VA Benefits: Debt Relief | GI Bill Updates | Family Caregivers
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Veterans Benefits Newsletter
May 2021
Debt Relief Extended for Veterans
VA recognizes that some Veterans and beneficiaries continue to be impacted by COVID-19. To provide relief, VA is suspending the collection of Veteran benefit overpayments incurred between April 6, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. Additionally, medical and pharmacy copayments incurred during this period will be canceled and any payments refunded. Use our new online tool to check the status of your VA debt, as well as options to resolve it.
VA Benefits for Family Caregivers
Through VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), Veterans can appoint one primary and up to two secondary caregivers who may be eligible to receive financial assistance, training, and more to support their important role of caring for a Veteran. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply for PCAFC.
GI Bill Is Going Digital
We're modernizing your education benefits, and soon 1 million GI Bill beneficiaries will enjoy improved customer service. With the Digital GI Bill, you will have faster access to your educational benefits to pursue your academic and career goals. Stay tuned for more information!
Discover Your VA Benefits
Are you transitioning or planning to transition out of active-duty service? VA's Military Life Cycle (MLC) modules are available to help you plan for the future. These brief 30- to 45-minute online courses can be completed at your own pace and cover topics including your available VA benefits and other resources to help you adjust to civilian life. Learn more about MLC and download our resource guides.
American Rescue Plan Helps Veterans
As part of the American Rescue Plan, the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) provides financial aid to help you recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. VRRAP offers up to 12 months of tuition, fees, and a monthly housing allowance. Learn if you're eligible and how to apply!
Claim Exam Locations Expand
Disability compensation and pension (C&P) exams, also called claim exams, are crucial to determine your eligibility for VA benefits. Now C&P exam locations have expanded to include non-VA vendors across the country. Learn how the additional locations have changed the C&P exam scheduling process.
Watch the Latest VA Benefits News
Don't miss the first episode of our new video series: VA Benefits News (VBN)! Join the Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, Thomas J. Murphy, to learn about initiatives and updates to benefits and services that directly impact you and your family.
VA Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility
Now all Veterans, their spouses, and caregivers can get COVID-19 vaccines from VA regardless of their VA health care enrollment status. Learn how to get your COVID-19 vaccine from VA!
Transition and Career Webinars
Military Officers Association of America's (MOAA) highest priority is providing first-class service to its members, especially related to career transition assistance. If you're interested in starting a new career, MOAA has a variety of online webinars from which to choose. Learn about apprenticeship programs, how to maximize your LinkedIn, and more.
VA May Be Calling About Your Claim
As VA processes your claim, you may need to answer questions or clarify information. Consider adding 1-800-827-1000 to your contacts, so you don't miss a call from VA!
Connect With Us
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Sent to scusar0472@yahoo.com on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration · 810 Vermont Avenue, NW · Washington, DC 20420 · 1-800-827-1000
Friday, May 7, 2021
Veterans Benefits Newsletter | May 2021, (Debt Relief Extended For Veterans) (Medical and Pharmacy CoPayments Incurred Between April 6, 2020 and September 30, 2021 Will Be Cancelled and Any Payments Refunded)
Friday, April 23, 2021
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Michigan Veterans News and Resources for April 20, 2021
Veteran COVID vaccination clinic is April 26 in Metro Detroit
Veterans in Metro Detroit can get their COVID-19 vaccinations in Sterling Heights on April 26 in the second of several planned veteran vaccination clinics around Michigan hosted by the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).
The clinic will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Lakeside Mall Drive-Thru, formerly Sears Auto, located at 14100 Lakeside Circle in Sterling Heights. Patrons will receive the Moderna vaccine and will require a follow-up appointment for the second dose.
Vaccines will be available free of charge for those who register in advance for a time slot by calling 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) and choosing option 6. Registration is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Veterans are encouraged to bring their DD-214 proof of service, as representatives will be on hand to help them sign up for VA health care and other benefits.
The vaccination clinics are a partnership between the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) and the Michigan National Guard, which both fall under the state DMVA, and are under the medical direction of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
The Metro Detroit clinic will be the second vaccination clinic hosted by the DMVA, after a March 22 clinic in Marquette where 328 individuals were vaccinated.
"Our first vaccination clinic was highly successful, and we want to keep the momentum going," said MVAA Director Zaneta Adams. "There are tens of thousands of veterans and their families in Metro Detroit who deserve the highest-quality of care and access to medical benefits like the COVID vaccine. These vaccination clinics are integral in helping veterans across the state."
Michigan Veteran Homes to hire 150 in Chesterfield Township
Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH) is looking to recruit as many as 150 employees for the new home in Chesterfield Township, which is scheduled to open to veterans on May 17.
The veterans' home, at 47901 Sugarbush Road, is seeking to fill positions for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, activity therapy aides, administrative positions and pharmacy technicians. Those interested should email DMVA-MVHCT-Careers@michigan.gov.
"We are at a critical juncture as we continue to build our team that will be providing care to the veteran members at the new Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township," said Anne Zerbe, executive director of MVH. "We are seeking dedicated, compassionate professionals who have a true passion for serving those that we care for at the Michigan Veteran Homes."
Construction on the $76.5 million home, which is funded by state and federal money, began in April 2019. Totaling 152,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art home consists of four unique neighborhood buildings and a community center. The neighborhood buildings collectively house 128 private rooms and feature shared living and dining spaces.
Latest $1,400 stimulus checks include payments to veterans
The US government has issued a new set of $1,400 stimulus checks that includes Veterans Affairs beneficiaries. The latest round marks the fifth batch of direct payments sent since the $1,400 checks were first authorized by Congress through the American Rescue Plan in March. The new round includes approximately 2 million stimulus checks for a total of more than $3.4 billion.
This time, the checks include Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who receive compensation and pension benefits who do not normally file tax returns and who did not use the IRS non-filer tool last year. Social Security beneficiaries who also did not file tax returns for the past two years and who did not use the non-filer tool were also among the recipients.
In total, the fifth batch of payments included about 1.2 million direct deposit payments and almost 800,000 paper checks. The payments had an official payment date of April 14. However, the money could have arrived earlier for some people, as the checks began processing on April 9.
Most people do not need to do anything to get a stimulus check. However, the IRS is urging some people to file a tax return to receive the money for which they are eligible. That includes federal beneficiaries who need to submit information on any dependents who may qualify for the money, as well as people who do not normally file tax returns nor receive federal benefits.
If your income is $72,000 or less, you can file your tax return for free using the IRS Free File program. Filing a 2020 tax return will also enable you to claim a recovery rebate credit if you missed out on the previous $1,200 or $600 stimulus checks.
Read more from CNBC.
Troops exposed to Agent Orange outside of Vietnam could receive presumptive benefits
Lawmakers are pushing to expand disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during fighting in Vietnam while deployed to nearby countries. Pennsylvania Reps. Matt Cartwright and Brian Fitzpatrick recently introduced new legislation to expand the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange for disability benefits to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia during the conflict.
Veteran advocates have pushed for Congress for years to close the gap in Agent Orange benefits for individuals exposed to the chemicals in the 1960s and 1970s but never set foot on Vietnamese soil. Typically, veterans seeking disability benefits must prove that their injuries and illnesses are directly connected to their time in the military, but in conflicts like Vietnam, the chemical defoliant Agent Orange was used across the country with little clear documentation of when US troops were exposed, federal officials have made exceptions to those standards of proof.
The bill would include veterans who served in the following locations:
- Army Bases or Royal Thai Air Force Bases between Jan. 9, 1962 - May 7, 1975
- Pranburi Military Reservation in Thailand between Jan. 1, 1964 - April 30, 1964
- Laos between Dec. 1, 1965 - Sept. 30, 1969
- Kompon Cham Province in Cambodia in April 1969
Read more details from the Military Times.VA dumps plans to stop students from adding non-degree classes to keep GI Bill benefits
Veterans Affairs officials are backtracking on plans to bar student veterans from "rounding out" their degree programs with non-required courses to maintain their GI Bill benefits, saying they'll look for other ways to ensure the system isn't being abused.
Department leaders had planned to end this practice in August, a move that could've cost some veterans thousands of dollars in tuition payouts and housing stipends, but VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced the department will no longer make the change, allowing the practice to continue. Currently for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, students receive tuition at state colleges and a monthly housing stipend if they're enrolled full-time in a degree program, however if students don't take a full course load, those payouts can shrink dramatically.
Under the move, Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits won't count against future GI Bill payouts. It's unclear how many veterans might be affected by the change because of varying course work and degree programs. More than 900,000 students used GI Bill benefits for college in fiscal 2019.
Read more about the change from Military Times.
This email was sent to jmc001@ameritech.net using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Dept of Military & Veterans Affairs · 3411 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Lansing, MI 48906
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
VFW Foundation and Harley Davidson
More information about what is going on in Michigan will be shared soon. Please keep your ears and eyes open at your post!
The VFW Foundation is currently working with 60 Harley-Davidson dealers in AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO,MI, NC, SC, TN, TX, WI, and WV to raise money for the Unmet Needs program. This relationship was collaborated with Jesse James Dupree the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock bank Jackyl and his marketing extension MightyLoudEnterprises which subsequently led to VFW sponsorship of the Daytona Motorcycle Rally. VFW Posts have been introduced to Harley-Davidson dealers in their geographic areas to schedule VFW/Harley-Davidson events which are on-going (even in this restricted COVID-19 environment). To date, $104,350 total funds have been raised by Jesse James Dupree's efforts!
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Sunday, January 31, 2021
Monday, January 18, 2021
Friday, January 15, 2021
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Brick Paver Donors - Posted from Riders Facebook
I received a follow-up email to our VFW Rider donation to purchase a brick at the Gold Star Family Memorial.
Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Brick Paver Donors:
On behalf of our Clinton Township Gold Star Monument Committee, thank you very much for supporting the memorial that will soon grace the Clinton Township Community Center landscape.
As you know, the memorial recognizes Gold Star Families' losses and honor their fallen service members. Clinton Township is the custodian of the monument and will make it available for all Gold Star Family members, Nation-wide, who wishes to spend some time at the striking black granite monolith. I believe you will be very proud of your brick paver and even more of the monument you helped build. The brick pavers will be placed next to the 24'x28' concrete apron surrounding the monument.
We are planning for a monument dedication date of 12 June 2021. The $78,000 project is fully funded thanks to you and a little over 100 other generous donors. We also have a small contingency for unplanned expenses and possible cost overruns, plus dedication day expenses which surprisingly can be over $2,000.
The Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation entered a contract with the monument sculptor last month. They expect to have the product completed by late March. We plan for a local excavation company to install the monument foundation during early April and the monument will be placed on the foundation in early May. The concrete apron and sidewalk should be placed mid May with bricks, landscaping and electrical work completed by late May. It is a tight schedule. If we have unanticipated weather or construction delays, we may need to extend the dedication date to late July -- Hopefully not!
The brick pavers placement will be one of the last tasks completed during late-May. Your order forms are at the engraver's office and when digitized, we will email the file to you for your final edit and approval.
We are accepting brick paver and bench orders until 28 February 2021. Clinton Township will not continue paver sales following the dedication. If you know of someone who would like to recognize a person or family or simply honor and express their respect for Gold Star Families, please let them know that bricks must be purchased by 28 Feb.
After all bills are paid, our account will be closed and the remaining funds will be moved to Woody's Gold Star Family Scholarship Fund. We have asked the Foundation to encourage MI Gold Star Family kids to apply for the money.
For further information please take a look at the Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation web page: http://hwwmohf.org/monuments/clinton-township-mi.html, and the Gold Star Family Monument Clinton Township facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=gold%20star%20family%20monument-clinton%20township.
Give us a yell if you have questions concerning the schedule or your brick paver donations -- or anything else. Call, 810/278-0413, or email, straffon@aol.com.
Karen & Nick Straffon and Monument Committee Co-Chairs
