United States Army Warrant Officers Association

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Veterans and Retiree News

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

 

 

NEWS

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2009 Presidential Inauguration Opportunity - Are You Ready to Soldier Up? Are You Army Strong? Want to be Part of a Change Era? - see more.  4/1/08

 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial opens online - a Utah-based web site that features searchable original documents, said that it has released an online interactive photo of the Vietnam War Memorial, in conjunction with the National Archives and Records Administration - see more.  4/1/08

 

April, May bring good SBP news for annuitants, retirees  - As you may have read, this April marks a milestone in the history of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). Effective April 1st, the SBP benefit will be 55% of the base amount covered – regardless of the age of the beneficiary. When SBP was introduced in 1972, it was designed to work with the Social Security benefit. Therefore, there were two levels of benefits, a higher level before the survivor was eligible for Social Security and a reduced level after age 62 and Social Security eligibility. Effective April 1st, that reduction is gone. May will bring good news for Military retirees enrolled in SBP. That’s when those of you who have been enrolled in SBP for at least 30 years and who are at least 70 years old will get a letter from DFAS telling you that you can stop paying for SBP effective Oct. 1, 2008. Those of you who will reach "paid up" status shortly after Oct. 1st will also get your notice in May. Remember that Congress set the "paid up" date at Oct. 1, 2008 – even though some retirees reached age 70 and 30 years of payments before that date. (Courtesy Army ECHOES, Jan-Apr 2008)
 

Combat Vets’ Health Care Extended - Military veterans who served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998, including those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are now eligible for five years of free medical care from VA for most conditions. This increases the two-year limit that has been in effect for nearly a decade. "By their service and their sacrifice, America’s newest combat veterans have earned this special eligibility period for VA’s world-class health care," said VA Secretary James B. Peake - see more. 3/4/08

 

VA Pocket Resource Guide Now Available - The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a handy pocket-sized informational pamphlet for you to use. With up-to-date veterans data, pertinent contacts and telephone numbers, this is a useful resource for service members and their families. Click here and pocket a copy today! PDF 3/4/08

 

VA Mileage Reimbursement Increased on Feb. 1, 2008 - Mileage reimbursement for veterans visiting VA Hospitals and Clinics is now 28.5 cents per mile, up from 11 cents per mile - the first rate increase in 30 years/ The VA expects to see  more than 1-million veterans benefit from this increase. 2/5/08

 

Nominations Solicited: 2008 is an Election Year for USAWOA National Offices - see more. 1/15/08

 

New Law Gives Disabled Veterans More Home Grants - (Army News Service, Jan. 7, 2008) A change in federal law allows certain seriously injured veterans and servicemembers to receive multiple grants for constructing or modifying their homes, the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced. Before the change, eligible veterans and servicemembers could receive special adaptive housing grants of $10,000 or $50,000 from VA only once. Now they may use the benefit up to three times, so long as the total grants stay within specified limits outlined in the law - see more.  1/10/08

 

2008 USAWOA Scholarship Foundation Application Season Opened Jan. 1st - see more. 12/18/07

 

USAWOA Challenges Chapters to contribute to Memorial to Fallen Warrant Officers - Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation Announces Recognition Program for certain individual and Chapter donations - see more. 12/18/07

 

Memo to Retirees age 65+ about Free Pneumococcal Vaccine - see more. 11/27/07

 

Veterans Commission: Immediate Increase of Up to 25 Percent For Disability Payments - A key item included in the final report of the congressionally-mandated panel advocates an immediate boost in veterans disability benefits by up to 25 percent. The aim of the multi-year study is to identify keys to the wholesale reform of the benefits system. The report, released on October 3, contains more than 110 suggestions for improving services. Read the Executive Summary  or the full report to read the all 113 recommendations of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission. 10/29/07

 

Referral Pay Doubled for Army Retirees - In a pilot program, the U.S. Army has doubled bonuses to $2,000 for soldiers in all Army components, Department of the Army civilians, and Army retirees who refer someone with no prior military experience to the Army Referral System. The bonus is paid in two lump sums. The first half is paid when the referred soldier begins basic training, and the second half is paid after the soldier graduates from one-station unit training or advanced individual training. To make a referral, call (800) 223-3735, ext. 6-0473, or visit the Sergeant Major of the Army Recruiting Team Web site. To use the online referral system, you¹ll need an Army Knowledge Online username and password. 9/25/07

 

Paid-up SBP - Participants in the Uniformed Services Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for retired military members now have a new milestone to mark on their calendars. Effective October 1, 2008, SBP participants who reach 70 years of age and have made 360 payments (30 years), will no longer have to pay premiums for continued SBP coverage and will be placed in “Paid-up SBP” status - see more. 9/20/07

 

Interesting information regarding Social Security and Service in the Military - You qualify for a higher social security payment because of your military service, for active duty any time from 1940 through 2001 (the program was done away with in January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit  credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office - and you must ask for this benefit to receive it! - see more.

 

VA Reaches Out to Veterans and Spouses "Aid and Attendance" an Under-Used Benefit - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reaching out to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an under-used, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance. Many elderly veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally mandated legal limit for a VA pension may still be eligible for the special monthly Aid and Attendance benefit if they have large medical expenses, including nursing home expenses, for which they do not receive reimbursement. Additional information and assistance in applying for the Aid and Attendance benefit may be obtained by calling 1-800-827-1000. Applications may be submitted on-line at www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp.   Information is also available on the Internet at www.va.gov or from any local veterans service organization.

 

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USAWOA Online 4/1/2008