Veterans News

Week of January 30, 2012

New Report Addresses VA Difficulties

A recently released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has had difficulty in planning for and meeting the unique needs of a growing number of homeless women veterans. The study is one of the first of its kind to examine the troubling rise in homelessness among women who have served. The full report is available on the GAO website.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the Military.com Benefits Center.

Navy to Dump BCG Eyeglasses

Servicemembers will soon say goodbye to old BCG's as the Navy replaces the '90s era "birth control glasses" with an arguably more stylish Buddy Holly style frame.

The U.S. Navy recently announced that all active duty and Reserve personnel, including recruits will soon have a new standard issue eyeglass frame available. Effective Jan. 1, the current cellulose acetate spectacle frame provided at all Armed Forces initial entry training sites began the transition from male and female, brown "S9" spectacles to a new, unisex, black "5A" frame. Within six months, the 5A frame will be made available to all active duty and Reserve servicemembers with full implementation expected to be completed over a two-year period. Retirees are currently eligible to receive standard issue S9, S91A and Half-Eye frames, and there will be no change to this authorization.  

(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/01/navy-to-replace-birth-control-glasses/) See the new glasses on the Military Advantage blog. 

Top 15 High-paying Jobs for Vets

The 15 most common, well-paid and quickly growing professions veterans choose include: Management Consultant, IT Program Manager, Systems Analyst, FBI Agent, Field Service Engineer, Systems Engineer, IT Consultant, Intelligence Analyst, Helicopter Pilot, IT Network Engineer, Construction Project Manager, Technical Writer, Business Development Manager, IT Network Administrator, HVAC Service Technician, and Fireman. (http://jobsforveterans.military.com/489/top-15-high-paying-jobs-veterans/?ESRC=mrvr.nl) See Median Salaries and Projected Growth for each.

(http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Search for Career Opportunities in the above fields on Military.com

VA Offers Free Credit Monitoring

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering free credit monitoring to more than 2,200 veterans whose personal information, including social security numbers, was posted on Ancestry.com following the mistaken release of data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Veterans who believe they may have been affected by this incident who have not been notified by VA may verify whether their information was involved by writing to: Department of Veterans Affairs, OIT Privacy Officer (005R1A), 810 Vermont Ave., NW Washington DC 20420, (Attn: Garnett Best). Affected veterans can request a free credit report for one year from one or more of the three national credit bureaus by calling 1-877-322-8228 or by visiting  (http://www.annualcreditreport.com/) www.annualcreditreport.com. Information about this and other protections is available by calling the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at its toll free number, 1-877-438-4338.

For more tips on credit and saving, visit the (http://www.military.com/money) Military.com Money Center.

Veterans Receive COLA Increase

Veterans, their families, and survivors receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began receiving a 3.6 percent increase in their compensation and pension benefits on January 1. The cost of living adjustments (COLAs) also apply to disability and death pension recipients, survivors receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, disabled Veterans receiving automobile and clothing allowances, and other benefits.  The full rates are available on the Internet at  (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/#BM01) www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/#BM01. For more information about VA benefits or (http://www.military.com/benefits/content/veterans-health-care/va-disability-compensation-rates.html) new 2012 payment rates, visit  (http://www.military.com/benefits/content/veteran-benefits/veterans-benefits-explained.html) Military.com or call 1-800-827-1000. 

TRICARE Troubles Loom

TRICARE Prime fees and access to military and civilian care providers. ?Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave a sneak peak at the DoD's proposed FY2013 budget and his long term plan to reduce defense spending by approximately $259 billion over the next five years. The proposed budget includes a plan to tier enrollment fees based on a retiree's rank. In addition, TRICARE Doctors face a 27 percent cut in TRICARE payment rates this year. As a result, many doctors are considering limiting the number of TRICARE patients they serve.

Check out the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/01/tricare-troubles-loom/) Military Advantage blog to learn more.

Earned Income Tax Credit

Some people could be eligible to get more money back from the Internal Revenue Service -- as much as $5,751. People who earned less than $49,078 from wages, self-employment or farming last year may qualify for a refundable tax credit called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). But you must file a federal income tax return claiming the credit to get it.  Both EITC eligibility and the amount of tax credit people are eligible for is based on several factors. The online EITC Assistant on the IRS website at  (http://www.irs.gov/eitc) www.irs.gov/eitc can help determine your eligibility and estimate the amount of your credit. For more information, visit your local Tax Assistance Center.

For more tax guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/money/personal-finance/taxes) Military.com Tax Center.

Army Band to Celebrate Anniversary

The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" will celebrate its 90th Anniversary with a 2 hour concert Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD. General admission tickets are free, but are required and will be available to the general public on February 1, 2012. Visit the U.S. Army Band website at  (http://www.usarmyband.com/anniversary/index.html) www.usarmyband.com/anniversary/index.html for a direct link to the ticket order form which will become available on Feb 1.

For more entertainment-related military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/entertainment) Military.com Entertainment Center.

Benefit Calculator: Benefits in One Place

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 Guad State Benefits, Special Military Discounts and More. (http://benefits.military.com/reg/Veterans-Benefits.do?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Find Your Benefits Now.?(http://benefits.military.com/reg/Veterans-Benefits.do?ESRC=mrvr.nl)

Visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Military.com Benefit Channel to access Pay Charts, TRICARE information, BAH, Survivor Benefits, Vet Benefits and More.

Checking Benefits Online

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have jointly developed the (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/) eBenefits portal as a single secure point of access for online benefit information and tools to perform multiple self-service functions, such as checking monthly benefit rates, filing a claim, or checking its status. Veterans may enroll in eBenefits and obtain a Premium account by verifying their identity in-person at the nearest regional office or online depending on their status, or calling VA's toll free number at 1-800-827-1000. Servicemembers may also enroll in eBenefits using their Common Access Card at any time during their military service, or before they leave during their Transition Assistance Program briefings.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

Congress Looks Into VA Backlog Issue

The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs recently held an oversight hearing to evaluate if the current disability rating systems at the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) are best serving America's veterans, or if the systems are outdated and need to be updated to reflect today's veterans' population. The claims backlog and rating system is one of the most common complaints made by veterans about VA. Opening statements and a webcast of the hearing are available on the (http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/rating-the-rating-schedule-the-state-of-va-disability-ratings-in-the-21st-century) House Committee on Veterans Affairs website.

Learn more, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/01/is-the-disability-claims-process-broken/) Military Advantage Blog.

'Ticking Bomb' View of Veterans Erroneous

Many of veterans saw a report in the media last week which characterized veterans as "ticking bombs." In an effort to combat this perception, the VA responded with a VAntage Point Blog entry by Alex Horton.  Horton's article puts the issues in perspective by adding context and facts that were absent from the original article. Horton's blog helps dispell the narrative that veterans are ticking bombs, primed to explode.

Read the Horton's full article on (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/5813/usa-today-perpetuates-erroneous-%e2%80%9cticking-bomb%e2%80%9d-view-of-veterans/http:/www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/5813/usa-today-perpetuates-erroneous-%e2%80%9cticking-bomb%e2%80%9d-view-of-veterans/) VAntage Point.

Photographs Sought for Vietnam Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is collecting photographs of the more than 58,000 American servicemembers whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The photos will become part of The Education Center at The Wall, a multi-million dollar visitor's center slated to open in November. For more information or to submit a photograph, visit (http://buildthecenter.org/join-the-campaign/pafwan/submit-a-photo.html) The Education Center at the Wall website or call 202-393-0090.

Some Vets Should Reapply for Disability

Stars and Stripes reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is beginning a phased mailing of information packets on the Physical Disability Review Board (PDBR) to every qualified veteran with a current home address on file at VA. The Physical Disability Review Board (PDRB) has the authority to reexamine the files and, if appropriate, raise disability ratings of up to 77,000 veterans -- those medically separated with ratings less than 30 percent between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2009. Eligible veterans can apply now to the PDBR to have their ratings reviewed. For more information, visit the Physical Disability Review Board webpage at  (http://www.health.mil/pdbr) www.health.mil/pdbr.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

Post 9-11 GI Bill Changes Now in Effect

Most of the GI Bill 2.0 changes went into effect August 1, 2011. Many veterans, servicemembers, and eligible family saw significant changes. A New Online Housing Allowance is payable to students enrolled 100% in online classes. The housing allowance is half the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. National Guard Eligibility has been expanded -- certain National Guard members mobilized on Title 32 orders on-or-after Sept. 11th are now eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. There are several more changes -- (http://www.military.com/education/content/gi-bill/pending-gi-bill-changes.html?ESRC=mrvr.nl) see them all listed on Military.com.

Next Step: (http://edu.military.com/gibill/?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Compare schools with VA-Approved programs to find the one that meets your specific needs and requirements.?(http://edu.military.com/gibill/?ESRC=mrvr.nl)