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Did You Know?
The Office of Personnel Management on Friday will soon publish the final rule implementing a law that gives new federal employees who are disabled veterans the equivalent of a full year’s sick leave up front to go to their medical appointments. The 2015 Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act gives 104 hours of leave immediately to first-year feds who are veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 30 percent to attend medical appointments related to their disability. It applies to those hired on, or after November 5, 2016, and lasts for 12 months from the date of hire, or the effective date of the employee’s qualifying service-connected disability—whichever is later.
Veterans Ride for Free A new program in Albuquerque, New Mexico is giving back to veterans by giving them free rides on the city’s buses. Veterans who are enrolled in the Veterans Administration Health Care System, or have a newly issued Veteran ID Card will get to ride ABQ ride for free. The mayor of Albuquerque announced that the program will extend to any veteran from in or out of state. The program now places Albuquerque with a number of other cities, including Chicago and San Francisco that allow veterans to ride for free.
New Website for Veterans The new website 'Mental Health First Aid for Veterans' gives family members and others the tools to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental illness and addiction. The National Council for Behavioral Health, which sponsors the website, says 30 percent of the men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan require treatment for mental health issues. Yet, less than 50 percent of these veterans receive any treatment. Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan. For more information, visit the Military First Aid website and scroll down to "FIND A COURSE" to search for upcoming training near you and links to mental health care organizations.
Veterans Crisis Line Friends or loved ones in crisis may show signs that indicate that they are at risk of attempting or committing suicide. If you recognize that something is not right, make the call to the Veterans Crisis or Military Crisis line. During times of crisis, reach out and call. Dial 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.
Veterans Employment Center First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have announced the launch of a new integrated employment tool to connect veterans and servicemembers with employers, and to help translate military skills into the civilian workforce. The Veterans Employment Center is an integrated, online tool connecting veterans, transitioning servicemembers and their spouses with both public and private-sector employers, is the result of an interagency effort to improve, simplify and consolidate the current array of employment resources for veterans. Additionally, this will provide one comprehensive database of resumes for employers. For a tutorial video on how to use the Veterans Employment Center, visit the YouTube website.
Survivors Pension The survivors pension benefit is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low income, un-remarried, surviving spouse and/or unmarried child of a deceased veteran with wartime service. To qualify, the deceased veteran must have met the following service requirements:
Survivors pension is also based on your yearly family income, which must be less than the amount set by Congress to qualify. |
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