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5/6/2013
SIX VETERANS PLEADED GUILTY TO FRAUD
Six military veterans from Maryland pleaded guilty to fraud charges this week in a scheme to obtain federal military benefits and state tax breaks with faked documentation claiming they were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The veterans allegedly paid thousands of dollars in cash to David Clark, the former deputy chief of veterans claims in the state Department of Veterans Affairs Office, in exchange for $1.4 million in fraudulent benefits and tax breaks, prosecutors said.
The veterans, some of whom never even served in Vietnam, are from multiple branches of the military, the indictment says.
Clark and two others have also been indicted in the scheme, which allegedly dates back to 1995.
Agent Orange, the indictment says, “refers to a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam to remove trees and dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover” during the 1960s and 1970s.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has for years been paying Vietnam veterans compensation and other benefits for a slew of medical problems associated with the exposure to the chemical, from Hodgkin’s disease and other forms of cancer to Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, according to the department.
Clark, 68, of Hydes, was in charge of submitting claims to the federal veterans department on behalf of Maryland veterans, and allegedly forged or fraudulently completed doctors’ notes and federal forms alleging he and eight other veterans had developed illnesses — including Type II diabetes and neuropathy — and were forced to take medications because of Agent Orange exposure, the indictment says.
Clark allegedly fabricated documents showing he and others had been awarded service honors, the indictment says, including Purple Heart Medals and Vietnam Service Medals.
The indictment alleges the fraudulent documentation made those it was submitted for eligible for retroactive lump-sum payments and increased benefits from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Through the scheme, Clark also allegedly obtained Maryland property tax waivers for those involved through a “service connected disability” qualification.
The fraud resulted in benefits losses of more than $1.15 million and property tax losses of more than $250,000, the indictment says.
“Like all government agencies that award benefits based upon a sworn certification that the claimant deserves them, the Veterans Administration is vulnerable to abuse by dishonest people,” Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said in a statement. “The defendants cheated the government of hundreds of thousands of dollars by falsely representing that they were suffering from medical disabilities as a result of their military service.”
Those who pleaded guilty this week are Kenneth Williams, 64, of Baltimore (Marine Corps); Raymond Sadler, 61, of Middle River (Marine Corps); Sandra Tyree, 64, of Rosedale (Air Force); Kenneth Webster, 67, of Pasadena (Marine Corps); Paul Heard, 64, of Baltimore (Navy); and John Bratcher, 54, of Conowingo (Air Force).
All face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and must pay back what they earned through the scheme, prosecutors said.
The two others named in the indictment are Richard Genco, of Baltimore, who served in the U.S. Navy, and George Kulla, of Baltimore, who served in the Army. There are also 10 other veterans identified only by their initials who allegedly played some role in or benefited from the scheme, according to the indictment.
Original article from the Baltimore Sun newspaper: http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-75752510/
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5/4/2013
Veteran Service Organizations Update 01: Overall, these organizations offer great service to many veterans. They provide free help with disability claims. They provide advocacy in Washington, D.C. They also assist in the health care delivery process with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Each has an executive board to manage the accomplishment of their organization’s goals and the thousands of volunteers which support them. For most this comes at a cost. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki is paid $200 K a year for his services. He also gets a limo, a driver and the rest of the medical/dental package. This compares to what is paid to the chief executive of the following top three vet organizations:
- · DAV-Arthur Wilson 2011 wages $353, 519.00
- · VFW- Lawrence Maher 2011 wages $238, 513.00
- · AmLeg- Daniel Wheeler 2011 wages $232,177.00
The IRS Form 990 is a public document that nonprofits are required to file with the IRS every year. These documents disclose the executive compensation and relevant expenditures as well as money from memberships, total assets, etc. To compare the top three which manage hundreds of millions $$ in assets refer to:
To check out the financial position of any charitable organization go to http://www.guidestar.org and enter the organizations name in the search engine. For a different perspective of the VA, and Veteran Service Orgs check out: http://asknod.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/vsos-a-major-conflict-of-interest/ . [Source: Veteran Issues Col Dan message 26 Apr 2013 ++]
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VA Adult Day Care Program: The VA’s Adult Day Health Care is a program Veterans can go to during the day for social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. It is for Vets who need skilled services, case management, and assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and getting dressed or instrumental activities of daily living such as fixing meals and taking medicines; are isolated or their caregiver is experiencing burden. Adult Day Health Care can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services. Health services such as care from nurses, therapists, social workers, and others may also be available. This program can provide respite care (short-term, temporary relief ) for a family caregiver and can also help Veterans and their caregiver gain skills to manage the Veteran’s care at home. It may be provided at VA medical centers, State Veterans Homes, or community organizations. For a list of State Veterans Homes locations, visit the National Association of State Veterans Homes at http://www.nasvh.org/StateHomes/statedir.cfm . You can also use the Helpful Websites (http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Helpful_Websites.asp) listed in the Guide to Long Term Care at to locate Adult Day Health Care programs.
Adult Day Health Care can be a half-day or full-day program. Usually, you would go to an Adult Day Health Care center 2 to 3 times per week, but you may be able to go up to 5 times a week. Based on availability and need, you can create a regular schedule that works for you and your family caregiver. You may be able to get assistance with transportation to and from the center. To help you figure out what long term care services or settings may best meet your needs now or in the future you can use a Shared Decision Making Worksheet at http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Shared_Decision_Making_Worksheet.pdf. . All enrolled Veterans are eligible if they meet the clinical need for the service and it is available. A co-payment may be charged based on the veteran’s eligibility status and means test criteria. To apply contact your VA social worker/case manager to complete the Application for Extended Care Benefits (VA Form 10-10EC). [Source: http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Adult_Day_Health_Care.asp# Apr 2013 ++]
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03/18/2013
Board of Veterans’ Appeals Update 03: Have you recently had an appeal of a claim for VA benefits denied by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)?
Because the BVA is the final level of review within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an appeal of a BVA decision must be made to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), a special court for veterans and their families. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is a separate, independent judicial body and is NOT part of VA. There are two parties to every appeal to the Court. You will always be the ‘appellant’ in the case, while the opponent in every appeal is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary will always be referred to as the ‘appellee.’ Although you are not required to have a lawyer represent you there are reasons to seek a lawyer’s help with your appeal. You will be at a significant disadvantage without one. The Court has specific Rules of Practice and Procedure that must be followed. You may be unfamiliar with those rules and procedures, as well as with the ever-changing law of veterans benefits. Also, a lawyer can guide you through the system and help you make the best arguments for your appeal.
Neither the Court nor VA will find a lawyer for you. Finding a lawyer is strictly your responsibility. One source is the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program. They provide free legal counseling and representation to veterans and their families who meet their criteria and have cases that should be appealed. Check out their pamphlet titled ‘Your Appeal at the Court – Answers to Your Questions’ at
Step-by-step information on how to file an appeal and how to obtain legal assistance along with answers to frequently asked questions is available at:
You can only appeal a final BVA decision that denied some or all of your requests for benefits. You have 120 days from the mailing date of your final BVA decision to file the appeal.. The Court cannot usually extend this timeso do not delay! You do not need a lawyer to file the appeal. Following are the actions you need to take:
Complete the Court’s Form 1 (Notice of Appeal) and send it to the Court.
Submit the one-time $50 fee to file, OR ask the Court to waive the fee by filing the Court’s Form 4(Declaration of Financial Hardship).
You can download these forms from the Court’s website; you can request them from the court at the address below; or the Pro Bono Program can send them to you. If time is running out and you cannot get
forms, you may simply print your name, current address, and telephone number on a piece of paper and write: “I want to appeal my BVA decision dated ___________.” Then sign your name. Don’t forget the
120-day deadline for filing. Mail, hand deliver, or fax the completed form(s) or your letter to:
Clerk of Court, US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
625 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Suite 900
Washington, DC 20000
Tel: (202) 501-5970 FAX (202) 501-5848.
If the Appeal is faxed to the Court, you must contact the Court to confirm that the Notice of Appeal is received. The Court is not responsible for faxed, but unconfirmed, Notices of Appeal. Send your notice of appeal form directly to the court.
Do not send your Notice of Appeal to the VA or the pro bono program! It is very important to use the Court’s complete address, including “Suite 900.” VA also has an office at 625 Indiana Avenue, and if the
Postal Service delivers your appeal to VA instead of to the Court, you can lose your case before you even get a chance to tell the Court your side of the matter. A notice of appeal will still be considered to be on
time even if the Court does not receive it within the 120-day deadline IF you mailed it to the Court’s correct address AND it contains a legible U.S. Postal Service postmark dated within the 120-day time limit.
Regular, first class mail is fine. You do not need to send it express mail, priority mail, or certified mail. (Note that a Federal Express, UPS or other delivery service date stamp, or foreign postal service postmark,
does not count, and if you send your Notice of Appeal in any of these ways, the date the Court actually receives your Notice of Appeal will be your filing date.)
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VA Contact Numbers Update 01:
Following is a list of important VA 800 contact numbers for veterans:
VA Benefits……………………………………………….……..(800) 827-1000
Beneficiaries in receipt of Pension Benefits…………….……(877) 294-6380
Debt Management Center……………………………….……..(800) 827-0648
Children of Women Vietnam Vets, and Foreign Medical Program or Spina Bifida
Health Care………………………………..(877) 345-8179 or (888) 820-1756
Civilian Health and Medical Program…………………….……(800) 733-8387
Education (GI Bill)………………………………………….…….(888) 442-4551
Healthcare Benefits……………………………………….……..(877) 222-8387
Income verification and means testing…………….…………..(800) 929-8387
Life Insurance……………………………….(800) 419-1473 or (800) 669-8477
Special Issues (Agent Orange, Lewisite/Ionizing Radiation…(800)669-8477
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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Direct Deposit Update 03: If you receive your federal benefits by paper check, you’ll need to switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. The federal benefits affected are:
- · Social Security
- · Supplemental Security Income
- · Veterans Affairs
- · Railroad Retirement Board
- · Office of Personnel Management
- · Department of Labor (Black Lung)
You have two options for receiving benefits electronically — Direct Deposit and Prepaid Debit Card:
1. Direct Deposit. The U.S. Treasury deposits your benefits directly into your bank account. You can sign up for direct deposit in one of these ways:
- · Enroll online at http://www.GoDirect.org
- · Visit your bank or credit union.
- · Call (800) 333-1795 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm ET).
- · Contact the local office of the agency providing your federal benefits.
- · Enroll by mail.
2. Prepaid Debit Card. The U.S. Treasury deposits your benefits directly to a debit card. This is an option if you don’t have a bank account and do not want to open one. You can request a debit card by calling (800) 333-1795 M-F 0800-2000 EST.
Be ready with the information you’ll need to set up your federal benefit payments by direct deposit or debit card. You’ll Need Your:
- · 12-digit federal benefit check number
- · Amount of most recent federal benefit check
- · Financial institution’s routing transit number* (direct deposit only)
- · Account number (often on personal checks) and type – checking or savings (direct deposit only)
If you have questions, call the Go Direct Helpline at (800) 333-1795.
[Source: http://www.anapolschwartz.com/practices/social-security.shtml Feb 2013 ++]
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New Mexico Wants Military Retirees: A perennial bill to exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes has the support of Gov. Susana Martinez, despite the Legislature’s defeat of similar bills in the past. Senate Bill 96, introduced by Sen. William E. Sharer, R-Farmington, would exempt 25 percent of a military retiree’s pension in 2014, 50 percent in 2015, 75 percent in 2016 and 100 percent in 2017 and beyond. At a 4 FEB news conference at the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial before an estimated 150 attendees, Martinez couched the proposal as a way to stimulate the state’s economy. “I think it would grow the economy because they (new military retirees) are still young and well trained,” the governor said. “They can come here for our high-tech jobs or open a businesses of their own, and the tax base will grow.” State officials estimate there are about 20,000 military retirees in the state and 3,000 surviving spouses who would qualify for the tax exemption.
According to the Legislative Finance Committee’s fiscal impact report on Sharer’s bill, the exemption would reduce state coffers by $3.1 million next year, $9.6 million in 2015, $16.5 million in 2016 and by $24 million in 2017 and successive years. The current bill has no sunset provision, meaning it would remain in effect until the Legislature changed it. Similar bills have appeared before legislators for years, but none has made it into law. Aside from the impact on state revenues, critics of those bills have said they’re unfair to other government employees and that giving veteran retiree pay a pass on taxation simply shifts the tax burden to other New Mexicans. “I certainly don’t believe that we pass the tax burden on to other citizens of New Mexico because, if we end up seeing our economy grow, then you end up seeing that that tax dollar is being brought into New Mexico,” Martinez said after the news conference. “We’re not shifting it from one to another.” Martinez said her administration has found additional revenues that will enable the state to “pass on that tax break to those who deserve it the most, the men and women in our military.”
An identical bill passed the House last year but never came to a vote in the Senate. Martinez said she also backs identical bills — HB 180 by Rep. Rodolpho S. “Rudy” Martinez, D-Bayard, and SB 258 by Sen. William F. Burt, R-Alamogordo — that would fast-track professional licensure of military service members, their spouses, or recent veterans who are licensed in other jurisdictions. The governor introduced Charlene Templet, the wife of an Army captain assigned to White Sands Missile Range, who, despite having three master’s degrees and holding a professional counseling license in Missouri, has been unable to work as a professional counselor in New Mexico.
Templet said New Mexico’s licensure process is too lengthy and cumbersome for proven professionals licensed elsewhere, and that the states bordering New Mexico have reciprocal agreements to accept such licenses from other jurisdictions. “This is just good, common sense legislation,” Templet said, noting that the state’s licensure requirement has kept her from working since she and her husband arrived here six months ago. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Charles D. Brunt | 5 Feb 2012 ++]
*********************************Tax Burden for Texas Retirees: Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Texas: Sales TaxesState Sales Tax: 6.25% (non-prepared food, prescription and non-prescription drugs exempt); local option taxes can raise the rate to 8.25%.
Gasoline Tax: 38.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Diesel Fuel Tax: 44.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Cigarette Tax: $1.41 cents/pack of 20 Personal Income Taxes
No state personal income tax
Retirement Income: Not taxed.
Retired Military Pay: Not taxed.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Disability Portion – Length of Service Pay: Member on September 24, 1975 – No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 – Taxed, unless combat incurred. Retired Pay – Based solely on disability. Member on September 24, 1975 – No tax. Not Member on September 24, 1975 – Taxed, unless all pay based on disability, and disability resulted from armed conflict, extra-hazardous service, simulated war, or an instrumentality of war.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes
Property tax is imposed by local taxing units. Click here for details. For homeowners 65 and older, $10,000 (in addition to the regular $15,000 homestead exemption) of the property’s assessed value is exempt from school taxes and $3,000 is exempt from other local taxes. Once an over-65 homeowner qualifies for an over-65 homestead exemption for school taxes, that owner gets a tax ceiling for that home on school taxes. If the homeowner improves the home (other than normal repairs or maintenance), the tax ceiling is adjusted for the new additions. For details on the homestead exemption refer to http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/homestead-exemption.html.
School district taxes are frozen for seniors (65 and older) and disabled persons at the level imposed on the residence the first year that the taxpayer qualified for the residence exemption. Counties, cities, towns, and junior college districts are permitted to establish a tax freeze on homesteads of those age 65 and older or disabled. For more information on exemptions refer to http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/exmptns.html.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance and the estate tax is limited and related to federal estate tax collection.
For further information, visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts site http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxes.
[Source: http: //www.retirementliving.com Feb 2013 ++]
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Vet Charity Watch: Go to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving site http://www.bbb.org/us/Wise-Giving and you’ll feel assured many charities that flunk other evaluators’ criteria are worthy of your contributions. But are they? The Blinded Veterans Association says its goal is to “help veterans and their families overcome the challenges of blindness,” according to its website. Services include helping them take advantage of Department of Veterans Affairs services and employment training. Go to the Better Business Bureau’s website and you’ll feel assured the group is worthy of your donations. It is both accredited by BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance charity-rating service and has the group’s seal of approval. The American Institute of Philanthropy’s CharityWatch, however, gives the group an F. The other leading charity-rating service, Charity Navigator, awards it zero stars out of four. “There are 158,000 veterans that are legally blind, but only 20% of (the association’s) budget is spent on field services to help blinded vets,” says CharityWatch founder and President Daniel Borochoff. “The rest was primarily used for mailings and public service announcements. Is this really how a blinded veteran, who can’t find a job or even pay his gas bill on time, wants his charitable aid to be spent?”
The differences between the groups’ ratings underscore one of the challenges facing BBB as its 100th-anniversary year draws to a close. Just as it was dogged by “pay to play” allegations about its business ratings two years ago, some question whether BBB’s charity ratings really have teeth, and if the up to $15,000 it receives annually from charities that pay to use its seal of accreditation influences its decisions. The questions come as many charities, particularly smaller ones, struggle to raise money as the proportion of people’s incomes devoted to charitable giving remains stagnant. As people decide where to send their year-end charitable donations, Borochoff doesn’t think BBB’s ratings should guide them. “How can you be a watchdog when you are getting paid by the very groups you’re supposed to be rating and monitoring?” he asks.
When he was Connecticut Attorney General in late 2010, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reached agreement with BBB that it would stop giving extra rating points because businesses were paying members. Now he says BBB’s financial relationship with the charities it rates “unquestionably” raises concerns about credibility and possible conflicts of interest. “State attorneys general should be looking hard at this practice to make sure it is disclosed prominently and transparently,” says Blumenthal, adding that “there may be a role for congressional 4
oversight … There’s a very strong interest on the part of state attorneys general and consumer protection agencies in ensuring that contributors are not misled by ratings and by financial incentives.”
Consumers searching at BBB’s Give.org for a charity would see a prominent accreditation seal if the charity paid the licensing fee to use it. But they’d have to look for the link on the homepage to learn how the charity seal program works. “A charitable donor is forced to do some independent research to understand what he or she is seeing,” says Rick Cohen, former executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, now the national correspondent for Nonprofit Quarterly. “It’s not that they are withholding the information, (but) it does confuse the issue when you have a seal, and when it is not clearly evident to consumers that the seal was purchased.” Art Taylor, CEO of BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, says its ratings are unaffected by its seal sales. In a statement, he noted that the Wise Giving board of directors approves the practice and is headed by David Ormstedt, who chaired Sen. Blumenthal’s charity bureau when he was attorney general. “There is a strict separation between the people who do the accreditations and the ones who work on the seal programs,” Taylor says. “The only way they can sell a seal is if they get a notification that we have a new charity that meets our standards.”
If charities meet BBB’s 20 standards for accountability, they are identified as being accredited on its website. The charities can then pay a sliding scale of up to $15,000 annually for the right to display the seal on their own sites and marketing materials. The seal is a “very popular product” for charities that want to “distinguish themselves,” Taylor says. Of the approximately 1,260 charities BBB attempts to evaluate, it accredits about 500, and fails about 300. Most of the rest refused to provide information despite BBB’s requests, while about 80 other reviews are in process.
BBB has been working to improve its ratings, says Taylor, who announced plans at a charity conference in October to review the truthfulness of fundraising appeal letters. BBB is helping consumers by looking beyond charities’ financial ratios — which CharityWatch focuses on — to include issues of governance and other types of accountability, Taylor says. While they give the issue different weight, charity evaluators agree that it’s key for donors to know how much of their money goes toward more fundraising and how much is spent on programs. It can mean the difference between feeding the hungry or funding for-profit telemarketers. [Source: USA Today | Jayne O'Donnell | 27 Dec 2012 ++]
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Vet Pro Bono Assistance:There are numerous organizations which provide medical and social services for Veterans, and there are guides for these organizations and services, but there has been no comprehensive system to provide free legal services to Veterans until now. The VALOR Guide in six volumes gathers together in a single reference all known providers of free legal services for California Veterans in order to provide vets assistance with the legal services which they need and have earned through their military service to this country. The volumes cover Northern California, Central California, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and San Diego and Imperial Counties. The guide addresses that need by bringing together a network of law firms, clinics and other providers who are dedicated to providing free legal services for Veterans. Not every legal clinic or military legal assistance office can handle every type of legal problem, but by working together, they can provide the right service in the right location. The VALOR Guide is designed to make finding the right legal provider quick and easy. Legal providers are listed in the guide by practice area, by location, and alphabetically.
If you know the particular type of legal advice you require, you can use the ‘Index of Legal Providers by Practice Area’ to find a legal provider with expertise in handling your particular problem.
If you would prefer to find all the legal providers in a particular location, you can use the guide’s ‘Index of Legal Providers by Location’, which arranges legal providers conveniently according to their location within your geographic area.
If you know the name of the provider and want more information about that provider, the guide’s ‘Alphabetical Index of Legal Providers’ contains an alphabetical list of legal serviceproviders your geographic area including important details regarding their hours of operation, types of services provided, and any applicable restrictions or limitations on those services.
To view the 2012-2012 Central California Edition of the guide refer to the attachment (PDF Only) to this Bulletin titled, “The Valor Guide”. For inquiries regarding this VALOR Guide, including corrections and requests for copies, please contact: Adam Siegler, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 1840 Century Park East, Suite 1900, Los Angeles, CA 90067-2121 Tel: 310.586.6536, Cell: 310.777.1111, Email: sieglera@gtlaw.com [Source: Veterans Advocate Msg. | Carl Young | 26 Dec 2012 ++]
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DFAS Direct Deposit:The Department of the Treasury has announced that all payments from the federal government must be made electronically and not by paper check beginning March 1, 2013. This means most military retirees and annuitants receiving paper checks will be required to sign up for direct deposit. This will save the American taxpayers about $120 million every year. Each check costs $1.04 while each electronic payment only costs 8 cents. With direct deposit, DFAS sends your payment straight to your bank account. Direct deposit gives you immediate access to your money on pay day, and it eliminates the risk of lost or stolen checks, forged signatures and identity theft. There are three ways to start direct deposit. Before you enroll, you’ll need to gather information including your financial institution’s routing transit number and account number. Then do one of the following:
Send a signed Fast Start Direct Deposit Form available at http://www.fms.treas.gov/eft/2231.pdf to Defense Finance and Accounting Service, U.S. Military Retired Pay, P.O. Box 7130, London, KY 40742-7130;
Use your myPay account at https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx to set up a direct deposit to your checking or savings account; or
Call the DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay Customer Care Center at 800-321-1080.
Don’t have a bank account? Find a bank or credit union in your area that is reputable and provides the services you need at little or no cost. And make sure they offer FDIC coverage of your account and accept direct deposit. Military members or civilian employees paid by DFAS should contact their base finance office, employer’s Customer Service Representative (payroll liaison) or human resources office to start direct deposit if they’re unable to access myPay. Those needing additional assistance can call DFAS customer service at 1-800-321-1080 (for retirees and annuitants) or 1-888-332-7411 (for military and civilian employees). It can take 30 to 60 days from the day we receive your enrollment for direct deposit to start. If after enrolling you receive a paper check, cash or deposit it as you normally would. DFAS will send you a notification when we process your enrollment. [Source: DFAS Newsletter 19 Dec 2012 ++]
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VA Medical Foster Home :Amarillo’s Thomas E. Creek VA Health Care System is developing a Medical Foster Home program that offers veterans who can’t live independently an alternative to living in a nursing home. Medical Foster Care Coordinator Teresa Maib said the program gives veterans important options. “The point of giving a veteran a choice between living in a community living center, assisted living or an institution is to give them some more freedom than they have in the community living center,” Maib said. The program, which is now in place at 78 VA hospitals and is expanding to 102 more, is expected to lower costs because it can operate at half the cost of a nursing home, according to the VA. Patients still are seen by their doctors and other health care personnel, and they reap the benefits of living outside of a nursing home while still getting the assistance they need, VA officials said.
VA approved homes will be subject to inspections by the VA. VA Home Based Primary Care staff will make routine visits, including some that will be unannounced, to ensure Veterans are receiving quality care. Caregivers and their homes must meet a variety of criteria, including but not limited to: must be at least 21 years of age; must own or rent a home which must be their primary residence; must have experience as a caregiver (formal or informal), and must have a willingness to provide a safe and therapeutic home environment. There will be other criteria reviewed by VA staff. The Veteran and/or the Veteran’s family will operate from a signed agreement that will define the services that will be provided. Veterans receiving care pay the medical foster home provider directly. A NBC Nightly News clip on vets living in a VA foster home in Florida can be viewed at http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/49934637#49934637 24
“When (patients) are in a home environment, they’re happier, they’re not as depressed and they have a better quality of life, which prolongs their lives,” said Waine Eagleson, Medical Foster Care program assistant coordinator.
The VA is seeking caregivers for the program who will be paid based on the patient’s needs and level of care. Potential caregivers in the program must pass a criminal background check and a home inspection. Veterans who qualify for home-based primary care are eligible for the program. “We’re literally looking for angels to take care of heroes, and that is one of our mottoes, because these people have served,” Maib said. “We would not be free and we would not have the standard of living that we have without these people who served us.” Anyone interested in offering their residence as a foster home in the 63 counties serviced by the Thomas E. Creek VA Health Care can call Teresa Maib at (806) 355-9703 ext. 4036. Those in the Los Angeles area can call Josie Thompson at (310)-235-6048 or Kimberly Martin-Butler at (310)-235-7209. [Source: VA Inquiry: 121217-000551 & Amarillo Globe News | Mollie Bryant | 15 Dec 2012 ++]
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Vet Benefits: The Military.com Benefit Calculator at http://benefits.military.com/reg/Veterans-Benefits.do?ESRC=mrvr.nl will quickly and easily connect you with your benefits information based on service and status. Find Federal Benefits, State Benefits, National Guard State Benefits, Special Military Discounts and more.
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10/16/2012
Social Security Account Widow(er)’s Benefits Update 01: In the event of a veteran’s death the surviving spouse, starting at age 60, is entitled to collect monthly beneits on the veterans’ Social Security account. His/her decision on whether to start drawing benefits at age 60 or later requires taking a number of factors into consideration Consider the following scenario which would apply to some veteran widow(er)s:
Q: My 66 year–old husband recently passed away before starting Social Security benefits. I’m 63 and still working. I originally planned to wait until age 66 to start benefits, but I need extra income. Could you give me some ideas about when I should start?
A: Before doing anything else make sure you have a realistic budget, and think long term. You want your income and savings to be adequate as long as possible, 30 years or even longer is not unrealistic for someone your age. In developing a budget, look back over at least three years to include large expenditures for periodic home maintenance and repairs, transportation, medical costs and other large costs. Include what you pay in taxes. Once you get an 7
expense figure, allow for at least 3% per year for inflation. Then tally up your income and assets, including the value and expected income from retirement accounts and pensions, if any.
You can apply for widow benefits as early as age 60, but if you start prior to your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced. In addition, your benefits would be further reduced if you earn more than the annual earnings limit, which is $14,640 in 2012 ($1,220 per month). More on this in a moment.
This doesn’t mean you should completely rule out starting widow’s benefits. Depending on your finances, you may be able to start a reduced widow’s benefit now and later switch to your own retirement benefits after your reach full retirement age or later if it would be higher than what you are entitled to now. If your own retirement would not be higher, then starting survivor’s benefits now would lock in a permanently lower benefit.
Here’s an example of how it might work: Let’s say your husband was entitled to a benefit of $17,400 or $1,450 per month. Since he was at his full retirement age there are no reductions. You learn that your full retirement age benefit at age 66 would be about $1,195, and by age 70 it grows to about $1,640. In this case taking a reduced widow’s benefit now and letting your own benefit grow due to the delayed retirement credit may potentially work as long as your earnings don’t completely offset your benefits.
Let’s assume you are 30 months from attaining your full retirement age of 66. Your monthly widow’s benefit would be reduced about 11.9% or $172.60 and you receive $15,328.80 or $1,277.40 per month ($1,450 – $172.90 = $1,277.40). Let’s also assume you currently earn $30,000 a year. Under the earnings restriction rule your benefit would be reduced $1 for every $2 over the limit, while you are under your full retirement age. Your earnings are $15,360 over the annual limit ($30,000 – $14,640 = $15,360). Your benefits would be reduced by $7,680 ($15,360/2 = $7,680). That would leave you $7,648.80 in benefits ($15,328.80 – $7,680 = $7,648.80). Social Security will withhold your benefits for 6 full months and you would then receive your $1,277.40 monthly payment for six months.
This situation is only for 30 months though. Once you turn age 66 you can earn as much as you want without reduction to your Social Security benefits. Meanwhile you continue to work and delay your retirement benefit allowing it to grow. Once you reach age 70 you should go ahead and switch to your own larger retirement benefit, since it won’t grow any larger.
The decision on when to start benefits is complicated and you should get counseling. The Social Security Administration website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov has a great deal of information on survivor’s benefits as well as contact numbers to reach counselors. For more information about working after starting benefits check out How Work Affects Your Benefits Publication No. 05-10069 at https://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10069.html. [Source: TSCL Social Security & Medicare Questions Oct 2012 ++]
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10/16/2012
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program Update 05: Veterans Retraining Assistance Program applicants are advised of a potential scam targeting veterans who have either signed up or have been approved for VRAP! A veteran has reported receiving a call from someone named “James” who congratulated him on his VRAP approval. He advised him that he knew the exact amount he was approved for and that the $8500 would be directly deposited into his account within 45 minutes of him giving his banking account number and routing number and paying $205 for the service fee. This person is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA will never charge you to access your benefits or ask you to provide private information over the phone. If you do receive a call like this, contact the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/index.shtml. [Source: Military.com | Terry Howell | 9 Oct 2012 ++]
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10/16/2012
Long Term Care FLTCIP Update 08: Are you prepared to handle the expense of Long Term Care. Many vets are not and find themselves in the following situation asking for help — “My wife has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I can no longer take care of her; there are only two of us in the household, and we are both 80 years old. I had to put her in an Alzheimer’s home where she would be safe. My cost is $2,500 a month. Is there any way that Tricare can help me? We both have Tricare for Life.” Unfortunately, the answer to this plea is NO. Tricare will cover skilled nursing care, home health care and hospice care, it generally does not cover long-term care (also known as custodial care) for patients with degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Exceptions or partial exceptions to the “no coverage” guidance should be discussed with the managed-care contractor for the Tricare region where you live. You may want to look into long-term care insurance through commercial insurance programs or through the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. About 20 million people are eligible to apply for FLTCIP, including all active-duty and National Guard members activated for more than 30 days, retired uniformed service members, and members of the Selected Reserve. FLTCIP eligibility and enrollment requirements are complex, and not everyone who applies for this insurance will be approved for it. You can get full details at the program’s website http://www.opm.gov/insure/ltc/. [Source: Military Times | TRICARE+Help | 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Diabetes Mellitus Care Update 09: Health officials at the Veterans Administration unveiled a pilot program 5 OCT aimed at reducing the rate of diabetes among military veterans. The 16-week program for overweight or obese people with pre-diabetes helps them get more exercise, improve their eating habits and lose weight. The program is expanding to include VA medical centers across the country. Vietnam veteran Jon Soder, who has diabetes, says the program helped him lose 85 pounds and improve his health. Before he participated in the program, Soder said he was unable to walk. Now he walks on his own. “I used to take three different kinds of diabetes medicine, and now I only take one,” he said “And I used to take two kinds of cholesterol medicine and now I don’t take any, so there was a real benefit from it.” When the program was tested at YMCAs in St. Paul and Indianapolis, it reduced the diabetes rate among participants by 58 percent. U.S. Sen. Al Franken, (D-MN), who participated in the announcement, said helping the clients improve their health also leads to dramatically lower medical costs. “To put someone through this program costs 300 bucks. Fifty-eight percent fewer become diabetic, and save $6,200 a year. That is what prevention is about,” Franken said. About one-fourth of the nation’s veterans have type 2 diabetes. [Source: MPR News | Jessica Mador | 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Care Assessment: There’s lots of grumbling about the Department of Veterans Affairs from veterans – and its own inspector general, who regularly turns out critical reports. So it’s worth noting when someone seems satisfied. It’s tough to imagine a more important someone to the VA than the American Legion, whose 2.4 million members makes it the nation’s largest veterans’ organization. The Legion visited 25 VA facilities last spring and, in a just-released report that includes assessments of each facility, praised the “high quality of care” that it found. “Patient satisfaction has seen drastic improvements in the past decade,” the Legion reports. “However challenges still exist.” Those challenges include vets’ delays in getting appointments, a lengthy hiring process (of growing concern because at some VA facilities half the workforce is at retirement age) and medical salaries that fall short of what’s available in the private sector.
Ron Capps, an Army veteran and Battleland contributor, points out that the VA is really two huge agencies – one running hospitals and the other administering disability benefits (and yes, a tiny third part that runs veterans’ cemeteries). “In my opinion, VA health care is mostly excellent,” Capps says. “The big issues at the VA aren’t in the Veterans Health Administration — the health care side of the department. They are in the other side, the Veterans Benefits Administration. That’s where the unreasonable delays in processing disability claims and benefits, or providing benefits under the new GI Bill exist. The VBA has some big pieces that are broken.” A former senior VA official, speaking privately, found the report heartening. “Sure, there is still much to do, and VA isn’t getting some things right,” he said. “But overall, the days of stereotypical uncaring bureaucrats providing shoddy service are long past.” [Source: Time Magazine | Mark Thompson | 4 Oct 2012 ++]
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Aid & Attendance Update 09: Here’s a riddle: When is a government benefit that pays for caregivers, assisted living and a nursing home not a benefit? When hardly any people know they’re entitled to it. That seems to be the story with a Department of Veterans Affairs benefit called the Aid and Attendance and Housebound Improved Pension benefit, known as A&A, which can cover the costs of caregivers in the home (including sons and daughters who are paid to be caregivers, though not spouses) or be used for assisted living or a nursing home. The benefit is not insignificant: up to $2,019 monthly for a veteran and spouse, and up to $1,094 for the widow of a veteran. Surprised that you’ve never heard of it? You’re not alone.”It’s probably one of the lesser-known benefits,” said Randal Noller, a Veterans Affairs spokesman in Washington. Of the 1.7 million World War II veterans alive as of 2011, who were in need of caregiving assistance and thus eligible, only 38,076 veterans and 38,685 surviving spouses were granted the A&A benefit that year, according to Mr. Noller.
Mr. Noller is not the first to acknowledge A&A is a well-kept secret. Jim Nicholson, former secretary of Veterans Affairs, said in a DEC 2006 news release that “not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility” for the program, which he called an “underused” benefit. Not much has changed. A search of the Veterans Affairs Web site for evidence of public information efforts in the six years since came up blank. “The sad thing is, it’s been an entitlement for 61 years, but it’s sat idle — the V.A. employees just haven’t been educated about it,” said Debbie Burak of Midlothian, Va. She said she repeatedly called department offices on behalf of her father, a World War II veteran, and her mother, who became homeless after their house caught fire and their injuries required extensive care. She was told there were no benefits they were entitled to. (Indeed, when I called two Baltimore-area Veterans Affairs offices for my father, a World War II veteran, no one had heard of this benefit or any benefit that paid for caregivers or assisted living or nursing homes.) “My parents’ end of life was so difficult. They lost everything, were living in a terrible hotel, ran up every credit card we had,” Ms. Burak said. “My mother begged us not to cremate her, but there was no money for a burial; we had no choice.” It was only after her father died that Ms. Burak discovered her parents would have been entitled to as much as $160,000 over the last decade through the Aid and Attendance benefit. She applied, but no money arrived before her mother died.
Mr. Noller said the program’s low visibility might be an effect of the size of the department. “The V.A. is the second-largest agency in the federal government, and you can’t expect everybody to know everything,” he said, referring to the agency’s work force. To bridge the information gap, Ms. Burak introduced http://www.veteranaid.org , a Web site and a 501(c)(3) charity, in 2005, to provide information about A&A eligibility and how to apply. To qualify, a veteran need not have suffered a service-related injury. He or she only had to have clocked at least one day of his or her 90-day minimum military service during a time of war and need caregiving for activities of daily living. Applying can be confusing and arduous. If you know the program’s name and search the Veterans Affairs Web site for Aid and Attendance, the first page states, among other things, that you are not eligible for A&A unless you already qualify for a basic Veterans Affairs pension — for which you have to be “totally disabled.” That’s more than a little misleading. “What people don’t know is that when wartime veterans turn 65, the V.A. automatically classifies them as ‘totally disabled,’ ” Ms. Burak said. And if they meet income and asset criteria, they are eligible for a basic pension. The A&A benefit can be more than 50 percent higher than the 30
basic veteran’s pension ($24,239 annually for a veteran and spouse with A&A, versus $16,051 for a basic pension). The income and asset cutoffs are also higher than for A&A benefits. Not all Veterans Affairs officers are in the dark about A&A.
After Annette Cadena’s parents were in a car accident and moved to a nursing home in their tiny hometown, Fossil, Ore., it was the local Veterans Affairs officer, Paul Conroy (now retired), who saw her on the street and mentioned that her parents might qualify. “I was skeptical, to be honest,” said Ms. Cadena. “My husband did two tours in Iraq and has worked 30 years for the Washington State Army National Guard coordinating with the V.A. to help veterans, and he had never heard of it.” Still, she applied in August 2009, and nine months later her parents started receiving the maximum $2,019 per month. The benefit was a lifesaver. That is, until her father, Clinton Ray, died on Aug. 5. The payments to her mother, Bessie Ray, stopped, even though widows of veterans are also entitled to this benefit. “They cut her off cold,” Ms. Cadena said, and told her she would have to apply all over again as a widow, which could take 9 to 18 months. “My mother said, ‘Oh, my God, are they going to kick me out of the home?’” Ms. Cadena recalled. Still, when the benefit comes through, it can make a real difference.
Marcia Hruska’s mother, 85, had run through all her savings after seven years of worsening Alzheimer’s and round-the-clock care in her apartment in Coconut Creek, Fla. Assisted living was the next step, but Ms. Hruska didn’t know how they would pay for it, with Social Security her only income. “One of the assisted living facilities we visited asked if my dad had been in the service,” and mentioned A&A, Ms. Hruska recalled. So she filled out the 26-page Veterans Affairs application — which used to be only four pages — and on 1 SEP, six months after applying, she received the first monthly check for $1,019. “This relieves a lot of tension,” Ms. Hruska said.
One warning note: Scams abound. The department forbids anyone to charge to help veterans fill out these challenging forms, yet a growing number of companies — many of which, on a Web search for “Aid and Attendance,” pop up with waving flags and red-white-and-blue banners — offer to “help” veterans fill out the forms free, then charge thousands of dollars for financial consultation. And, Ms. Burak warns: “Financial planners at assisted living facilities are putting on seminars about the A&A benefit — but it isn’t out of the goodness of their hearts. They are trolling for residents who have too much money to qualify, to get them to move assets into annuity products that don’t count as income or assets and yield big commissions.” (This is possible because, unlike Medicaid, with its five-year lookback, Veterans Affairs has no lookback on asset transfers.) The department does not reveal maximum allowable assets. But $80,000 (the house and a car are exempt from this total) seems to be in the ballpark, though someone with more assets could still qualify if expenses were very high, according to Ms. Burak. Income limits are not set in stone either. But the maximum is around $20,000 to $23,000 after deducting costs for medical expenses, caregivers, assisted living or nursing home fees. Some people are taking advantage of A&A to protect assets for their heirs, Ms. McCarty said. Still, she said, “it’s a wonderful benefit.” [Source: New York Times | Susan Seliger | 19 Sep 2012 ++]
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07/02/2012
Vet Benefits: Not sure of your veteran benefits? The Military.com Benefit Calculator is designed to quickly and easily connect you with your benefits information based on service and status. Find Federal Benefits, State Benefits, National Guard State Benefits, Special Military Discounts, and more for active, prior service vets, retired, and disabled vets; National Guard and Reservist drilling/not drilling and activated vets; service member, retiree, and veteran spouse; and surviving spouse and family by going to http://benefits.military.com/reg/Veterans-Benefits.do?ESRC=mrvr.nl. If you fit into more than one category look at each separately. For example when I clicked on Retired USN it gave me the below. When I clicked on additional categories that were applicable to me it gave me the additional benefits:
Commissary and Exchange Privileges. Access to shopping at military commissaries and exchanges.
GI Bill Apprenticeships / Work Study / OJT. A GI Bill program designed to assist military members as they transition to civilian employment.
GI Bill For Active Duty Chapter 30 Up to 36 Months of Education benefits that can be used for education, training, certification, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training programs. *National Guard and Selected Reserve may be eligible under previous active duty enlistment.
Legal Assistance. Free legal assistance to help with issues like contracts, wills, and powers of attorney.
Military Medical/Dental. Access to military provided medical care facilities.
Military Pay and Allowances. Monthly pay and allowances for subsistence, housing and cost of living.
Military Recreation Facilities. Use of on base gyms, tennis courts, swimming pools, auto hobby shops, golf courses etc.
Retirement Pay. Monthly pay based on a percentage of pay at the time of retirement.
Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI). Up to $10,000 in additional life insurance coverage.
Social Security Benefits. Visit the Social Security Benefits Calculator to learn more.
Space Available Travel. Free travel on Military Transport aircraft on a space available basis.
Survivor Benefit Plan. An annuity plan to help provide a monthly payment to designated beneficiaries. Learn more.
TRICARE (medical/dental). The Department of Defense’s health care program for members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors.
VA Disability. Compensation Programs You may be eligible for Disability Compensation if you have a service-related disability and you were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. * Requires a VA service connected disability rating ** Eligible disabled military retirees normally have their retirement pay offset by the amount of VA compensation received.
VA Home Loans. Allows eligible veterans and servicemembers to purchase a home without making a down payment. Certain surviving spouses may also be eligible, under special criteria.
VA Memorial and Burial Benefits. A wide range of burial and memorial benefits ranging from Military Funeral Honors to burial reimbursement.
VGLI(veteran life insurance). VGLI is a life insurance program which allows servicemembers to convert their SGLI coverage to renewable term insurance.
Veteran Federal Employment Preference. Veterans have a couple of different tools that can give them an edge in getting a civil service (Federal) job: the Preference Points and Veteran’s Recruitment Appointment rule.
Veteran’s Health Care Programs. A VA provided health care coverage plan for veterans.
Veteran’s Pension Programs You may qualify if you are a wartime veteran with a limited income and you are no longer able to work, you may qualify for a Veterans Disability Pension or the Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 or older.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. Vocational rehabilitation & employment services under Chapter 31 of the GI Bill. These services include, but are not limited to, counseling, training, education and job placement assistance. * Requires a VA service connected disability rating
* Requires a VA service connected disability rating
[Source: Military.com article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA HIV Care Update 04: The Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging all Veterans to be tested for HIV at least once in their lives. VA offers HIV testing as part of its comprehensive, world-class care for the men and women who have served this Nation in uniform,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Testing, regardless of age or risk factors, is an important step to healthier, longer lives.” Some VA facilities offer HIV testing on a walk-in basis or through routine primary care appointments. Others offer testing as part of special health fairs. More information about the benefits of being tested is available at http://www.hiv.va.gov. The National HIV Testing Day 27 JUN was designed to raise awareness of the importance of early detection, which can help prevent the spread of the virus, extend life expectancy and reduce overall medical expenses. It is estimated that 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and one out of five are unaware they are infected. [Source: VA News Release 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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Widow(er) Military Benefits: There are four different age and marital status scenarios affecting benefits for military widows/widowers. They are:
TRICARE eligibility permanently stops if you remarry. Unlike other benefits that may restart if your new marriage ends, TRICARE eligibility is gone for good if you remarry. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case if you married another servicemember in the future.
General military benefits (exchange/commissary privileges, MWR, etc.) and eligibility for Survivor Benefit Plan payments are not affected as long as you remarry after age 55. Prior to age 55 if you remarry you must turn in your military ID card which will prevent you from using general military benefits. However, if you subsequently divorce you can reapply for a card which will reinstate your general benefits.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation from the VA is lost if you remarry before 57. If a spouse remarries before age 57, eligibility for benefits may be restored if the marriage is terminated later by death, annulment, or divorce.
The widow or widower of a deceased veteran who remarried a non-veteran and whose death took place after Jan. 1, 2000, is entitled to burial in a national veterans cemetery.
[Source: Various 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Pension Loans Update 01: Private companies are offering “lump sum pension payments” for veterans, either those with monthly disability payments or retirees. There are roughly 1.5 million former servicemembers collecting about $40 billion annually from the federal government, and they are being targeted as easy ways to make money. According to MSNBC, in 2004 Congress threatened legislation designed to outlaw the industry. Additionally, several courts have ruled that these lump sum pension payments violate existing federal laws. While the up-front, lump sum payouts may be effective as a way to get a large sum of money quickly to settle financial debts, the terms of these loans are actually terrible – often they add up to 30-40 percent interest. And these companies do not disclose the actual terms of the agreement in a clear manner.
In response to these scams, on 18 JUN Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray announced that his agency will begin focusing on pension lump sum payments. “We are … concerned about military pension buyout schemes,” Cordray said in a speech on Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “Military retirees are offered lump-sum cash payments in return for surrendering their rights to their pension payouts. These schemes are usually very bad deals for the retirees. We want to collect information on all of these kinds of financial practices.” The federal government has been collecting information on this industry for years, and now it has the ability to protect consumers from these types of predatory lenders. These companies are funded by investors who are looking for steady returns afforded by monthly government pension checks. According to MSNBC, one pension buyout company was ordered by an arbitrator in November to repay $5 million to investors who alleged they were defrauded. In December, the firm agreed to stop selling the investments in California.
Last August, a California court ruled in favor of a class action suit brought by veterans, ordering Retired Military Financial Service, Inc. to return $2.9 million. The founder of Retired Military Financial Services, Inc., Steven P. Covey defended his company last year in a story published by the Center for Public Integrity’s iWatchNews.org. There, he said, “The position is: We’re purchasing at a discounted lump-sum, future cash flow. We’re not lenders. When you’re not lenders, you’re not dealing in potential usury areas.” He essentially is saying that since his company technically isn’t lending, they should not be subject to laws that govern financial transactions. The Enlisted Association disagrees. According to Stuart Rossman of the National Consumer Law Center, “If these sites are dealing with the issue of military pensions, it’s likely every single one is violating a law.” All firms that offer such lump payments are either assigning military pensions to a third party, which isn’t legal, or they are offering loans without abiding by Truth and Lending Requirements; this is also illegal.
Editors Note: A phone call to Buysell annuity’s contact number 1(800) 240-8601 provided on their website http://buysellannuity.com/?gclid=CI2yyq2f7bACFQhahwodRyXAxQ revealed they would loan $8000 or more against my military pension, VA disability compensation, and Social Security incomes for 3,5, or 10 years. At my expense would be required to purchase a life insurance policy for double the amount of the loan as collateral on the loan in the event of my death. In the event of my death they would collect from the insurance policy the full amount vice any payoff balance at the time of my death. Thus for me the cost of a $8,000 loan for a period of 10 years would be $38,400 or almost five times the amount of the loan. When I questioned the high amount of interest I was told that it was competitive with other companies making pension loans who in most cases charged more. The $38,400 is the result of:
$200 per month for 120 months or $24,000; plus
$128 per month (current age 72 with a heart condition) for a 10 year term policy with $16,000 coverage or a total of $14,400 in premiums.
[Source: TREA News for the Enlisted & RAO Bulletin Editor 22 & 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Mental Health Care Update 15: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently completed a media campaign for its call center “Coaching Into Care,” a telephone service which provides assistance to family members and friends trying to encourage their Veteran to seek health care for possible readjustment and mental health issues. “Coaching Into Care is a valuable service for family members and friends of Veterans who might be reluctant to seek mental health care,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “In the last three years, VA has devoted more people, programs, and resources toward mental health services to serve the growing number of Veterans seeking mental health care and this marketing effort is designed to expand our reach to those who need our services the most.” The “Coaching Into Care” service offers free coaching to callers, with no limit to the number of calls they can make. The goal of these sessions is to connect a Veteran with VA care in his or her community with the help and encouragement of family members or friends. Callers will be coached on solving specific logistical problems and ways to encourage the Veteran to seek care while respecting his or her right to make personal decisions.
The service is available on http://www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching or toll-free at 1-888-823-7458, 08-2000 EST -F , and online at. If a Veteran is experiencing an acute crisis, callers should contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 for immediate help. “Coaching Into Care” works directly with the Veterans Crisis Line and the Caregiver Support Line to provide guidance and referrals. The department is a pioneer in mental health research, high-quality, evidence-based treatment and access to high-quality care. VA has many entry points to care through the use of 300 Vet Centers, the Veterans Crisis Line, and integration of mental health services in the primary care setting. This campaign is part of VA’s overall mental health program. Last year, VA provided quality, specialty mental health services to 1.3 million Veterans. Since 2009, VA has increased the mental health care budget by 39 percent. Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of Veterans receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase in mental health staff.
In April, as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations, Secretary Shinseki announced VA would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 mental health staff to help meet the increased demand for mental health services. The “Coaching Into Care” advertisements ran on cable TV and radio stations in media markets throughout the U.S. The ads featured three scenarios that many Veterans and their family members commonly experience followin g the Veteran’s return from combat experiences. Veterans were directly involved in the media campaign. VA launched the media campaign as part of its observation of June as “PTSD Awareness Month.” [Source: VA News Release 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Agent Orange Claims Update 04: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that nearly 230,000 claims have already been processed for the three newest Agent-Orange related conditions through June 2012, including over 150,000 claims required to be adjudicated under the order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The near completion of these complex Nehmer claims enables VA to redirect 1,200 employees who were dedicated to reviewing the Agent Orange cases toward addressing the current backlog of disability claims. “I am proud of our VA employees who worked hard to complete these Agent Orange claims, putting over $3.6 billion into the hands of our Vietnam Veterans and their survivors,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We completed all of the Agent Orange Nehmer claims for living Veterans, and are now focusing on the fewer than 500 remaining that will benefit survivors.”
The Agent Orange claims stemmed from VA’s 2010 amendment of its regulations to add ischemic heart disease, hairy cell and other chronic B-cell leukemias, and Parkinson’s disease to the list of diseases presumed to be related to exposure to the herbicide used in Southeast Asia. “While we work to transform how we do business through new processes and technology, at the end of the day it’s about taking care of our Veterans and their loved ones on the issues affecting their lives,” said Secretary Shinseki. Given the complexity of the historical casework, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) allocated its most experienced decision makers, about 37 percent of its rating staff, to processing Agent Orange claims. VBA’s 13 resource centers were exclusively dedicated to re-adjudicating these claims. Even with this allocation of 37 percent of the rating staff dedicated to Agent Orange claims, VA processed over 1 million disability claims in each of the last 2 years, an unprecedented number. “Incoming claims over the last ten years have nearly doubled,” said VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison A. Hickey. “Being able to refocus these skilled raters on the backlog is vitally important.”
In addition to redirecting its rating staff, VA has developed a comprehensive transformation plan to achieve in 2015 Secretary Shinseki’s goal of completing claims within 125 days at 98 percent accuracy. The plan is built on more than 40 designed, tested, and measured people, processing, and technology initiatives. VA is now beginning the nationwide rollout of its new operating model and electronic processing system, known as the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). All regional offices will be operating under the new model and using the new processing system by the end of 2013. VA has established a website, http://www.fastrack.va.gov, to assist Veterans in filing claims for the three new conditions related to the effects of Agent Orange exposure. It guides Veterans through automated, program-assisted menus to capture the information and medical evidence needed for faster claims decision. Potentially eligible Veterans include those who were exposed based on duty or visitation in Vietnam or on its inland waterways between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; exposed along the demilitarized zone in Korea between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971; or exposed due to herbicide tests and storage at military bases within and outside of the United States. [Source: VA News Release 19 Jun 2012 ++]
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Non-VA Facility Care: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced a change in regulations regarding payments for emergency care provided to eligible veterans in non-VA facilities. More than 100,000 Veterans are estimated to be affected by the new rules, at a cost of about $44 million annually “This provision helps ensure eligible Veterans continue to get the emergency care they need when VA facilities are not available,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. The new regulation extends VA’s authority to pay for emergency care provided to eligible Veterans at non-VA facilities until the Veterans can be safely transferred to a VA medical facility. Non-VA Care is medical care provided to eligible Veterans outside of VA when VA facilities are not available. All VA medical centers can use this program when needed. The use of the Non-VA Care program is governed by federal laws containing eligibility criteria and other policies specifying when and why it can be used. A pre-authorization for treatment in the community is required for Non-VA Care — unless the medical event is an emergency. Emergency events may be reimbursed on behalf of the Veteran in certain cases. Refer to the Emergency Non-VA Care brochure at http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/brochures/Fee_Veteran_Brochure.pdf for further elaboration. There are five categories of Non-VA Care Programs. Information on each is available at:
Pre-authorized Outpatient Care http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/preauthout.asp
Pre-authorized Inpatient Care http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/preauthinpt.asp
Emergency Care of Service-Connected Conditions http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/unauth.asp
Emergency Care of Non-Service-Connected Conditions http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/ecnsc.asp
State Home Per Diem Program http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/state-homes.asp
Non-VA Care is used when VA medical facilities are not “feasibly available.” The local VA medical facility has criteria to determine whether Non-VA Care may be used. If a Veteran is eligible for certain medical care, the VA hospital or clinic should provide it as the first option. If they can’t — due to a lack of available specialists, long wait times, or extraordinary distances from the Veteran’s home — the VA may consider Non-VA Care in the Veteran’s community. Non-VA Care is not an entitlement program or a permanent treatment option. VA operates 121 emergency departments across the country, which provide resuscitative therapy and stabilization in life-threatening situations. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VA also has 46 urgent care units, which provide care for patients without scheduled appointments who need immediate medical or psychiatric attention. For more information about emergency care in non-VA facilities refer to http://www.nonvacare.va.gov. To locate the nearest VA medical center or clinic refer to http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp. [Source: e-Echoes May-Aug & www.nonvacare.va.gov Jun 2012 ++]
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06/24/2012
Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS ) Warns of Email Scam
CLEVELAND – There are emails being sent to individuals, including military members, military retirees, and civilian employees, which appear to be sent by a DFAS employee. Although the email appears to come from a DFAS employee and displays a dot mil address it is actually from a non-governmental email account. This is an example of what’s called “spoofing.”
The emails indicate that individuals who are receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be able to obtain additional funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These emails are not issued by DFAS and will likely result in a financial loss if you comply with the suggestions in the email.
The email states that such funds can be obtained by sending copies of your VA award letter, your income tax returns, your 1099-Rs, your Retired Account Statements, and a copy of your DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to a so-called retired Colonel at an address in Florida. Do NOT follow the suggestions in the email because you will be providing a significant amount of your personal information to a complete stranger, which could result in a financial loss to you.
DFAS officials point to the agency’s email policy that has been developed to protect customer privacy.DFAS will never send you unsolicited email messages requesting your myPay login ID and password or any other personal or financial information. DFAS also will not send you unsolicited email messages with attachments. Never reveal your myPay login credentials in response to an email, no matter who appears to have sent it. And if you receive an e-mail message that appears suspicious, do not click on any links or open attachments.
The best way to protect yourself online is knowledge. Equip yourself and protect your family by visiting the Internet Fraud page on USA.gov.
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PTSD Awareness Month: June 2012
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
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New VA Form Available for Ordering Veterans’ Grave Marker Medallion
May 22, 2012
The Department of Veterans Affairs has streamlined the process for families of deceased Veterans to receive a medallion which can be affixed to grave markers at private cemeteries and indicates the Veteran status of the deceased.
“This new form streamlines the ordering process, making it easier for families to order the medallion,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The families want everyone to know that their loved one was a Veteran. We should help them do that in any way we can.”
Previously, families ordered the medallion using the form to order a government headstone or marker. VA has introduced a new form – VA Form 40-1330M – for use solely to order a medallion. The older form, VA Form 40-1330, remains in place to order a traditional government headstone or marker.
The medallion is a device furnished in lieu of a traditional Government headstone or grave marker for Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the medallion, but not both.
The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1 ½ inches in width. Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word “Veteran” at the top and the Veteran’s branch of service at the bottom.
Next of kin receive the medallion, along with a kit that allows the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.
The medallion is available only to Veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.
More information about the medallion or headstones and markers can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmorder.asp. To download the VA Form 40-1330M, Claim for Government Medallion, go to http://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330M.pdf.
VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. Nearly four million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict — from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan — are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres.
Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone, grave marker or medallion.
Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
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05/10/2012
VA Ambulance Coverage: Veterans suffering heart attacks or other perilous emergencies could be risking their lives to avoid ambulance bills. About twice a day, an ambulance is sent to Florida’s Viera VA Outpatient Clinic, many times to pick up someone who went there instead of calling 9-1-1 or going straight to a hospital emergency room. More often than not, fire-rescue department records show the patients report chest pains, trouble breathing or other emergency symptoms that the VA clinic is not equipped to deal with. “You don’t want to come to the VA clinic and risk your life, passing emergency rooms along the way,” said Tiy Sanchez, a VA administrator in Orlando. According to veterans’ advocates and medical professionals working with patients daily, some are going to veterans’ clinics first because they say they can’t afford an ambulance bill as high as $600 and they believe that cost won’t be covered by their veterans’ benefits or private insurance unless they go to the clinic first. “I think if it’s anything serious, they should call 9-1-1, then worry about the details later,” said Ron Butt, a Vietnam vet who now works with local disabled veterans. “With the economy, it’s intimidating to dial that 9-1-1.”
Some are worried because the decisions patients are making threaten their own safety and unnecessarily tie up county ambulances in a densely populated area. Last year, public records show ambulances in Brevard County FL took 293 patients — who county responders determined needed emergency care — from the clinic to hospitals, most to Viera Hospital about 2½ miles away. Stations in neighboring areas are affected too, because they are called in to cover when the Viera station responds to the clinic. “Our primary goal is to have the 9-1-1 system available for those who truly need it,” said Orlando Dominguez, Brevard County Fire-Rescue’s Emergency Medical Services Division chief. He said that agency is working with the VA to reduce the number of calls. But, he stressed that the department shifts rescue units around to cover the Viera area as needed. “Yes, obviously you have a unit committed to the VA, but it’s not any different than going to a home,” Dominguez said.
According to Brevard County Fire-Rescue records, county ambulances responded to 550 calls from the clinic last year. Of those, 293 people needed emergency transport. That averages at least two calls per day — and about one transport per day — for the Monday-to-Friday work week that the clinic is open. The clinic sees an average of 1,100 patients per day. “Some veterans choose not to follow what is in their best health interest in a way to save money, just as other people in the community do when it comes to making medical decisions or following medical advice,” said Tony Ingram, social work supervisor at the VA clinic. Ambulance bills can be pricey. For emergencies, the average is $600. For non-emergency cases, such as delivering a patient to a nursing home, the average ambulance fee is about $350. If the ambulance picks them up at the clinic, the Department of Veterans Affairs picks up 100 percent of the bill. If not, the veteran may have to file extra paperwork and negotiate to get the bill paid, depending on their personal circumstances. They know they might end up paying part or all of the bill themselves. “I think the economy plays a part in that,” said Dr. Thomas Howard, chief medical officer at the VA clinic.
Butt, who volunteers with the Disabled Veterans of America chapter in Melbourne, and medical professionals noted that while the economy is a factor, in some cases, veterans are probably in denial, too, about the seriousness of their symptoms, not realizing their chest pains are a heart attack. The VA is trying to educate patients on two fronts. First, in many emergency cases, a veteran’s health benefits will cover ambulance services — for instance, if the patient was seen by VA within the past two years and has no other private insurance. It doesn’t matter about the location as much. Each case is different, Sanchez said. “It’s not a simple yes or no,” she said. Second, they’re reminding patients that delaying treatment can lead to serious, permanent damage or even death. The Viera clinic has hung “Save Your Life” signs warning veterans to call 9-1-1 in emergencies rather than waiting. “I do educate them that their well-being is the most important thing, and they should not drive past a hospital in a medical emergency to come to the VA,” Ingram said. Ingram said the majority of people transported via ambulance don’t have urgent symptoms. “Most veterans come to the clinic because they are sick, and then after being evaluated by the medical provider are determined they need hospitalization or more care than can be provided by our outpatient clinic,” Ingram said. The county fire-rescue records show 550 calls in 2011, 502 in 2010 and 451 in 2009. The VA reimburses the county for each emergency run. The bill was $179,380 in 2011. So far, the county has collected $73,321, with the balance still being processed by the VA. [Source: Florida Today Norman Moody article 22 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Special Monthly Compensation: It is possible to be compensated at a level above 100 percent for service-connected disabilities through VA’s special monthly compensation (SMC) program. Conditions that rate SMC are identified by letters ranging from (k) to (s). Refer to rate tables at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp02.htm. For example, a SMC(k) rating provides an additional $99 per month above whatever your disability payment is already. Some SMC ratings provide $8,000+ support beyond the amount awarded for a 100 percent disability rating. Medical conditions for which SMC applies include the specific loss or loss of use of organs or extremities — either an amputation or having no effective remaining function in an extremity or organ. VA lists these disabilities as eligible for SMC:
Loss, or loss of use, of a hand or foot.
Immobility of a joint or paralysis.
Loss of sight of an eye (having only light perception).
Loss, or loss of use, of a reproductive organ.
Complete loss, or loss of use, of both buttocks.
Deafness of both ears (having absence of air and bone conduction).
Inability to communicate by speech (complete organic aphonia).
Loss of a percentage of tissue from a single breast, or both breasts, from mastectomy or radiation treatment.
VA will pay more for combinations of these disabilities such as loss or loss of use of the feet, legs, hands and arms. The distinction between “loss of a limb” and “loss of use of a limb” is important — you don’t have to undergo 36
an amputation to qualify for SMC. For example, if a veteran cannot balance or push off his foot, he may be considered to have lost the use of that foot, and so would qualify for SMC. Similarly, if a veteran cannot pick up objects with his hand, he may qualify for SMC for loss of use of that hand. In addition, veterans rated 100 percent disabled by VA who are housebound, bedridden or need the aid and attendance of another person also may be eligible for SMC. The amount of payment in these instances varies depending on the level of aid required. SMC payments aren’t meant to compensate for potential loss of earnings from a disability but rather for noneconomic factors such as personal inconvenience, social inadaptability or the profound nature of a disability. In determining qualifications for SMC, the VA must review the medical evidence regarding the loss or loss of use and then make a decision regarding the level of SMC to be paid. Contact your nearest VA regional office for more details on SMC or you can call VA’s main benefits information hotline toll free at 800-827-1000. VA also has a SMC fact sheet listed at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/. [Source: Command Master Chief Alex Keenan, USCG (Ret) article 23 Apr 2012 ++]
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3/7/2012
VA Vet Centers Update10: Congress established the Vet Center Program in 1979 out of recognition that a significant number of veterans were still experiencing readjustment problems. Vet Centers are community based and part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In April 1991, in response to the Persian Gulf War, Congress extended the eligibility to veterans who served during other periods of armed hostilities. These periods include:
World War II
Korea
Vietnam
Lebanon (25 Aug 82—26 Feb 84)
Grenada (23 Oct 83—21 Nov 83)
Panama (20 Dec 89—31 Jan 90)
Persian Gulf (2 Aug 90—To Date of Presidential Proclamation Ending Operation Desert Storm)
Somalia (17 Sep 92—To Date of Presidential Proclamation Ending Operation Restore Hope)
Yugoslavia
Bosnia
Iraq
Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)
To locate the Vet Center nearest to you refer to http://www.veteranprograms.com/id234.html. The goal of the Vet Center program is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach and referral services FREE of charge to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life. The Women Veterans Health Program Act of 1992 {Public Law 103-452} authorizes counseling for women veterans who have experienced acts of sexual violence or harassment while on active duty and the Women’s Health Extension Act of 1994 authorizes sexual trauma counseling for all veterans who experienced acts of sexual violence or harassment while serving in the military. In addition, he following are available upon request:
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling
Marriage and Family Counseling
Alcohol/Drug Counseling & Referral
Community Education
Liaison With VA Facilities
Referral To Community Agencies
Bereavement Counseling
[Source: http://www.veteranprograms.com/id234.html Feb 2011 +]
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VA Hospice Care Update 02: Hospice is a specialized type of healthcare that is designed to provide supportive care and services to persons in the final phase of a life-limiting illness. The focus is on the patients’ comfort and quality of life, and relief for the entire family from the burdens typically associated with this journey. Turning to hospice can be a tough choice, but finding appropriate care can be even more challenging for the families of veterans. “As veterans age, they face a distinct set of needs and challenges, including medical issues related to where they served, memories that might trigger anxiety and stoicism that makes asking for help difficult,” said the founder and president of LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care Jill Mendlen. Their facility was recently certified to take part in the “We Honor Veterans” program headed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Department of Veterans Affairs. One of only 12 hospice facilities in the U.S. to meet the criteria, LightBridge offers specialized training to its staff to help meet the needs of ailing veterans. “After all they’ve done for us, it’s a privilege to thank those who served with the superior end-of-life care that they deserve,” Mendlen said. The facility’s individualized program of care is tailored to meet he entire family’s needs, with a variety of services that provide comfort and support. A patient’s Individualized program of care may include:
Regular visits by each member of the hospice team to place of residence.
Medications related to the hospice diagnosis.
Medical supplies and equipment.
Personal care and grooming.
Emotional support and guidance.
Bereavement care and counseling.
Financial consultation.
Education and support for caregivers.
Physical and speech therapies.
Aromatherapy, Healing Touch or other integrative therapies
Last week, that care was demonstrated as they hosted a ceremony to honor residents at Poway’s Solaris Senior Living Community. Led by Ralph Moran, 27, a volunteer and former Marine sergeant, four retired military personnel were presented with a plaque, pin and pillow sewn from uniforms by spouses of active duty military. Hospice patients John Fain, 91, and Wayne Howard, 86, were joined by Flowers Hogan, 83, and Henry Miller, 88 for the event. Serving veterans in Poway and throughout the county is something LightBridge’s senior vice president, Pamela Hough, says hits close to home. “This level of expertise is very personal to the staff at LightBridge because many of us have a military background or family in the military,” she said. For more information about the veteran program at LightBridge, or to volunteer, contact 858-458-2992/3655F , 6155 Cornerstone Court East, Ste. 220, San Diego, CA 92121or Email: contact@LightBridgeHospice.com or web 26
http://www.lightbridgehospice.com. For additional info on VA’s Hospice and Palliative care programs refer to http://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Hospice_Palliative_Care2.asp[Source: Poway Patch | Town Pulse Annie Lane article 16 Feb 2012 ++]
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Ensuring Correct Surgery:The VA National Center for Patient Safety offers a free, downloadable brochure designed to educate patients on what will happen before their surgery and how caregivers will ensure safe and correct surgery. The “Ensuring Correct Surgery” pamphlet includes space for patients to write down medication information and answers to various questions, including the name of the surgery that will be performed and what body part will be operated on. The pamphlet also explains the “time out” process surgeons and nurses take to ensure correct surgery and tips for how patients can facilitate this process, such as ensuring “X” or “yes” marks on the site of surgery is not rubbed off. Potential surgery patients can review or download the brochure to take with them to their pre-op appointment at http://www.patientsafety.gov/SafetyTopics/CorrectSurg/CorrSurgPt.pdf
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Aid & Attendance Update 08: Aid and Attendance (A&A) is financial assistance from the Veterans Administration that helps with daily activities like bathing, dressing and taking medications. As a general rule, a veteran or the spouse of a veteran who is receiving care at home or in a long-term care facility who owns a home, a car and limited cash assets may be eligible for A&A. So-called “advocates” are targeting veterans and their spouses with a scam. They are telling veterans to shelter assets in order to qualify for Aid and Attendance from the Veterans Administration. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Washington State Attorney General is investigating complaints about people who conduct seminars at senior centers and long-term care facilities telling veterans and their families that they can help with A&A eligibility by putting assets into a trust or giving them to their children, who are then advised to buy an annuity. These “advocates” make large commissions from selling the trusts and annuities. They promise help with applying for A&A, but they usually don’t submit your application until a trust or annuity is bought. There are three major problems with this scheme.
First, even though there is currently no penalty for veterans to give away assets in order to meet the financial criteria to qualify for A&A, there is a five-year look-back period for gifts when applying for Medicaid (a government program that helps people pay for long-term care when they cannot otherwise afford it). This means putting assets into a trust or gifting them to children can result in denial of Medicaid benefits. In that case, a trust and/or gift may have to be undone in order to qualify.
Second, the problem gets even worse because undoing a trust or annuity usually results in less than 100 percent of the initial investment being returned. An attorney may need to assist in destroying the trust and there are large surrender fees paid to get your money back out of the annuity. Also, your children may face a civil fine or need to pay for your care while you are ineligible for Medicaid.
Third, you do not need the assistance of an advocate to apply for A&A. Free help is available. The V.A., the American Legion, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, and the VFW can all be directly contacted for help.
Older adults are often prime targets for dishonest firms which deliberately prey on the goodness, loneliness, greed, or gullibility of people who have reached their golden years. Many of these scams are played out over the telephone, door to door or through various advertisements. An extensive list of such scams and how they are presented is available at http://www.atg.wa.gov/searchresults.aspx?qs=Scams. In Washington complaints against these and the A&A scams can and should be made to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office at:
Tel: M-F 1000 to 1500 (360) 753-6200; 1-800-551-4636 (in-state only); 1-206-464-6684 (out-of-state callers); 1-800-833-6384 (for the hearing impaired)
Mail: 1125 Washington Street SE, PO Box 40100, Olympia, WA 98504-0100
On Line: https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ContactForm.aspx
[Source: The Enumclaw Courier-Herald article 17 Feb 2012 ++]
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VA Vet Centers Update 09: Early this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs deployed 20 additional Mobile Vet Centers. The mobile Vet centers will increase access to readjustment counseling services for Veterans and their families in rural and underserved communities across the country. The 20 new vehicles will be used in destinations across the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. “In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events.” These customized vehicles – which are equipped with confidential counseling space and a state of the art communication package—travel to communities to extend VA’s reach to Veterans, servicemembers and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities. The vehicles also serve as part of the VA emergency response program.
The 20 new, American-made vehicles will expand the existing fleet of 50 Mobile Vet Centers already in service providing outreach and counseling services.
Mobile Vet units are equipped as “offices on wheels,” with the capacity to provide emergency support for natural disasters. Each motor coach houses a satellite dish that connects to communications and audio-visual equipment, six phone lines, a fax line, notebook computers, four encrypted computer lines and a wireless network. In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events. The 20 new mobile Vet Centers will be based at: Birmingham, Ala.; San Diego, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga. ; Western Oahu, Hawaii; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Evanston, Ill. ; Indianapolis, Ind. ; Baltimore, Md. ; Pontiac, Mich. ; Kansas City, Mo.; Jackson, Miss.; Greensboro, N.C.; Lakewood, N.J.; Reno, Nev.; Stark County, Ohio; Lawton, Okla.; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Nashville, Tenn.; Washington County, Utah; and Green Bay, Wis.
VA has 300 permanent Vet Centers serving communities across the country. To locate one in your area refer to http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter_flsh.asp for its address and telephone number. To speak confidentially with a Vet Center Counselor at any time around the clock call:877-WAR-VETS(927-8387). Each Vet Center offers:
Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families
Family counseling for military related issues
Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death
Military sexual trauma counseling and referral
Outreach and education
Substance abuse assessment and referral
Employment assessment and referral
VA benefits explanation and referral
Screening and referral for medical issues including traumatic brain injury and depression.
VA will also add 230 emergency shuttle vehicles over the next five years. The shuttles will provide routine transportation for Veteran patients in and around various metropolitan areas during normal operations. During disasters and emergencies, these shuttles can double as mobile clinics to evacuate patients and their care teams. More than 190,000 Veterans and families made over 1.3 million visits to VA Vet Centers in fiscal year 2011.
To find out more about Vet Center services or find a Vet Center in your area, go to the Vet Centers web site http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/ [Source: http://w11.zetaboards.com/CFLNewsChat/topic/7631002/1/ Feb 2011 ++]
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2/15/2012
VA Dependent Care: Unfortunately, family members are mostly excluded from care at a VA health care facility unless the family member is a veteran. There are a few exceptions to this exclusion. VHA Directive 2012-006, stipulates that non-Veteran family members may receive health care services at VA facilities under certain circumstances. Most notable are family members of a DOD Servicemember. When a Servicemember is referred to a VA health care facility, the director of the VA facility is responsible for ensuring appropriate care and services are provided to the family member. In order for a family member to be eligible for care, the Servicemember had to be referred to the VA for their care. Emergent or urgent care will be provided if, the family member who is accompanying the Servicemember, is need of humanitarian emergency care. If the family member is in need of routine care, if the VA has space available, the VA must have approval from the Servicemember‘s military treatment facility, the TRICARE Regional Managed Care Support Contractors, TRICARE Service Centers, or Military Medical Support Office. If these offices do not approve the request, or authorization, the VA is basically prohibited from providing the family member routine care.
There are other situations when family members may receive care at a VA facility. The best example are family members who are entitled to CHAMPVA. Some VA facilities take part in CHAMPVA In-house Treatment Initiative (CITI). This is a voluntary program for VA medical facilities. Under the CITI program, family members receive care at the same copay cost under the TRICARE program. For more information on the CTTI program refer to http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp . To cover copay cost there are supplemental insurance polices that can be purchased through some fraternal military organizations such as MOAA or other commercial companies such as http://www.champvaus.com/.
In addition to VA health care the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran is eligible for interment in a national cemetery of her choice even if that veteran is not buried or memorialized in a national cemetery. In addition, the spouse or surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States whose remains are unavailable for burial is also eligible for burial. The surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who had a subsequent remarriage to a non-veteran and whose death occurred on or after 1 JAN 2000, is also eligible for burial in a national cemetery, based on his or her marriage to the eligible veteran. However, a former spouse of an eligible individual whose marriage to that individual has been terminated by annulment or divorce, if not otherwise eligible, is not eligible for interment in a national cemetery. Minor children of eligible veterans are eligible. For additional information on burials refer to http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/eligible.asp. [Source: VeteransAdvise David Peters blog 3 Feb 2012 ++]
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VA Caregiver Program Update 12: Family members of veterans would be entitled to the same leave afforded to family members of current military service members under an amendment to The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) announced 30 JAN. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, along with first lady Michelle Obama, said the Labor Department is proposing statutory amendments to FMLA that would allow a related caregiver up to five years of leave after the service member leaves the military. The current law, passed in 1993, affords this only to family members of those currently serving in the military. The proposal also extends “qualifying exigency leave” to employees whose family members serve in the regular armed forces. Currently, this applies only to families of National Guard members and reservists. “Keeping the basic promise of America alive means ensuring that workers, from our servicemen and servicewomen who keep us safe at home to the flight crews who keep us safe in the skies, have the resources, support and opportunities they need and have rightfully earned,” Solis said. “The proposed revisions announced today are an important step toward keeping that promise.” Military caregivers, including those of veterans, will be allowed 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member with illness or injury if the caregiver is an eligible employee and is the service member’s spouse, son, daughter, parent or next of kin. Under the proposed amendment, the leave allowance can apply to conditions that may not arise until after the veteran’s service. The proposal also extends the amount of time an employee can take off work to spend with a service member who is on medical leave from five days to 15 days. To review the Family and Medical Leave Act refer to http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/NPRM/FMLA_NPRM_2012.pdf. [Source: GovExec.com Amanda Palleschi 30 Jan 2011 ++]
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VA Caregiver Program Update 13: There is no doubt that caregiving can be a challenging job, but you can get the help you need. Below are 50 supportive tips – from emotional reassurance to suggestions for getting help. If you need additional assistance, call VA‘s Caregiver Support Line (1-855-260-3274) or go online at http://www.caregiver.va.gov:
1) A Caregiver is someone who cares for an aging, ill, injured or disabled Veteran.
2) Caregiving duties range from occasional errand-running and other supportive care to 24-hour, live-in support.
3) You don‘t have to live with the Veteran to be a Caregiver.
4) About one fourth of adults are Caregivers.
5) There is no one way to care for a Veteran. Each situation is different.
6) You can provide care yourself or bring in other family members. You can also hire a professional Caregiver.
7) The Veteran being cared for may live at home or in your home. Or he or she may live in an assisted living or shared housing situation.
8) Each Veteran being cared for has different needs.
9) When possible, you and the Veteran being cared for should make decisions together.
10) The wishes of the Veteran being cared for are very important.
11) Your needs and wishes are important, too.
12) Taking care of yourself is as important as caring for your loved one.
13) Be sure to eat well, get enough rest and exercise regularly.
14) The healthier you are, the better care you will provide!
15) Don‘t be afraid to say you need a break – no one can do it all by themselves.
16) Help and support can come from community organizations, religious organizations, family members, friends or neighbors.
17) When people offer to help, say yes!
18) Keep a list of the things you can use help with, such as bringing dinner or giving you a break. When someone offers to help, have them choose from the list.
19) Find out about meal delivery, transportation services, adult day care and respite care.
20) If you are balancing work and caregiving, talk to your employer about flexibility in your job.
21) You may be able to take time off from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act. This federal law allows qualified employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off to care for a family member.
22) A VA social worker or nurse who assists people in finding care for an aging, ill, injured or disabled adult is called a care or case manager.
23) A VA care manager helps find services – whether you live close by or in another city or state.
24) Contact the Veteran‘s primary care provider or VA social worker, county social services, local area agency on aging or senior center to find out about respite care and other services in your area.
25) If the Veteran you are caring for has a low or moderate income, you may be able to get financial assistance for care through your county or state.
26) Caregiving duties often change over time. A Veteran may need occasional help now and more care later on.
27) Planning ahead can make caregiving easier in the future.
28) As a Caregiver, you will need to learn about medical, financial and legal issues.
29) Talk with the Veteran you are caring for about money, medical care and legal issues. This may not be easy, but it is critical in planning for the future.
30) Keep the Veteran‘s social security number, doctors‘ names and phone numbers, prescriptions and insurance information where you can find them in an emergency.
31) Find out about a Durable Power of Attorney for health care and finances. These give you the legal right to make decisions if your loved one cannot.
32) You may need to know about income, bank accounts, wills and insurance policies.
33) Talk with a lawyer about legal issues and financing care. Legal aid is available to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.
34) Learn as much as you can about the Veteran‘s illness, disease or condition.
35) Get information about the condition by talking to a health care provider, reading books or searching the Internet.
36) Learning to care for a Veteran can take practice and special skills.
37) Learning how to care for a Veteran can also help you feel more confident.
38) You can learn how to provide care from health care professionals, videos or books.
39) All Caregivers feel overwhelmed at times. If you often feel overwhelmed, you may need to get help.
40) If you feel angry or often lose patience with the Veteran you are caring for, get help.
41) If you use alcohol, drugs or medication in order to cope, get help.
42) If you are depressed, talk to a doctor, counselor or therapist. Depression can be treated.
43) It is critical for Caregivers to develop a support system.
44) You can get support from a support group, therapist, family members or friends.
45) Other Caregivers can be a great resource. Talk to you Caregiver Support Coordinator to see about starting or joining a Caregiver support network near your VA Medical Center.
46) Caregiver support groups can help you connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
47) A sense of humor can help you deal with the emotional ups and downs.
48) Caregivers who get help are less likely to burn out.
49) Caregivers who get help are better able to provide care for the long term.
50) Caregiving is not an easy job – but it can be very rewarding
[Source: http://www.caregiver.va.gov/pdfs/50_Things_Every_Caregiver_Should_Know.pdf Feb 2012 ++]
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VA Burial Benefit Update 12: The parents of certain deceased veterans will soon be allowed to be buried in national cemeteries. The Department of Veterans Affairs will allow “biological or legally adoptive parents” to be interred “if the deceased veteran is a hostile casualty or dies from a training-related injury,” states the Federal Register’s final rule, published 31 JAN. “Recognizing the unique burden on the surviving parents of fallen service members, the act provides burial eligibility to those parents whose unmarried veteran son or daughter dies due to combat or training-related injuries,” the pre-published final rule says. The action implements part of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 that was “enacted” on Oct. 13, 2010. The department also clarifies that “by limiting the circumstances under which a parent is eligible for burial,” the act will ensure that “gravesites [will] not be taken from those who have earned the right to burial in a national cemetery by serving their country.” Parents would also be eligible if the veteran “is interred in a VA national cemetery in a gravesite with available space, and has no spouse or child who is buried, or surviving spouse or child who, upon death, may be eligible for burial, in a national cemetery.” Family members must be parents “of veterans who die on or after Oct. 7, 2001,” and must have passed away “on or after Oct. 13, 2010″ to be eligible, according to the final rule. [Source: The Hill Rachel Leven article 30 Jan 2012 ++]
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2/12/2012
To Find, Select and Contact your county Veterans Service Officer in order to get help with VA benefits:
For all states except California www.nacvso.org<http://www.nacvso.org/
For California residents use www.cacvso.org<http://www.cacvso.org/
2/12/2012
VA Disability Rating Criteria:
A former 30 year employee of the Veterans Administration wrote the following after his retirement. He is also a disabled vet. It addresses the lack of knowledge
many applicants have about what is involved in processing their disability claims. His statements are not to be interpreted in any way as being officially sanctioned by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The information is meant for general understanding only. There are always exceptions and the law is subject to change. We hope this helps alleviate some of the anger and frustration many experience due to the seemingly endless delay in processing their claim. When a veteran submits a claim to the VA, he/she should understand there are several prerequisites for a successful disability claim. Among them are:
1. The evidence of record must show the claimed condition was incurred in (first occurred or diagnosed) during military service. That means the medical evidence provided by the veteran and/or the service department (usually the Fed. Records Center in St. Louis) must show the claimed disability. If the disability pre-existed service, such as a knee condition, the evidence must show that the condition became worse during military service. That is one reason it is important to insist on a
discharge physical examination. It is your last chance to make certain disabilities are in your record. REMEMBER, if the claimed disability is not shown in your service medical records it DIDN’T happen. Exceptions to this rule are conditions, which may not manifest until after military service is complete. For example PTSD. In such cases, the veteran’s service record is requested to determine if his/her service was under such conditions, that the present diagnosis can clearly be associated with military service. The fact that your drill sergeant was mean to you would not qualify.
2. Assuming service medical records show the claimed disability exists, then it must be determined how disabling the condition is at the present time. Usually the claimant is scheduled for an examination at the nearest VA Medical Center. The examining physician completes a report showing his/her diagnoses and clinical findings. Keeping with the knee example. The doctor will check for range of motion, looseness of the joint, pain, etc. For sake of our discussion, we will assume the knee was initially injured during military service.
3. The report is sent to the Regional Office for review. The rating specialist reviews all the medical evidence, with special consideration to the examining physician’s report. The rating specialist then consults a rating schedule. The diagnosis tells him/her under which disability to rate the knee. For example, chronic knee strain, torn ACL, traumatic arthritis, etc. The clinical findings will be compared to descriptions given to various percentages. The percentage, which closest agrees with the
physician’s findings, will be given as the evaluation of the disability.
4. If the veteran has more than one disability, each of which is considered at least 10% disabling, they will be applied to a combined rating schedule to yield a combined evaluation. The individual disabilities are not added to give a final percentage. For example. Assume our hypothetical veteran has 3 disabilities: knee, heart, and psychological. Each disability is considered 50% disabling. The veteran is not considered 150% disabled. What happens is Each % is applied to the
remaining healthy person. With no disabilities the veteran is considered 100% healthy. When the knee condition is considered, the veteran is now 50% disabled and 50% healthy. The 50% evaluation of his heart is applied to the remaining healthy 50% and he/she is considered 75% disabled and 25% healthy. Since evaluations are only in even 10%, the evaluation is rounded off to 80% disabled and 20% healthy. The final 50% psychological condition is applied to the remaining 25% healthy person. Remember the actual combined evaluation was 75%. It was just rounded to 80%. He/she is now 88% disabled. The evaluation is rounded to 90% disabled and 10% healthy.
5. The veteran would automatically be considered for individual unemployability. The rating specialist would determine that if based on the veteran’s education, skills, etc. are his/her disabilities so severe as to render him/her individually unemployable. If the answer is yes, he/she is paid at the 100% rate although his/her disabilities only warrant a 90% evaluation. Although the monetary benefit is the same, there is an important distinction between a combined scheduler 100% and 100% due to
individual unemployability. If the 100% is by the schedule, the veteran may, if able, hold a regular job. If the 100% is due to being unemployable, he/she may not engage in anything other than marginal employment. The VA checks annually through the individual states for veterans, who are considered unemployable and are holding a regular job. It can become very ugly financially for the veteran, if he/she is caught. It could result in anything from a reduced evaluation, to full
repayment, to jail time. Contrary to popular belief, the mind set in the VA is to resolve all doubt in favor of the veteran. Consider, if the claimed benefit can be granted, there is a happy veteran and one less file someone must review.
From the website: http://www.vfvc.net/pages/va_disability_rating_criteria.htm
2/05/12
Make the Connection: Many of our nation’s veterans return not only with physical wounds but also mental health issues they may not recognize. Whether you left the military decades ago or just recently transitioned to civilian life, all veterans share a common bond of duty, honor, and service. Some served in combat overseas, others did not. Some responded to events or disasters within or outside the United States. No matter when, where, or how you served, and what you’ve experienced in civilian life, you may be dealing with issues that affect your well-being or get in the way of your relationships, work, or daily activities. Make the Connection is a public awareness campaign by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that provides personal testimonials from other veterans and resources to help veterans discover ways to improve their lives. The campaign encourages veterans and their families to “make the connection” with information and resources, with the strength and resilience of veterans like themselves, with other people, and with available sources of support including mental health treatments. Central to this campaign is http://maketheconnection.net/, a one-stop online resource where veterans, their families, and friends can privately explore information about physical and mental health symptoms, challenging life events, and mental health conditions. This site provides:
A wide variety of information about available resources and support, both inside the VA and out.
Powerful personal stories and testimonials illustrating how our fellow veterans face and overcome mental health issues and life’s challenges. These stories and testimonials come from veterans of all service eras, genders, and backgrounds and each of them provides a resounding and compelling example of the positive outcomes for treatment, recovery, and the many paths that lead to more fulfilling lives.
Warning signs and symptoms. These are discussed in detail, offering some basic self-help options and referral information for those who need professional assistance. Some of the issues deal with veterans who feel constantly on edge (hypervigilance) or those who suffer from stress or anxiety on a regular basis. These are also great tools for friends and family members who are dealing with the veteran as he or she faces these issues, and might not otherwise know where to turn.
Resources for clinicians who are working with veterans, regardless of whether they are affiliated with the VA or not. This information is provided in order to ensure that the VA’s knowledge base in behavioral health can reach the broadest possible audience. VA encourages all behavioral healthcare providers who work with veterans to utilize those resources.
Topical information for veterans of all walks of life. It provides insight into many life experiences, such as transitioning from the military into civilian life, concerns about employment, dealing with the death of a friend or family member, financial problems, relationship issues, and more. [Source: Stacey R. Hopwood, Marine veteran and Montgomery County Veterans Service officer article 14 Nov 2011 ++]
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[Source: Military.com | Money Matters USAA article 26 Jan 2012 ++]
Military Handbooks: Military Handbooks offers FREE handbooks for active and retired U.S. military personnel which are written specifically for the Military community. To download PDF copies, go to http://www.militaryhandbooks.com. If, for whatever reason, you cannot download them send an email request to raoemo@sbcglobal.com indicating the Handbook desired and one will be forwarded to you as an attachment to your email. The following handbooks are available for 2011:
1) 2011 UNITED STATES MILITARY HANDBOOK
2) 2011 U.S. MILITARY RETIRED HANDBOOK
3) 2011 GETTING UNCLE SAM TO PAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE
4) 2011 AFTER THE MILITARY HANDBOOK
5) 2011 BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS HANDBOOK
6) 2011 VETERANS HEALTHCARE BENEFITS HANDBOOK
7) 2011 MILITARY CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP HANDBOOK
8) 2011 GUARD AND RESERVE HANDBOOK
9) 2011 BASE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY
10) 2011 GULF CRISES AND RESOURCE HANDBOOK
2011 UNITED STATES MILITARY HANDBOOK
The United States Military Handbook is designed to help all active duty U.S. Military personnel by giving them the most accurate and complete information available anywhere on pay, allowances, taxes, health care and TRICARE benefits, Veterans and Social Security Benefits, travel, transportation, SBP, retirement, Space-A, installation listings, statistical data, and much more!
2011 U.S. MILITARY RETIRED HANDBOOK
The United States Military Retired Handbook is designed to help all U.S. Military personnel who have retired – or who are planning to retire. This guide covers everything from the nuts and bolts of computing your Retirement Pay to the detailed explanations of retired military Healthcare, TRICARE, Social Security, VA, SBP, taxes, insurance, travel, survivor benefits and more!
2011 GETTING UNCLE SAM TO PAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE
This guide, written for active military personnel, covers everything you need to know about: the G.I. Bill, tuition assistance, scholarships, veteran benefits, student aid, selecting the right degree for you – why some degrees might be better for you than others, finding the right military-friendly school, AND tips on staying ahead of the curve. 26
2011AFTER THE MILITARY HANDBOOK
This handbook, written for military veterans, covers: transitioning to the private sector, supporting your family, finding a job that pays “top dollar”, choosing between jobs with large or small companies, deciding to start your own company, maximizing the benefits of a military career, medical benefits and life insurance in the private sector, how to pay for college after you leave the military service, D ANhow to retire successfully.
2011 BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS HANDBOOK
This complete benefits handbook, written for veterans and their dependents, covers: health care benefits, disability compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation and employment, education and training, home loan guarantees, life insurance, burial benefits, survivor benefits, women veterans, homeless veterans, overseas benefits, small and disadvantaged businesses, appeals, workplace benefits, miscellaneous programs, and much more!
2011VETERANS HEALTHCARE BENEFITS HANDBOOK
This handbook, written for veterans, gives you everything you need to know about: how to apply, veterans service centers, choosing a facility, changing a facility, second opinions, prescriptions, dental care, chiropractic care, non-VA care, travel, POW benefits, appeals, grievances, confidentiality, financial issues, means testing, hardship determinations, waivers, medication co-payments, health insurance, and a complete listing of VA facilities.
2011 MILITARY CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP HANDBOOK
A college degree has become the essential tool to unlock doors for future success. This handbook contains all the latest information about getting a college degree, including: types of higher education, resources for finding the right college, entrance exams, financial aid resources, paying for college, applying for federal student aid, Pell Grants, Direct and Federal Family Education Loans, PLUS loans, Consolidated loans, Federal Work-Study Progrm, U.S. Armed Forces and ROTC, and much more.
2011 GUARD AND RESERVE HANDBOOK
This handbook, written specifically for the National Guard and Reserves, gives you everything you need to know about serving in the Reserve Component, including: drill pay and enlistment bonuses; allowances like BAS and BAH; re-employment rights; education and training benefits specific to the Guard and Reserve; health care; and retirement.
2011 BASE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY
The Base Installation Directory provides contact information for every military installation in the United States. From information about military housing to the commissary to the base dental clinic, you’ll find the contact number and addresses you need in one easy to access guide.
2011 GULF CRISES AND RESOURCE HANDBOOK
April 20, 2010 changed the lives of many people, especially residents of the Gulf Coast after the BP Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded, making it the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history. Lives were ruined, jobs were lost and many people were looking for answers while rebuilding their lives. this handbook provides the essential information to get your life back on track during this crisis. iT CONTAINS the latest on local, state and Federal resources as well as direct links to all BP claims offices.
[Source: http://www.militaryhandbooks.com Jan 2012 ++]
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Retirement Planning Update 05: Financial planners just love promoting 401(k) retirement plans. They have quite a few benefits, notably a tax deduction for contributions as well as a tax deferral for contributions and earnings. They’re also one of the most popular vehicles for introducing the working middle class to the stock market, something that might not have been accessible to this group in the decades before the 401(k) plan was established. In addition to financial planners, fund management firms and plan administrators love 401(k) plans, and their love knows no bounds. Companies pay significant fees to other companies that operate and manage 401(k) plans. More fees are embedded in the funds within the plans, benefiting each fund’s management team. The tax advantages, as well as a potential matching contribution if an employer offers one, offset some of the drawbacks of 401(k) plans. 29
Overall, 401(k) plans can help the working middle class retire somewhat comfortably. And there is the possibility for investors to succeed financially significantly more than they might have with a comparable pension. The burden for performance has shifted from the employer to the employee, and that requires a little bit of financial education that might not have been as necessary (though still beneficial) in the heyday of pensions. Five things to concsider when investing in are selecting a 401(k) retirement plan are:
1. Fees. As already mentioned, most 401(k) plans are subject to fees, many of which are not immediately apparent to the investor. If you bother to read the prospectus associated with each fund you choose to invest in, you may find an expense ratio listed. If you do, there’s a good chance it’s higher than a comparable index fund. Some employers include investment choices that are annuity products disguised as mutual funds with no expense ratios listed. It such situations it is nearly impossible to determine how much of your investment you are losing to funds each year. While fees are on the investment choices and the associated markets. Pensions, when they are fully funded, tend to be more stable.
2. Employers are hands-off. As the popularity of 401(k) plans grew, pension plans disappeared. A 401(k) is considered a ―defined contribution‖ plan, while pensions are considered a ―defined benefit‖ plan. That comes from the idea that the 401(k) balance is affected each payroll period by a contribution from the employee, while the pension balance increases at regular intervals by a contribution from the employer — a benefit of working at the company. The value of a pension also tends to increase as the length of service at one company increases. As the popularity of pensions and other loyalty benefits decreased over the last couple of decades, employees had a decreasing incentive to stay at one company for their entire career. With pensions being a smaller part of most employers’ benefits, they do not need to worry as much about the solvency of these accounts. At the same time, it is up to the employee to make the right investment choices in a 401(k).
3. Automatic enrollment. The advent of 401(k) programs brought on an increase of the nation’s wealth tied up in the stock market. That’s more income for money managers. It also creates a higher demand for investments, raising prices somewhat artificially. But there has also been a more recent increasing trend of employers automatically enrolling new employees into 401(k) plans once they are eligible. It’s a great idea to stimulate a better possible retirement outcome, considering many employees might not bother to elect to invest in a 401(k) immediately, even if they intend to. Usually, any mechanism that automates your finances is a good thing. But too much automation can create complacency. It’s important to be aware and know what’s going on with your finances rather than blindly accepting what someone creates for you. You might be better off with an increased deferral rate than the default, or you may need to cancel your 401(k) contribution before it begins to improve your cash flow for necessary expenses.
4. Automatic allocation. Like automatic investment, automatic allocation can be a trap. Some plans will, if the employee doesn’t elect specific investments, direct all contributions to a money market fund. Any investor could probably be better off in a high-yield savings account than a money market fund managed by a large investment house, even taking into the tax benefit of a 401(k) plan. Furthermore, some plans will automatically invest your funds in a mix of stocks and bonds, with the percentages based on your age or your expected retirement date. This may or may not be appropriate for your situation, and importantly, it doesn’t take your outside investments into account. For example, if you plan on retiring 35 years from now, your 401(k) plan might recommend an investment of 90 percent stock funds and 10 percent bond funds, but if you already have a significant investment in stocks, your overall portfolio may be closer to 95 percent stocks and 5 percent bonds.
5. Loans. With a 401(k) plan, you can loan yourself money. This sounds like it should be a benefit. In some cases it is, but often 401(k) loans end up being detrimental to someone’s finances. If there is an emergency and you cannot pay back the loan either on time or at all, you can face fees and penalties. If you lose your job with a loan outstanding, the entire remaining loan balance could become due immediately.
[Source: Flexo Consumerism Commentary article via MoneyTalks 20 Jan 2012 ++] 30
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Retirement Planning Update 06: Many people find it easier to avoid reality when it comes to planning for retirement. “That can lead to big mistakes in their retirement income planning,” says Kevin O’Fee, assistant vice president of retirement strategy at USAA. Here’s a look at five common myths that could derail your expectations for income when you retire.
Myth 1: You won’t be around long enough to go through your money.
The Reality: Life expectancies are at record highs in the United States, so it’s important to acknowledge that you or a family member may spend as many years in retirement as you did working. According to a 2010 report by the National Academy of Social Insurance, for a 65-year-old married couple, there’s a 48% chance that one spouse will live to age 90. To help stretch your money, you can consider incorporating immediate and deferred annuities into your portfolio. These products are designed to provide income in retirement while also offering guaranteed growth when saving for retirement, explains Rob Schaffer, assistant vice president of annuity products at USAA. In addition, you will want to consider investing the rest of your portfolio to try to cover costs and outpace inflation well into the future. For further advice on creating sources of retirement income, check out this Ask June column http://askjune.military.com/2011/03/options-for-creating-retirement-income-some-goodsome-not-so-much.html.
Myth 2: You should get out of stocks when you retire.
The Reality: Stocks can help provide the long-term growth you need to make your assets last longer since your retirement could span several decades. You’ve probably heard you should reduce your investment risk as you age. But with traditional pensions being replaced by 401(k) plans, you’re wholly responsible for making smart asset allocation decisions. As O’Fee puts it, “Everyone now has to be a pension fund manager with their own money, and most people just aren’t equipped to do that.” O’Fee agrees your portfolio risk should decline, but that doesn’t mean getting rid of stocks entirely. Rather, regularly reviewing, and if necessary, rebalancing your portfolio based on your risk tolerance can lock in gains from strong-performing asset classes and allow you to buy those that underperform at cheaper prices.
Note that rebalancing does not protect against losses or guarantee that an investor’s goal will be met. Investment and insurance products are not deposits, not insured by FDIC or any government agency, not guaranteed by the Bank. Investment and certain insurance products may lose value. Investing in securities products involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The fixed annuity guarantee is against principal loss and depends on the claims-paying ability of the issuer. There are costs associated with annuities, including surrender fees, early withdrawal penalties and mortality risk expenses. Annuities do not provide any tax-deferral advantage over other types of investments within a qualified plan. Asset allocation does not protect against a loss or guarantee that an investor’s goal will be met. Conversions from a Traditional IRA to a Roth are subject to ordinary income taxes. Please consult with a tax advisor regarding your particular situation 31
Myth 3: You can just keep working.
The Reality: Counting on being able to work as long as you want is dangerous, says O’Fee. Employers are feeling pressure to cut costs, and with high unemployment, finding work is always a challenge. A disability also could force you to stop working prematurely. Many people think they can simply work longer if they don’t have enough money to retire. According to a recent survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 74% of workers plan to work at least part-time during their retirement years, and Schaffer notes working in retirement has become a necessity for many. Good planning doesn’t rely on good fortune. Rather, your plan should both keep you from having to work the rest of your life, and deal with the consequences of unexpected surprises that prevent you from earning a paycheck.
Myth 4: An inheritance will bail you out.
The Reality: You may be hoping for an inheritance as a potential retirement boost. But hope is not a strategy, and counting on an inheritance can create big problems if it doesn’t come through. In reality, many people who expect to inherit money never do so, says O’Fee. And even for those who do inherit money, it’s often too small or comes too late to make a difference in their retirement planning, he adds. The safer thing to do is to treat an inheritance as an unexpected bonus rather than relying on it.
Myth 5: Your taxes will be lower in retirement.
The Reality: Big government deficits make future tax increases much more likely. Also, taking money out of retirement accounts, such as traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, creates taxable income that can push you into higher tax brackets. One suggestion O’Fee offers is to consider converting part of your eligible retirement assets to a Roth IRA. By doing so, you’ll pay taxes now, but you’ll create a tax-free pool of money to tap in retirement. Diversifying with both Roth and traditional IRAs is a possible way to handle future tax uncertainty, adds Schaffer. Maxed out your Roth? Check out some other IRA options at http://askjune.military.com/2011/03/maxed-roth-heres-where-to-invest-next.html.
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