U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association

USAWOA ONLINE

Veterans and Retiree News

USAWOA Assistant Vice President for Veterans Affairs - CW4 (Ret) Percy Butler -

 

APO, FPO mail to end for some retirees- The flow of mail — including prescription drugs sent through the Tricare Mail-Order Pharmacy program — is about to slam to a halt for about 4,800 military retirees and their survivors living overseas who use APO and FPO addresses at U.S. embassies and consulates. Neither State Department nor Defense Department officials would confirm a date when mail will stop, but other sources said the effective date at the moment is Dec. 31. The change will not affect others with APO or FPO mail privileges on overseas military installations, including about 20,000 military retirees who have such addresses because of some other connection to the military community — having a Defense Department civilian job, or being married to an active-duty member assigned overseas, for example. Nor will it affect Defense Department personnel, both military and civilian officially assigned to embassies and consulates.[ Read More Courtesy ArmyTimes.com] 10/20/09

 

NPRC Announces Change to OMPF Request Processes - National Archives and Records Administration's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) announced a change to the Official Military Personnel Files request processes to ease confusion regarding limited accessibility. Visit the NPRC Web page 10/15/09

 

VA expands benefits status for Vietnam veterans - The Veterans Affairs Department said Tuesday it plans to make it easier for Vietnam veterans exposed to the agent orange herbicide who suffer from certain medical conditions to qualify for VA benefits. [ Read More ] Courtesy ArmyTimes.com 10/15/09

 

VA Officials Warn of Telephone Scam - Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs are warning people not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers who claim to be updating VA prescription information.  Anyone who receives a call from someone who claims to work for the Patient Care Group and asks for a credit card number should simply hang up.  For more information regarding this telephone scam, please go to www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/airforce_vascam_091409w/. 10/13/09

 

Air Mobility Command Unveils Official ‘AMC Travel’ Site - Prospective Space-A travelers can find a wealth of information at the first Air Mobility Command (AMC) military travel system Web site. People planning to travel the AMC military travel system can go to http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/index.asp. 9/10/09

 

September/December Army Echoes released - Published three time a year by the Retirement Services Office of the Army G-1,  Army Echoes provides a wide variety of information of value to Retirees from the active Army, National Guard and Army Reserve. The current edition can be found at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/RSO/docs/echoes/09_Sept.pdf 9/10/09

 

2009 Edition of the Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors - The entire publication can be viewed online and downloaded in Adobe Acrobat/Reader PDF format at the following direct web links:

Online version http://www1.va.gov/OPA/vadocs/current_benefits.asp

PDF Download in English http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf

PDF Download in Spanish http://www.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedbensp.pdf

8/25/09

 

Obama: Health Care Reform Won't Impact VA, Tricare - see more. 8/6/09

 

President Signs Korean War Veterans Recognition Act - President Obama signed "The Korean War Veterans Recognition Act" (H.R. 2632). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel (NY), adds National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of days on which the display of the flag of the United States is especially encouraged. July 28th marked the 56th anniversary of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 421-0 and the Senate by unanimous consent. (Courtesy VetJobs Veteran Eagle - August) 8/6/09

 

Web Site Features Jobs for Disabled Veterans - With more than 3,000 job openings, the creators of a new Web portal are hoping to attract disabled veterans seeking employment. DisABLEDperson.Inc., a nonprofit group aiming to reduce the unemployment rate of disabled veterans, hosts the nationally based online job board called Job Opportunities for Disabled American Veterans. The site is free for disabled veterans to post their resumes and employers to post their jobs - see more. 7/21/09

Priority Group 8 Enrollment Relaxation Changes - VA eligibility rules changed on June 15, 2009, making it easier for more Veterans to enroll in VA’s health care system. Under this new regulation, VA relaxed income restrictions on enrollment for health benefits. While this new provision does not remove consideration of income, it does increase income thresholds. A web–based calculator is available at www.va.gov/healtheligibility/apps/enrollmentcalculator/ for Veterans to enter their income information, dependents, and zip code to assess if their income would fall within the proposed income threshold adjustments. Veterans are encouraged to contact VA’s Health Resource Center at 1–877–222 VETS (8387) or visit the VA health eligibility website at www.va.gov/healtheligibility/ for more information. 6/16/09

 

2009 Federal Benefits Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors - Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits are legislated in Title 38 of the United States Code. This booklet contains a summary of these benefits effective Jan. 1, 2009. For additional information se the booklet. 6/2/2009

 

Airport Security Smoother for Injured Troops - The TSA is offering a Military Severely Injured Program to make security screening as expeditious and pleasant as possible - see more. 5/7/09

 

VA Welcoming Vets Home with New Web Site, Blog - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched its new "Returning Veterans" Web site -- www.oefoif.va.gov, to welcome home Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, Veteran-centric Web site focusing on their needs and questions. The Web site will feature videos, Veteran stories, and a blog where Veterans are encouraged to post feedback.  The site also will restructure the traditional index-of-benefits format found on other VA pages into question-based, categorized, and easily navigated links by topic.  This will allow Veterans to find benefits of interest easily and discover related benefits as they explore. 5/5/09

 

VA Emphasizes Education Before Post-9/11 GI Bill Switch - see more. DOD announced the "rules of engagement" for an eligible active duty or Guard -Reserve servicemember to transfer entitlement of Post-9/11 benefits to a spouse or dependent children.  Since there is an entirely distinct process for 'transferability' you have to comply with DoD rules. Please see the Defense Department Post-9/11 GI Bill web site at http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/ 5/5/09

 

Obama announces joint virtual lifetime electronic record - On April 9, 2009 President Barack Obama announced plans today to create a joint virtual lifetime electronic record that will improve care and services to transitioning veterans by smoothing the flow of medical records between the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments. The concept, long advocated by officials in both departments, is considered a major step toward improving the delivery of care and services to service members transitioning from military to civilian life - see more. 4/13/09

 

Retirees May Face “Economic Stimulus Tax” - The recently enacted stimulus plan reduces federal income taxes up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for couples via smaller tax withholding from their paychecks. But the need for quick-implementation is leading the IRS to apply the smaller withholding to all taxpayers – including non-working retirees who aren’t eligible for the tax cut but have retired pay. That will cause some rude awakenings early next year, when retirees discover they’ve been “under-withheld” and owe an unexpectedly large tax bill. The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) has written congressional leaders and Treasury Secretary Geithner urging exemption of taxable retired pay and pensions from the lower withholding. If this effort is unsuccessful, retirees can ask DFAS to restore the original withholding on their retired pay to avoid a bigger 2009 tax bill. 3/26/09

 

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214's online:  http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time - see more.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to expand the forms that can be submitted online - Effective immediately, claims for Veteran Affairs Compensation and/or Pension benefits, Education benefits and Vocational Rehabilitation benefits submitted online via Veteran Online Application (VONAPP) and do not require your signature to be considered complete.  The electronic submission of your claim is sufficient.  Ensure that you read through the entire website to ensure that you are not resubmitting an application that is currently pending because it will only slow down your application process. You will have to register to begin an application process - see more. 1/13/09

 

2009 Pensions, Disability Compensation Rates - If you are a military veteran with a service-related disability, you may qualify for over $3,100 in tax-free monthly benefits.  To learn more follow the links at http://www.military.com/military-report/09-pensions-disability-compensation-rates.

 

Law Authorizes Veterans' Salutes during National Anthem - Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October. The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem.  Last year's provision also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform. The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008. 11/18/08

 

Policy Change for Military ID Cards - In order to renew or replace military identification cards, the Homeland Security Directive 12 requires that retirees and family members show two forms of current identification. To learn more, go to http://www.military.com/military-report/policy-change-for-replacing-id-cards.

 

Enhanced VA Mortgage Options Now Available for Veterans - Veterans with conventional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed home loan. These new options are available as a result of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which the President signed into law on October 10, 2008 - see more. 10/28/08

 

AKO 'featured site' for retired Soldiers - Army Knowledge Online (AKO) has created a special site for Army retirees. To access the site, go to AKO (www.us.army.mil), scroll to the key links section, click on AKO Featured Sites, and click on the Retired Soldier emblem. Retired Soldiers new to AKO need to register in order to use the site. For those of you with a low speed dial-up connection, simply check the "Low Bandwidth" box before clicking on "LOGIN."

 

Retirees Get Extension on Filing Amended Tax Returns for Retroactive VA Compensation - The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, has changed the federal income tax filing deadlines and the length of the look-back period for amended tax returns for retirees who are affected by a retroactive VA disability compensation determination - see more courtesy of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) on their web site.

 

Veterans Suicide Hotline - In its first year, more than 22,000 veterans have sought help from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to launch the hotline last July. The hotline receives up to 250 calls per day. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans should press “1” after being connected. For more information about the hotline, visit their website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

 

National Cemetery Burial - Today, more than 23 million veterans, and current and former Reservists and National Guard members with 20 years of service, have earned the right to burial in a national cemetery.  Veterans with discharges "other than dishonorable," their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. Those who die on active duty may also be buried in a national cemetery. For more information, contact the nearest national cemetery or a VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000.  Information also is available on VA's home page at www.cem.va.gov. (Courtesy VetJobs Veteran Eagle - August 2008)

 

Reminder - You may be eligible for social security credit for active duty service prior to Jan. 2002 - see more. 8/5/08

 

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USAWOA Online 10/20/2009