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Retired Activities Office Bulletins

The following bulletins are furnished to ANA as important information to retirees by LT EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) who is the Retired Activities Director in Baguio, P.I. and are used with his permission.  If you have questions about the articles, please direct them to the cited reference in the bulletin and NOT to ANA or LT Tichacek.

15 March 2005
BRAC 2005 Update 05  (Action dates)
Military Bankruptcy Protection Update 01  (Not approved)
Veteran's Taxable Pay  (What to claim)
VA Comp Level Inconsistencies Update 01  (Comparisons by State)
VA Handbook  (How to obtain)
DFAS Web Site Change  (Effective 1 APR)
Legislation of Interest Update 06  (Veteran related bills)
Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks Offer  (Complimentary admission)
VA Compensation Rate Tables 2005  (Effective DEC 04)
Google Maps  (New & user friendly)
Vet Cemetery Florida (New)  (Open for burials 2009)
Reserve Mobilization Compensation Pay  (Opposed by Pentagon)
OMCC  (Reservist child care)

BRAC 2005 Update 05:  Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, has been nominated by President Bush to lead the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC).Principi stepped down as VA chief in December and now is a vice president for pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pfizer Corp. Previously, the decorated Vietnam veteran served as general counsel for the Senate Armed Services and Senate Veterans Affairs committees. He also held an executive post with defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp. If approved by the Senate, Principi would head a nine-member panel charged with evaluating the Pentagon's plans for closing and realigning domestic military bases. By March 15, the President and congressional leaders must submit BRAC panel nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The following key action dates apply to his year's BRAC decision:

  * March 15: Deadline for President Bush to name members of the fifth Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission.

  * May 16: Deadline for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to give the BRAC commission and Congress the Pentagon's recommendations for military facilities that should be closed.

  * Sept. 8: Deadline for the BRAC commission to make its own base closure recommendations.

  * Sept. 23: Deadline for a presidential decision on whether to accept or reject the BRAC recommendations in their entirety - the White House's only options. If Bush accepts the plan, it becomes final within 45 legislative days, unless Congress passes a joint resolution to block the entire package.

  * Oct. 20: If Bush rejects the BRAC recommendations, the commission has until this date to submit a revised list of proposed closures.

  * Nov. 7: Deadline for the president to approve or disapprove the revised recommendations.

  * April 15, 2006: The commission terminates.

[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 11 MAR 05]

VA Comp Level Inconsistencies Update 01:  During Senate hearings on the new VA Director Jim Nicholson's confirmation he acknowledged that veterans in different states are awarded different levels of compensation. Knight Rider's Washington Bureau has made available information that allows veterans to compare each of the 55 VA regional area's performance to others nationwide. Knight Ridder is the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States and is a communications company engaged primarily in newspaper and Internet publishing. It also operates the Real Cities Network of local news Web sites in more than 105 markets nationwide. To see how the compensation you are receiving stacks up against others, click here This site provides data comparing the region selected with the nationwide average in the following areas:

  * Percentage of cases granted
  * Error rate on benefit rating
  * Average monthly disability payment
  * Percentage of veterans waiting 1 year or more for a decision
  * Average days pending appeal
  * Veterans satisfied with the process
  * Veterans who said their claim was handled fairly
  * Veterans who appealed decision
  * Veterans who said VA was not at all helpful
  * Disability levels for ailments in 20 major areas ranging from "Adjustment Disorder" through "Tinnitus".

[Source: NCPOA msg dtd 6 MAR 05]

Military Bankruptcy Protection Update 01:  One stated goal of the new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (S. 256) is to cut down on use of personal bankruptcy filings as a way to overcome indebtedness. It would make it easier for creditors to continue pursuing repayment from people declaring bankruptcy. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sponsored an amendment to S.256 to better protect service families against the bill's harsher bankruptcy penalties. This was needed because lengthy call-ups in some cases were causing dire financial consequences for Guard and Reserve members, particularly those who operate small businesses. The amendment's sponsors and the cosponsors asserted that servicemembers driven into bankruptcy because they were called to serve their country deserved fairer treatment. The Durbin Amendment would have:

  * Prevented a creditor from recovering in bankruptcy amounts owed on so-called "pay day" loans made to servicemembers at usurious interest rates;

  * Allowed servicemembers who are assigned away from their home state to choose to have federal bankruptcy exemptions or those of their home state apply to their case;

  * . Exempted members of the armed services, veterans, and spouses of service members who die in military service from stricter new "means test" provisions -- allowing bankruptcy courts flexibility to handle each case independently;

  * Saved the homes of military personnel from being lost in the event of a bankruptcy, allowing members of the military, veterans, and surviving spouses of those killed in military service a minimum homestead exemption of $75,000.

The Military Officers Association of America, Air Force Sergeants Association, Enlisted Association of the National Guard, and the National Association of Uniformed Services endorsed the Durbin amendment. However, the Senate defeated the amendment on a 38 to 58 vote and passed the legislation 10 MAR on a 75 to 25 vote. The House is expected to pass the measure next month, delivering to President Bush a second victory this year on pro-business legislation he had sought. Active duty and veterans who would like to know how their Senator voted on this and other bills of interest can do it on the House & Senate bill's website  http://thomas.loc.gov The roll call vote conducted 1 MAR on SA 16 to S.256 is shown at  the senate.gov website  According to American Bankruptcy Institute estimates somewhere between 3,675 and 210,000 people annually - from 3.5%to 20% of those who currently dissolve their debts in bankruptcy - would be disqualified from doing so under the legislation, the institute is a group of bankruptcy judges, lawyers and other experts. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 4 MAR 05 ++]

Veteran's Taxable Pay:  When filing your federal income tax you can use the following guidelines to determine what income to report:

  * All VA benefits are exempt from taxation and should not be reported to the IRS. This includes the VA Work Study Program. Moneys paid to participants in the Work Study Program are educational assistance benefits paid under the same Chapter under which the student is receiving educational assistance.

  * VA does not issue W-2 or 1099 forms, with one exception: amounts of overpayments that are waived by VA are taxable income, and are reported as such to the IRS (1099 form issued).

  * Secondary interest on VA benefits may be taxable. For example, if a VA beneficiary deposits his or her compensation check in an interest bearing account, the interest is not tax exempt.

  * VA benefits are subject to collection for tax liens, i.e. in cases where the beneficiary owes the IRS.

  * Military Retired Pay: Veterans in receipt of military retired pay who are awarded VA compensation benefits retroactively may claim an exclusion for their income in the amount of the VA compensation they would have received had they not been in receipt of military retired pay. Affected veterans should claim the exclusion by submitting the award letter showing the amount and effective date of compensation they would have received but for the receipt of military retired pay. IRS instructions tell affected veterans to submit a "VA Form 20-8993." VA Form 20-8993 is the award letter. If the veteran doesn't have it, VA can provide a letter in lieu of it.

[Source: eFloridaVets News dtd 25 FEB 05]

VA Handbook:  The 2005 edition of "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents" is now available for reading or downloading on the VA web site at  http://www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf  (about 840kb). It can also be downloaded at  http://www.valaw.org/files/fedben.pdf This 119 page booklet lists the variety of federal benefits available to military veterans and their dependents. Topics covered include health care enrollment, VA claim filing, burial and survivor benefits, and workplace benefits. It also contains contact information by state for all Regional Offices, VA Medical Centers, VA Clinics, Vet Centers, and National Cemeteries. Hard copies which should be available sometime in April can be ordered at the U.S government online Bookstore  http://bookstore.gpo.gov/  for $7.00 each. [Source: MO Veteran's Party & http://www.va.gov  MAR 05]

DFAS Web Site Change:  Members of the military retiree, whether they routinely use myPay or peruse the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) web page only occasionally, should note a new DFAS web address. Users are now greeted with the message that  http://www.dfas.mil  moved to  http://www.dod.mil/dfas  as of 1 MAR 05. Those individuals who are linking to or are looking for current information should link to or go to  http://www.dod.mil/dfas  Users who visit  http://www.dfas.mil  as of 1 APR 05 will be automatically redirected to the new web site as will users who follow links to any page or file at that same address. There has been no announcement as to when the redirection process will stop. The move was designed to prevent down time and create an opportunity for enhanced features in the future. The move also will increase the speed of the site by more than 12 times. For those who have asked. If you want to send an email to DFAS you can go to the DFAS Web Site http://www.dfas.mil/s-retired/ret-pay.htm  and click on the Retired and Annuitant...Contact Us...and the message form will popup. You should get a response in seven working days. If your communication is very sensitive or includes personal information that you do not want to convey on-line, contact their Customer Contact Center at 1-800-321-1080. [Source: Air Force Retiree News 2 MAR 05]

Legislation of Interest Update 06:  Veterans bills or updated info related to legislation introduced in Congress not noted in previous Updates:

     S.337 (Lindsey Graham, R-SC) Guard and Reserve Readiness and Retention Act of 2005 would amend title 10, United States Code, to expand health care benefits to all members of the Guard and Reserve and their families, and to revise the age and service requirements for eligibility to receive retired pay for non-regular service. S. 337 does not include the option for premium offset of private health insurance during a mobilization; also, the reserve retirement age could be as low as 53, for 34 years service, under the proposal.

     S.407 (Tim Johnson, D-SD) Keep Our Promise To America's Military Retirees Act would allow military retirees and their dependents the option to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP); waive Medicare Part B premiums for retirees who entered service before December 7, 1956; and provide drug reimbursement at TRICARE network rates to beneficiaries who do not have access to a pharmacy in the TRICARE retail network. Compliment of H.R. 602.

     S. 438 (John Ensign, R-NV) would repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps on Medicare Part B. Currently a provision in permanent law would cap Medicare payments for such therapy to $1,500 annually - a very low amount for what can be very expensive care for stroke victims and others. Congress passed legislation deferring implementation of the caps until 1 JAN 05. Unless the deferral is extended again or the original law is repealed the, cap will be instituted next year.

     S.484 (John Warner, R-VA) would allow certain insurance premiums such as Tricare Prime enrollment fees, Tricare Standard supplement insurance, Tricare dental, and Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) premiums to be paid with pre-tax dollars.

     S. 558 (Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV) would authorize full concurrent receipt of retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for all disabled retirees who were eligible to retire independent of any disability. This is the Senate counterpart of Rep. Mike Bilirakis' H.R. 303.

     H.R. 515 (Rep. Lane Evans, D-IL) Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2005
is a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an assured adequate level of funding for veterans health care.

     H.R.772 (Rep. Jim Matheson, D-UT) Combat for College Bill would allow activated reservists who accrue two years of non-consecutive active duty within five years of Sept. 11, 2001 to qualify for full educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill. Currently, reservists who serve at least two years of continuous active duty are eligible for 80% of active duty MGIB benefits. H.R. 772 recognizes that many Guard and Reserve members have been called up repeatedly since 9/11, but breaks in service deny them the opportunity to qualify for the active duty MGIB.

     H.R. 836 (Rep. Charlie Norwood, D-GA) would increase TRICARE Standard Reimbursement Rates to be the same, or as similar as possible to, the reimbursement rates and cost sharing requirements under the Blue
Cross/Blue Shield Standard Plan provided under the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program.

     H.R. 916 (Phil English, R-PA) is the House counterpart to S. 438.

     H.R. 994 (Rep. Tom Davis, R-VA) is the House counterpart to S. 484.

You can track cosponsorship, current status, and other information on selected bills of interest on MOAA's Web site at: http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/  By just entering your ZIP code, you can send your legislators suggested messages urging support.
[Source: MOAA & TREA Leg Up 4 FEB 05]

Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks Offer:  Anheuser-Busch announced that it is offering to all U.S. servicemen and women a Complimentary single-day admission to any of its Seaworld and Busch Gardens theme parks members from 7 FEB thru 31 DEC 05. This admission is extended to active duty military representing all five service branches, active members of a reserve or National Guard unit, and/or up to three direct dependants. He or she need only register, either online at  http://www.herosalute.com  or in the entrance plaza of participating parks, and show a Department of Defense photo ID. Dependents may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult must accompany minor dependents. Busch Gardens Williamsburg and SeaWorld San Antonio are seasonal operations that will remain closed until spring 2005. Military personnel interested in visiting those parks can check operating schedules at  http://www.herosalute.com  The remaining parks, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld San Diego are open year round. [Source: POVA Tony Newcomb msg dtd 17 FEB 05]

VA Compensation Rate Tables 2005:  As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004, Public Law 108-363, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has given notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates. These adjustments effective 1 DEC 04 affect the compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs are:

Disability Compensation Rates (10%-100% Combined Degree Only)
     1. Veteran Only Rates: 10% $108 ~ 20% $210 ~ 30% $324 ~40% $466 ~ 50% $663 ~ 60% $839 ~70% $1,056 ~80% $1,227 ~90% $1,380 ~100% $2,299

     2. Veteran w/Child only: 10% $108 ~ 20% $210 ~ 30% $350 ~40% $501 ~ 50% $707 ~ 60% $891 ~70% $1,117 ~80% $1,297 ~90% $1,459 ~100% $2,387

     3. Veteran w/Spouse only: 10% $108 ~ 20% $210 ~ 30% $363 ~40% $518 ~ 50% $728 ~ 60% $917 ~70% $1,147 ~80% $1,331 ~90% $1,497 ~100% $2,429

     4. Veteran with Spouse & Child: 10% $108 ~ 20% $210 ~ 30% $391 ~40% $555 ~ 50% $775 ~ 60% $973 ~70% $1,212 ~80% $1,406 ~90% $1,581 ~100% $2,523

     5. Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 or helpless: 30% $19 ~40% $26 ~ 50% $33 ~ 60% $39 ~70% $46 ~80% $52 ~90% $59 ~100% $66

     6. Add for Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18: 30% $62 ~40% $82 ~ 50% $103 ~ 60% $124 ~70% $144 ~80% $165 ~90% $186 ~100% $117

     Note: Additional amounts are payable to veterans with ratings of more than 30% with dependent parents or a spouse meeting aid and attendance criteria.

DIC for Surviving Spouses

     Veteran's Death Was On or After 1 January 1993: Basic Monthly Rate = $993

     Veteran's Death Was Before 1 January 1993
          1. E-1 thru E-6 $993 ~ E-7 1027 ~ E-8 1,084 ~ E-9 $1,131
          2. W-1 $1,049 ~ W-2 1,091 ~W-3 1,123 ~ W-4 $1,184
          3. O-1 $1,049 ~ O-2 1,084 ~O-3 1,160 ~ O-4 1,217 ~ O-5 1,351 ~ O-6 1,523 ~O-7 1,645 ~O-8 1,805 ~O-9 1,931 ~ O-10 $2,118

Additional Allowances:

  * Add $213 if at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for those same 8 years.

  * Add $247 per child allowance for each dependent child under age 18.

  * Add $118 if the surviving spouse is entitled to Housebound.

     To inquire concerning the status of compensation, DIC, pension, burial, accrued, clothing allowance, automobile, specially adapted housing, or Spina Bifida claim or to ask any general Compensation & Pension (C&P) benefit question, call the VA toll-free number 1-800-827-1000
[Source: TREA Leg Up 24 FEB 05 &  http://www.va.gov  rate tables]

Google Map:  There are many mapping services available...Yahoo, Expedia, Mapquest, and many others. However, there is a new one offered by Google at  http://maps.google.com  that incorporates the best features of most and is extremely user friendly. It use the same NAVTEQ digital map data as used by many other mapping services, but with a much nicer interface You can grab the map and scroll within the display window without having to click-to-redraw the whole map and see a clean, uncluttered, and easy to assimilate map. For searching you can enter the whole address as a search term.....no need to break it into separate fields such as number, street, town, zip, etc. You can also search for some places without having to know the address at all. With this mapping system you can obtain printable turn-by-turn driving directions by entering:

  * Any city & state to any other city & state or address within that city.

  * Any local address to any city & state or a local address within that city.

  * Any city's common generic term such as airport, library, museum, cemetery, hotel, etc. or commonly known name such as White House, Disneyland, Pentagon, Andrews Air force Base, etc. If available, the site will provide the local address, telephone number, and related web site addee for that location.

  * Total mileage and estimated time to reach the above locations.

Whether planning a trip or just going across town to an unknown location this site, will save you time and trouble.

[Source: "NCPOA - Don Harribine msg dtd 20 FEB 05 ++]

Vet Cemetery Florida (New):  Three properties in Sarasota County, Fla., will be evaluated over the next year by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) before it chooses one as the site of a future national cemetery. VA has announced the locations along with a $100,000 contract for an environmental assessment of the sites. More than 400,000 veterans live within 75 miles of the three sites. Two sites are located on Fruitville Rd., east of I-95; the third is on State Road 72, east of I-95. All have numerous favorable characteristics for cemetery development. VA needs 400 acres, which each of the three sites has. The properties have access to good roads, are near the center of the area's veteran population east of the city of Sarasota, and were cleared either for farming or cattle grazing and have minimal wetlands or other impediments to development. The planned assessment of the three sites will determine the impact of a new cemetery on the environment and examine the physical factors that could affect the feasibility of a cemetery's operation, factors such as endangered species or archaeological remains. The firm MACTEC Engineering, of Sterling VA was awarded the contract to perform the assessment. VA expects a cemetery to be partially constructed and open for burials by 2009. The environmental assessment follows visits to an unprecedented number of potential sites that were offered for sale to the government and represented an extremely patriotic gesture on the part of all property owners. Developing a national cemetery is a multi-year process. Florida Department of Veterans Affairs representatives visited 24 sites in five counties - Manatee, Highlands, Desoto and Charlotte, in addition to Sarasota County. After the environmental assessment is completed and a preferred site selected, if funding is available in 2006, VA will conduct surveys, appraisals and title review on the top site and purchase it. Later steps will include master planning, design and construction. Florida veterans currently have a choice for burial at:

  * Barrancas National Cemetery, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL 32508-1099 Tel: (850) 452-3357 or 4196
  * Bay Pines National Cemetery, P.O. Box 477, Bay Pines, FL 33504-0477 Tel: (352) 793-7740
  * Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513 Tel: (352) 793-7740 or 1074
  * Saint. Augustine National Cemetery, 104 Marine Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Tel: (352) 793-7740

     All veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. In the midst of the largest expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 120 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico. More than three million Americans - including veterans of every war and conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the current war on terrorism - are buried in VA's national cemeteries. VA also provides grants to states to build new or expand existing state veterans' cemeteries to complement national cemeteries. [Source: VA News Release 28 JAN 05 ++]

Reserve Mobilization Compensation Pay:  Several lawmakers have proposed bills that would have the government make up any differences in pay for mobilized reservists whose military wages are less than what they make in their civilian jobs. However, the Pentagon's chief of reserve affairs opposes any plans to compensate some reservists who lose income when mobilized, saying this would create inequities among deployed troops. Thomas Hall, a retired Navy rear admiral and assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, said such a move would go against his philosophy that reserve pay and benefits should be as closely aligned as possible with that of active-duty members. During a meeting with military writers in mid-February he said the reserve and National Guard have shifted from being strategic Cold War backup forces to operational reserves involved in regular deployments. This shift makes eliminating differences between reserve and active-duty benefits more important than ever vice creating new ones. The Pentagon has found no widespread problems with reserve pay that would merit such a move. Pentagon analysts have looked at the issue and found that about one-third of mobilized reserve and Guard members lose money when mobilized, one-third make about the same, and one-third make more while in uniform. Typical losses for the one-third who make less in uniform are about $250 per month. On the other hand many reservists can earn substantially more on active duty, particularly if they serve in a combat zone and qualify for tax exclusions. DoD's view has been that Guardsmen, reservists and active duty need to be compensated equally with the same salary when they are doing the same job. According to Hall, any attempt to pay a supplement for lost civilian wages would create a conflict with active-duty people. He pointed out that may private firms offer pay differentials to employees who take a pay cut when called up for active duty and noted that income surveys tend to be self-reported by service members who do not always consider their untaxed allowances and benefits when comparing their military and civilian wages. He did acknowledge there is still plenty of room for improvement in reserve pay, including a computerized pay system expected to eliminate many errors. And there are three areas of bonus or incentives (the MGIB, affiliation bonuses, and re-enlistment bonuses), authorities at that the Pentagon want to strengthen. The Bush administration has sought to pay up to $10,000 in affiliation bonuses for active-duty members and other veterans who agree to join a drilling reserve unit as part of its 2005 emergency supplemental spending request. Currently, these bonuses are worth $50 per month. The reserves also recently began paying re-enlistment bonuses of up to $15,000.
[Source: NavyTimes staff writer Vince Crawley article 7 MAR 05]

OMCC:  The Defense Department has joined forces with national agencies to help Guard and Reserve families in finding and affording childcare while Mom or Dad is deployed in support of the global war on terrorism. The new program is dubbed Operation Military Child Care (OMCC). DoD, in partnership with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), which administers the program, designed this initiative to benefit those who do not live near military installations. While OMCC doesn't fully subsidize childcare, it does work to reduce the financial burden. The fees are based on a sliding scale that takes into consideration total family income and the care provider's actual cost, among other things. To take part in the program, a family member would apply through NACCRRA via a special Web site or by a toll-free call to (800) 424-2246. The child-care provider also must apply-an important step because of how the subsidy, which comes through the Children and Youth office, is paid out. The program officially kicked off 3 MAR 05 but has been operational as a pilot program since late NOV 04. NACCRRA also supports the Guard and Reserve through a program called Operation Child Care (OCC). OCC is a voluntary NACCRRA program that provides up to six hours of free child care to Guard and Reserve families whose deployed servicemember is returning home for rest and recuperation. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 11 MAR 05]

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