Did You Know?   Certain veterans with service-connected disabilities that result in the veteran being Total & Permanent Disabled may be entitled to a complete discharge of all student loans.  A total and permanent disability (TPD) discharge relieves you from having to repay a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loan, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loan, and/or Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program loan or complete a TEACH Grant service obligation on the basis of your total and permanent disability. Before your federal student loans or TEACH Grant service obligation can be discharged, you must provide information to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to show that you are totally and permanently disabled. ED will evaluate the information and determine if you qualify for a TPD discharge.   A TPD discharge relieves you from having to repay a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loan, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loan, and/or Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program loan or complete a TEACH Grant service obligation on the basis of your total and permanent disability. Before your federal student loans or TEACH Grant service obligation can be discharged, you must provide information to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to show that you are totally and permanently disabled. ED will evaluate the information and determine if you qualify for a TPD discharge.    You can show the Department of Education that you are totally and permanently disabled in one of the following three ways: If you are a veteran, you can submit documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showing that the VA has determined that you are unemployable due to a service-connected disability. If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you can submit a Social Security Administration (SSA) notice of award for SSDI or SSI benefits stating that your next scheduled disability review will be within five to seven years from the date of your most recent SSA disability determination. You can submit certification from a physician that you are totally and permanently disabled. Your physician must certify that you are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that Can be expected to result in death, Has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months, or Can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 60 months. Download The Veterans Bee for more IU clarification.             The Disability Evaluation System Have you ever heard of DoD's Disability Evaluation System (DES) or Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) and wondered what, exactly, it is? Or why it matters to you? DoD's disability evaluation process provides disability compensation for servicemembers who are injured or become ill in the line of duty and are no longer able to perform their duties. The servicemember receives a single set of physical disability examinations, conducted according to VA examination protocols, and disability ratings prepared by VA that both DoD and VA use to ensure the earliest possible delivery of disability benefits. For more information, visit the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) website or contact your nearest VSO.        VA Mandated To Expedite Claim       Did you know that the VA is mandated to expedite an application for benefits if a veteran is receiving Hospice care?         New App for Veterans & Active Duty Servicemembers   A new interactive app called 'Together Strong' has been developed to help veterans and active servicemembers learn what to say and do when a peer is struggling with post-deployment stresses and adjustment to civilian life. Addressed are a range of challenges faced by those who have served including high rates of PTSD, traumatic brain injury and suicide. For more information and to download a demo of the app, visit the Kognito.com.    See your VSO to learn more about programs or call 1-800-827-1000.

What Every Veteran Should Carry                         No longer will you have to carry around your DD Form 214 as proof of your military service.  The Veteran ID Card will quickly establish you as a veteran, along with other essential benefits.  More... Veteran ID Card

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