family. Her co-workers are a team that travel quite a bit. This is an individual that would surely benefit from the special compensation. Am I sure that she would qualify for it? Not 100% positive, but knowing that her injuries are catastrophic by definition, and that it's permanent, I'd be willing to gamble. I photocopied the info and suggested she look into it.
What about the other soldiers that were injured or med-evac'd with Josh? They have fallen through the cracks as well and this breaks my heart. I got a letter the other day from the wife of a wounded warrior - her husband was combat injured long before SCAADL was enacted into law and she is JUST now hearing about it.
Currently, we're looking for maximum visibility on this issue through MEDCOM... and frankly, anyone that will listen, read, etc. We've received company level support from within the WTB, but the buck stops there. THE biggest advocate in this issue has been our local Ombudsman. If you go to your health care providers and they know little about what's going on - go to your Ombudsman. If your local representative is anything like ours, then they will take very good care of you.
Thanks to this Ombudsman, we're fighting to create that visibility. But like anything else, it will take time to fix. Are you a wounded warrior? Do you know one? Are you a caregiver of a service member? Please, please look into the fact sheets and ask your health care providers.... and spread the word!
Here are a few helpful links to info on the SCAADL
Fact Sheet from the Warriors in Transition Command:
http://wtc.army.mil/factsheets/wtc_SCAADL_fact_sheet.pdf
SCAADL Calculator:
http://militarypay.defense.gov/Tools/scaadl.html
DoD Instruction on SCAADL:
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134112p.pdf
...and to get REALLY technical, use this link to search the United States Code - Title 37, Section 439
http://uscode.house.gov/search/criteria.shtml
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Faith and Endurance During a Storm
This week, it has been 5 months since Josh's IED attack in Afghanistan.
Two things are on my mind/heart:
1. I'm so very thankful for the path that we're on as a family, and
2. I love to watch God move.
James 1: 2-4
" 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
-New Living Translation
The same verse in the New King James Version reads:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The first time Josh deployed, I didn't know these verses. I didn't have them memorized, I hadn't read them, maybe I'd heard it in passing, but my soul knew it. I knew that I wouldn't be walking down a challenging road without purpose. At the time, we were married less than a year, expecting our first daughter and facing a 15 month deployment - so I thought it right to tell God that I knew what He was up to - that He wanted to teach me something and since I already knew that fact, that He should hurry up and teach me whatever it was He had in mind, so He could send my husband home sooner!
...that's when He taught me patience.
Looking back, now that we have three little girls, I can very clearly see just why he did that. Did I mention they are strong willed? But he also taught me patience for a number of other reasons - commissary lines, Army pharmacy lines, field time, a life in the military - enough said.
He taught me patience and then proceeded to test it, fine tune it, and then USE it. Repeatedly. I should admit before we go much further, that I'm one of those people. There's that saying "Don't pray for patience... because we only learn patience by experiencing the situations that generate it." Well, I knew that, and prayed anyway because like I said, I love to watch God move and I love to grow.
This is where verse 2 came in without me knowing it. "...when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." ... See, I'm not as crazy as I thought I was!!!!
At that time, my "trouble" was a long deployment. But currently, our latest "trouble" is dealing with the aftermath of the IED attack that flipped, tossed, and turned Josh's vehicle around in Afghanistan (Check out the 2 previous posts for more info and pictures.) leaving him a bit... broken.
But also note that verse 2 says that our troubles are an "opportunity for great joy". When your husband has just been blown up, one's initial response might not always be to be joyous. Not going to lie, after my initial phone call, I did cry - hysterically - for about 30 seconds. Thankfully, the recipient of that voicemail was gracious enough to delete it. Now this was the moment of truth - I could refuse to take advantage of the road I was on and proceed to wallow, and fall to pieces OR I could trust in God's promises. After my 30 seconds of wallowing, came much prayer. And then He proceeded to carry me.
But what if the person on the other end of the phone had picked up? Would I have so readily fallen into my savior's lap? Or would I begin to squander the precious opportunity that He was presenting me with by humanly trying to control this situation which was so obviously out of my hands?
We took advantage of the opportunity. We made lemonade with those darn lemons and I encourage you to do the same!!
Josh and I have said from the beginning, if someone had to walk down this road, we're glad it could be us. We're thankful to weather this storm because we know we will endure. At Fort Bliss, being a wounded warrior in Josh's condidion is not a road well traveled. Josh as an individual and "we" as a family unit, have had to "take what we can get", and "make do" what what we had in a time where it was unacceptable. Hopefully, we can bring the "system" to a place where it is ready to accept wheelchair bound soldiers - where ramps and adaptable equipment are quickly and easily accessable; to a place where the system can anticipate and provide the needs of the soldier and family; to a place where entitlements, allotments, programs, help, respite... are all given, provided, and known about. THIS is where we have been placed, and this is our job right now - to do our best to work out the kinks... We're thankful for all of our friends and family who have supported us and met our needs and blessed our family over the past 5 months... and who continue to support Josh with prayers of healing.
Verses 3-4 say: " 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
This "trouble" or "trial" is long but over, or maybe with it just came many smaller ones. But whichever way you choose to look at it, we know that our faith will continue to be tested and our endurance will continue to grow, and for that I am truly joyous.
2 weeks ago, Josh took his first steps in SNEAKERS!! Here's a video catching his first softshoe steps!!
Video of Josh walking in sneakers for the first time.
In the midst of one of our "trials" he thought it would help to wear a uniform. Verdict is out on that, but the boots did support the ankles a bit more and he was glad to be back in uniform again!! ....though after 2 days of combat boots, his ankels revolted. His profile now lists softshoe as part of his uniform. Baby steps!
Two things are on my mind/heart:
1. I'm so very thankful for the path that we're on as a family, and
2. I love to watch God move.
James 1: 2-4
" 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
-New Living Translation
The same verse in the New King James Version reads:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The first time Josh deployed, I didn't know these verses. I didn't have them memorized, I hadn't read them, maybe I'd heard it in passing, but my soul knew it. I knew that I wouldn't be walking down a challenging road without purpose. At the time, we were married less than a year, expecting our first daughter and facing a 15 month deployment - so I thought it right to tell God that I knew what He was up to - that He wanted to teach me something and since I already knew that fact, that He should hurry up and teach me whatever it was He had in mind, so He could send my husband home sooner!
...that's when He taught me patience.
Looking back, now that we have three little girls, I can very clearly see just why he did that. Did I mention they are strong willed? But he also taught me patience for a number of other reasons - commissary lines, Army pharmacy lines, field time, a life in the military - enough said.
He taught me patience and then proceeded to test it, fine tune it, and then USE it. Repeatedly. I should admit before we go much further, that I'm one of those people. There's that saying "Don't pray for patience... because we only learn patience by experiencing the situations that generate it." Well, I knew that, and prayed anyway because like I said, I love to watch God move and I love to grow.
This is where verse 2 came in without me knowing it. "...when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." ... See, I'm not as crazy as I thought I was!!!!
At that time, my "trouble" was a long deployment. But currently, our latest "trouble" is dealing with the aftermath of the IED attack that flipped, tossed, and turned Josh's vehicle around in Afghanistan (Check out the 2 previous posts for more info and pictures.) leaving him a bit... broken.
But also note that verse 2 says that our troubles are an "opportunity for great joy". When your husband has just been blown up, one's initial response might not always be to be joyous. Not going to lie, after my initial phone call, I did cry - hysterically - for about 30 seconds. Thankfully, the recipient of that voicemail was gracious enough to delete it. Now this was the moment of truth - I could refuse to take advantage of the road I was on and proceed to wallow, and fall to pieces OR I could trust in God's promises. After my 30 seconds of wallowing, came much prayer. And then He proceeded to carry me.
But what if the person on the other end of the phone had picked up? Would I have so readily fallen into my savior's lap? Or would I begin to squander the precious opportunity that He was presenting me with by humanly trying to control this situation which was so obviously out of my hands?
We took advantage of the opportunity. We made lemonade with those darn lemons and I encourage you to do the same!!
Josh and I have said from the beginning, if someone had to walk down this road, we're glad it could be us. We're thankful to weather this storm because we know we will endure. At Fort Bliss, being a wounded warrior in Josh's condidion is not a road well traveled. Josh as an individual and "we" as a family unit, have had to "take what we can get", and "make do" what what we had in a time where it was unacceptable. Hopefully, we can bring the "system" to a place where it is ready to accept wheelchair bound soldiers - where ramps and adaptable equipment are quickly and easily accessable; to a place where the system can anticipate and provide the needs of the soldier and family; to a place where entitlements, allotments, programs, help, respite... are all given, provided, and known about. THIS is where we have been placed, and this is our job right now - to do our best to work out the kinks... We're thankful for all of our friends and family who have supported us and met our needs and blessed our family over the past 5 months... and who continue to support Josh with prayers of healing.
Verses 3-4 say: " 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
This "trouble" or "trial" is long but over, or maybe with it just came many smaller ones. But whichever way you choose to look at it, we know that our faith will continue to be tested and our endurance will continue to grow, and for that I am truly joyous.
2 weeks ago, Josh took his first steps in SNEAKERS!! Here's a video catching his first softshoe steps!!
Video of Josh walking in sneakers for the first time.
In the midst of one of our "trials" he thought it would help to wear a uniform. Verdict is out on that, but the boots did support the ankles a bit more and he was glad to be back in uniform again!! ....though after 2 days of combat boots, his ankels revolted. His profile now lists softshoe as part of his uniform. Baby steps!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)