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Did You Know? New Death Confirmation Policy The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented a new policy change that affects all veterans. The VA is currently in the process of updating its procedure to request further confirmation of a veteran’s death before it terminates any and all payments to the veteran. Basically, the process will now involve more exhaustive confirmation of a veteran’s death before payments are stopped. For instance, when VA officials believe that a veteran has died, the VA will send a letter to his or her address on file and request confirmation of the death from a surviving family member. If the VA doesn't receive a response from the family — or from a veteran erroneously believed to be dead — only then will the VA terminate payments permanently.
Free Ferry Rides Local veterans riding the Inter-Island Ferry Authority will benefit from a federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant recently awarded to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. According to the IFA, the grant allows veterans to travel free on the ferry when the veteran travel is in conjunction with health care needs. Area veterans who wish to take advantage of the service will need identification showing that they are qualified. That can be an Alaska driver’s license with a VA endorsement, an Armed Forces of the United States retiree card, a VA healthcare card, VA Veteran’s Choice card or Veteran ID Card.
Veterans Who Receive Separation Pay Will Not Receive VA Compensation Under federal law, until veterans pay back their involuntary separation pay, they can have their VA disability compensation withheld. The reason for this is due to 10 USC 1174, a federal law precluding duplication of benefits. The law requires that the VA recoup military separation benefits paid by the Department of Defense in cases where a veteran is subsequently awarded VA compensation. VA disability benefits can be withheld if a veteran receives readjustment pay, non-disability severance pay, separation pay, reservist involuntary separation pay, special separation benefits, voluntary separation pay, or disability severance pay. The VA is required to withhold some or all of a veteran’s monthly compensation until recoupment is complete. The process can take months or years to complete.
Special Discounts for Veterans
Government Vacation Rewards is offering veterans vacation and travel opportunities at special military discounts with a best price match guarantee. Government Vacation Rewards was created specifically to serve all members of the Armed Forces. Government Vacation Rewards is the fastest growing government and military employees discount travel program in existence. Call 855-545-5488 for more information.
Limits to Confidentiality
The latest government reports indicate there are more than 22 million living veterans. Of the 22 million, only a small percentage utilize the services of Vet Centers, a highly supported VA program. For those veterans who use Vet Center services, they know the services to be a very nice accouterment from the larger VA setting for counseling, education, and support. Also, many veterans find Vet Center staff members useful in support of their disability claims. Vet Center counselors and support staff tend to be user-friendly, compassionate, and eager to assist veterans who are pursuing disability claims. However, there is one thing many Vet Center counselors neglect to inform veterans about in greater detail.
Initially, when a veteran visits a Vet Center counselor, the counselor is obligated to inform a veteran about the limitations of privacy and confidentiality that is inherent in the VA system. The counselor will inform a veteran that all of their information with the Vet Center may not be private or confidential if they [the veteran] become a danger to himself/herself or others. The one thing many counselors unknowingly glaze over is that their clinical notes are subject to scrutiny from the medical staff at their local VAMC. In other words, all VA Medical Center staff members can simply login to their VA Clinical Note system and view notes from Vet Center counselors, even though most Vet Centers are miles from their local VAMC. Keep in mind, it is always best for a veteran to work with an accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) who can explain the complex workings of the VA benefit system. |
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