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The Veterans Viewpoint
By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445. If there is an emergency of any sort I can b e reached at my home at (320) 839-2676. I do have an answering machine at home.
What is VA Pension for veterans? Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income, and who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 or older.
Who is eligible? Generally, you may be eligible if: (1) you were discharged from service under conditions other than dishonorable, and (2) you served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time*, and (3) your countable family income is below a yearly limit set by law, and (4) you are permanently and totally disabled (not due to your own willful misconduct) or you are age 65 or older.
*Note: Anyone who enlists after September 7, 1980, generally must have serv ed at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty. Service from August 2, 1990 to present is considered to be a period of war (Gulf War) in addition to other periods of war such as World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
How much does VA pay? VA pays you the difference between your countable family income and the yearly income limit (situational income charts are available at my office). The difference is generally paid in 12 equal monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar.
If I am already receiving monthly payments or a service-connected disability can I also get Va pension? No, you cannot received a VA non-service connected pension and service-connected compensation at the same time, however, if you qualify for a pension and are awarded payments, VA will pay you whichever benefit is the grater amount.
How do I apply for veterans non-service connected pension? You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and /or Pension. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates) and current medical evidence (doctor and hospital reports). You can also apply online through the following VA website at
http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-827-1000, or visit the web site at
www.va.gov.Remember, to contact your county veterans service officer for information concerning the application process, countable income for veterans pension eligibility, net worth requirements, exclusions to income or deductions to reduce countable income, how VA calculates your pension, and questions concerning Aid and Attendance, and Housebound benefits.
In the "Did You Know?" segment. Disney Would Vacation Offer for Veterans Shades of Green (R) on WALT DISNEW WORLD (R) Resort wants to extend a thank you to all veterans through the "Salute to Our Veterans" program.
Traditionally, Shades of Green has been available only to eligible Active and Retired Military, National Guard, Reserves, and Department of Defense and Coast Guard civilians. For the first time, Shades of Green wants to invite all veterans that have been honorably discharged to spend a well-deserved vacation at its spectacular 586 room resort.
Reservations are available at Shades of Green any January and September. They also would be happy to assist in making reservations within the Disney area for other months of the year. For more information and links to obtain a copy of your DD-214, visit:
www.shadesofgreenvets.org or call (407) 827-8387 or contact your local county veterans service officer.
Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following seas."
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August 1, 2008
By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445. [font=Arial]If there is an emergency of any sort I can be reached at my home at (320) 839-2676. I do have an answering machine at home.
The new GI Bill (Chapter 33) the “GI Bill for the 21st Century,” offers the most comprehensive education package since the original GI Gill was signed into law in 1944. This new bill goes beyond helping veterans pay for tuition; many veterans who served after September 11, 2001, will receive full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend and a $1,000 a year allowance for books and supplies.
The bill also allows Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefit. For more information visit [url=http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview]
http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview[/url]. In other news. From the pages of the Disabled American Veterans Magazine - Sesame Street helps youngsters of military families. Nearly all servicemembers come home for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed by their experiences. Their families also are affected by war, especially their children.
"The loving mother and/or father who went off to war returns different than before," said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. "While adults discuss the changes, it's hard for children. Even harder for these children is when a parent returns home with a physical or mental disability as a result of their service."
Now, a new program featuring the "Sesame Street" characters Rosita and Elmo is aimed at helping children learn how to adapt to the changes that war has made in their lives.
Called Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes, the program is designed by experts to help military families with young children between the ages of two and five build a sense of stability and resiliency during times of separation and change.
About 500,00 of these bilingual (English/Spanish) outreach kits with DVDs featuring the Muppets of Sesame Street are available to active duty military, National Guard and Reserve families, schools, child care programs, hospitals and rehabilitation centers serving the needs of military families.
The kits are available by calling 800-342-9647 or visit the "Sesame Street" Web site at [url=http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc]
www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc[/url]. In the "Did You Know?" segment. Did you know about the Military Pet Foster Care Project? A nationwide and global network of individual foster homes for deployed military personnel pets will house, nurture and shelter dogs, cats, bird, horses and all other pets for military personnel ONLY. This organization provides only temporary care and the pets will return to the owner upon their return.
For more information visit their website at [url=http://www.netpets.org/netp/foster.php]
www.netpets.org/netp/foster.php[/url]. This project is recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense as the pet assistance provider.
Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following seas."
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July, 31, 2008 GI Bill-Chapter 33- Expanded resources for Children
By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445. [font=Arial]If there is an emergency of any sort I can be reached at my home at (320) 839-2676. I do have an answering machine at home.
The new GI Bill (Chapter 33) the “GI Bill for the 21st Century,” offers the most comprehensive education package since the original GI Gill was signed into law in 1944. This new bill goes beyond helping veterans pay for tuition; many veterans who served after September 11, 2001, will receive full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend and a $1,000 a year allowance for books and supplies.
The bill also allows Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefit. For more information visit
http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview.In other news. From the pages of the Disabled American Veterans Magazine - Sesame Street helps youngsters of military families. Nearly all servicemembers come home for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed by their experiences. Their families also are affected by war, especially their children.
"The loving mother and/or father who went off to war returns different than before," said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. "While adults discuss the changes, it's hard for children. Even harder for these children is when a parent returns home with a physical or mental disability as a result of their service."
Now, a new program featuring the "Sesame Street" characters Rosita and Elmo is aimed at helping children learn how to adapt to the changes that war has made in their lives.
Called Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes, the program is designed by experts to help military families with young children between the ages of two and five build a sense of stability and resiliency during times of separation and change.
About 500,00 of these bilingual (English/Spanish) outreach kits with DVDs featuring the Muppets of Sesame Street are available to active duty military, National Guard and Reserve families, schools, child care programs, hospitals and rehabilitation centers serving the needs of military families.
The kits are available by calling 800-342-9647 or visit the "Sesame Street" Web site at
www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc. In the "Did You Know?" segment. Did you know about the Military Pet Foster Care Project? A nationwide and global network of individual foster homes for deployed military personnel pets will house, nurture and shelter dogs, cats, bird, horses and all other pets for military personnel ONLY. This organization provides only temporary care and the pets will return to the owner upon their return.
For more information visit their website at
www.netpets.org/netp/foster.php. This project is recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense as the pet assistance provider.
Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:03 pm
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