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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.

30 Aug 04
NPRC Spoof  (Military records are NOT being destroyed)
CRSC Update 24  (Backlog almost gone)
Servers Block Bulletin Update 01  (AOL purge ongoing)
Air Force Pharmacy Policy Update 01  (Some medications named)
VA Diabetes Mellitus Care Update 01  (Kudos to the VA)
Death of U.S. Citizen Abroad Report  (SF-192 necessity)
USCG WWII Veterans Outreach Campaign  (Oral histories requested)
Reserves Early Tricare Access  (Reimbursement from 6 NOV 03)
VA Home Loan Update 03  (Increase to $333,700 proposed)
COLA 2005 Update 02  (New projection 3/.0%)
National Debt  (U.S. citizens owe $247,341.97 each)
VA Medical Facilities Management  (H.R. 4768)
SBP for Reservist  (Eligibility & Options)
USFSPA Lawsuit Update 05  (Sept 10 court date)
VA Survivors Benefits Available  (Summary)

NPRC Spoof:  A message is being sent around the military community via email that alleges the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is automating their storage and management of our military records. When this is complete they plan to destroy the hard copies of records unless requested by the veteran or a deceased veteran's family to send those records to them. It further states that if a veteran or members of the veteran's family wants to request those records be sent to them instead of being destroyed they can make their request by mail to: National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis MO 63132-5100 or make their request online at http://vetrecs.archives.gov/
     The only part of this allegation that is true is the procedure provided for obtaining copies of a veterans records. There is a study, repeat study, at NPRC to possibly digitize CIVILIAN personnel files if a former federal CIVILIAN employee returns to federal CIVILIAN service. Rather than send the new agency paper, the Civilian Personnel Records area of NPRC may scan and transmit them electronically. The paper file would then go back on the shelf. For the last 10 years all the military services have stored their permanent military personnel records on electronic media. Prior to that the records were on microfiche, and before 1972 those records were paper only. At this time NPRC receives, stores and
services military personnel records only in paper and/or fiche. [Source: NPRC Management Analyst msg dtd 28 AUG 04]

CRSC Update 24: On 26 AUG 04 numerous representatives from the Military Coalition (TMC) met with the Service Chiefs of the CRSC branches and representatives from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The meeting was initiated by Air Force CRSC representatives and was expanded to the other services to let the associations know that there is $22 Billion available for CRSC payments and that veterans should apply if they have not done so before. They reported that the Army has 76 contract employees in place and 6 Military supervisors working on their claims. The Army, which has had almost 30,000 CRSC applications (more than the other services combined) still has a backlog of something over 8,000 claims. They have made good progress in the past several weeks but still expect that it will take until early spring before they can eliminate their backlog. They are currently clearing around 400 cases a week but are receiving 200 new ones. Progress happened quickly when they recently received a large amount of records from the VA. The Air Force has 18 people working on their cases and is currently working on cases as they come in which says they are caught up. The Navy/Marine CRSC head stated that they have 18 contractors and 7 military members supervising. They recently made gigantic progress on their backlog when they too received a large number of records from the VA. They currently only have 211 cases backlogged and expect to clear them shortly. The service and finance representatives also engaged in a productive discussion of remaining problem areas, along with the reasons for the problems and how they might be resolved. These included individual unemployability payments for 100% disabled retirees, DFAS computer reprogramming challenges, and implementation alternatives for the annual "open season" choice between CRSC and concurrent receipt for retirees eligible for both. The services shared some important tips for a successful application:

  * Documentation is the key-applicants need to show, via official documentation, how the disability was incurred. Important documents: DD-214, complete VA ratings decisions and pertinent medical records.

  * Links of the disability to a discrete combat- or operations-related episode or incident are extremely important-for example, medical reports or
citations showing that a gunshot wound was sustained during combat operations or combat training, or that a fighter pilot's back injury can be
traced to a specific in-flight ejection.

  * Repetitive exposure claims (hearing loss, degenerative conditions, etc) are harder to approve. The applicant must show a clear pattern of the
disability's onset during active service. At the very least during exit physical/initial VA medical exam-for example, a helicopter pilot with hearing loss would need to provide documentation of significant hearing loss during his active duty via successively worsening hearing tests.

  * Guard and Reserve retirees must be eligible to receive retired pay (i.e., at least age 60) to be eligible for CRSC payments. Since the purpose
of CRSC, in effect, is to restore lost retired pay value that has been offset by VA disability compensation, there's no value to restore if there's no lost retired pay.

     The service representatives had expected an additional surge of applications this year. This was because of the expansion of CRSC eligibility criteria to include Guard and Reserve members with 20 qualifying years of service (as opposed to the previous requirement for 7,200 retirement points) and the expansion to cover combat or operations-related disability ratings below 50%. They indicated surprise - and disappointment - that there has been no such major surge, because that means there are thousands of disabled retirees who are not getting the CRSC payments they are eligible for and deserve. They have asked the TMC for help in conducting an outreach program to locate potential eligibles and urge them to apply. They "want" to give this $22 billion to those deserving veterans and are working on it in a measured and precise manner to ensure that the fewest possible amount of mistakes are made. DFAS expects everyone eligible for IU payments will receive their second payment in September along with the back payments due. Also they expect that all those who are eligible for SMC payments will receive those by October.
     Anyone who has questions or needs a status update on their CRSC application is encouraged to write their respective service with their
questions. That will be the easiest for them and you to keep track of the inquiry. Service Chiefs from each branch stated that if you question the
decisions made or have new evidence or VA decisions they are "Always happy to do reconsiderations". If you or anyone you know might be qualified or you are not sure, fill out an application. To get an application on line go to  http://www.dior.whs.mil/forms/DD2860T.PDF and download the form. Many things have been said and written about the various services and their initial lack of responsiveness. However, at the meeting was a group of highly professional military and civilian members who are bending over backwards and going above and beyond what is expected of them.  [Source: NAUS &MOAA Leg Up 27 AUG 04]

Servers Block Bulletin Update 01: AOL and their affiliate CS continues to be a major problem. From the 15 AUG Bulletin transmission 146 AOL & CS addees were returned and purged from the Bulletin directory. Input from AOL users have provided a couple of things that AOL customers can do to reduce the possibility of their mail being blocked:

     1. Ensure the  raoemo@mozcom.com  email address is entered in your address book.

     2. Routinely check your Spam Folder and click on "this is not spam" for all the items you want. If you find the Bulletin send us an email asking to reinstate you and retransmit the last Bulletin as a test to verify it will no longer be placed in that folder by AOL.

     3. AOL provides their users a button on their interface that says something to the effect that "this message is spam", and when they highlight a message and push it, the sender gets a "complaint" logged against them. No one at AOL reads this stuff, but their computers keep track of them and after they reach a certain percentage of the mail sent by one email addee vs. how many complaints they get, they block the sender's entire system. Apparently, the spam button is next to the delete button, so if you are not careful you inadvertently register a complaint against RAO Baguio. Even if we were able to get AOL to remove RAO Baguio from their spam list it would automatically be placed back on when enough
readers hit the wrong button. Because of the above and other things that AOL is doing we will continue our purging policy of deleting your email
addee from the Bulletin directory the first time it is returned. If we have an alternate on file we will instead replace the AOL email addee with it.

     MSN & Hotmail users will experience their Bulletins being passed to their junk mail file if the Bulletin content contains something that their
server's filters do not like. If you use these servers and do not receive your Bulletin on the 15th or 30th of the month check your junk mail file. If there, right click your mouse and go the menu. Then click on to "Add Sender to Safe List" so future Bulletins are not blocked.

[Source: Baguio RAO Director 30 AUG 04]

Air Force Pharmacy Policy Update 01:  Citing rising cost and tight budgets, the Air Force is pulling some popular costly drugs from their 74
pharmacies. This move will impact on patients and other service's pharmacies as retires and dependents shift to alternate sources to obtain what they need. There are approximately 150 high use medications on the DoD/VA contract list. Some of the initial changes in available medications
from the list are:

  * The allergy medicine Allergera will be replaced by the generic form of Claritan.
  * Zyrtec cannot be added to a pharmacy's routine stock unless it already exists in their routine inventory.
  * Vioxx and Mobic will replace the anti-inflammatory drugs Celebrex and Bextra.
  * Diabetics will be switched from the insulin Humalog to Novolog as long as it can be done safely.

     Army and Navy pharmacies carry the same drugs the Air Force is replacing and for the moment have not indicated any plans to change. The military Coalition made of about 30 military and veteran advocacy groups oppose the change in Air Force policy. It shifts the costs to DoD's other services with pharmacies near Air Force bases or to patients who must buy the drugs locally or through cost share programs if they do not want to change their medications. Also, the Air Force policy change inappropriately makes budget considerations vice patient care the primary driver of formulary limits. Rising cost has been a concern for military officials in recent years, and throughout the entire health-care industry. Last fiscal year the Pentagon spent $3.8 Billion on its pharmacy benefit. This fiscal year costs are projected to be $4.8 billion.
[Source: Navy Times Deborah Funk article 16 AUG 04]

VA Diabetes Mellitus Care Update 01:  Diabetic patients treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs received better care than diabetics under managed health care plans, according to a study published 17 AUG 04 by Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers found that diabetics treated by the VA had gained better control over their cholesterol and gotten more frequent blood tests and eye and foot exams than diabetics treated by the managed care groups. The study compared 6,900 diabetics in eight managed care health plans with some 1,300 diabetics in five VA medical centers in California, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. Conclusions published by AIM: "Diabetes processes of care and two of three intermediate outcomes were better for patients in the VA system than for patients in commercial managed care. However, both VA and commercial managed care had room for improvement, especially for blood pressure control."
[Source: Armed Forces News Issue 20 AUG 04]

Death of U.S. Citizen Abroad Report:  The death of a U.S. citizen should be reported immediately to the Embassy. The report should include the deceased person's name, date and place of birth, passport number, date and place of death, cause of death, and the location of the remains. Also, the full name and address of the next of kin is required so that they can determine their instructions regarding arrangements for the deceased. The Embassy will notify the next of kin if necessary and carry out their instructions regarding the disposition of remains. Unless the legal next of kin is in the country of death the Embassy acts on behalf of the executor as the provisional custodian of the estate. The toll-free
telephone number for the office of Overseas Citizen's Services (OCS) in the Department of State is (888) 407-4747. Outside the US or Canada dial (317) 472-2328. The hotline is available during the hours 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday. At all other times call the Department of State at 202-647-4000. In the Philippines during working hours the appropriate Embassy office is the American Citizen Services Unit Tel: (63) (2) 528-6300 X 2246. After working hours, the Embassy duty officer should be contacted as soon as possible at (63) (2) 528-6300. Listen to the recording for instructions on how to contact the duty officer.  The Embassy prepares a Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad Form FS-192 (Optional Form 180) for each American who dies abroad and whose death is reported to the Embassy. To do so they require:

     1. the original U.S. passport of the deceased and/or certificate of naturalization (if applicable),
     2. original or certified copy of the local death certificate,
     3. completed Embassy-issued death questionnaire,
     4. copy of passport or other photo identification of the next-of-kin, and
     5. original or certified copies of documents establishing relationship of the next-of-kin to the deceased.

     This certificate is based on the local death certificate and is valid for use in the United States. It provides all essential facts concerning the
death and custody of the personal estate of the deceased. A certified copy of the form will be forwarded to the next of kin or legal representative. The next-of-kin will find this Report of assistance in dealing with insurance companies, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Banks or in any situation in which he/she will need proof of death. The embassy or consulate may issue six or more of the form FS-192 free. Extra copies can be obtained form the Department of State, Washington DC. The cost is $30 for the first one and $20 for each additional copy requested which may be remitted by personal check or U.S. money order payable to Passport Services or Department of State. The address is U.S. Department of State, Passport Services & Correspondence Branch, Ste. 510, 1111 19th St. NW, Washington DC 20522-1705. You can call (202) 955-0307 if you have any questions. It may take the Correspondence Branch six months or more to respond, pending receipt and filing of Form FS-192. If possible recommend including a copy of the original Form FS-192 issued with your signed letter request.
[Source: ACS U.S. Embassy Manila & http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwha019.html AUG 04]

USCG WWII Veterans Outreach Campaign:  The U.S. Coast Guard announced an initiative to identify and collect the oral histories of its World War II veterans. Coast Guard World War II veterans--including SPARs and Merchant Marine--are encouraged to record their histories online with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project at  http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets Those veterans needing assistance in recording their stories can receive help from their local Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs contact. More information on the Coast Guard's role in World War II can be found at the Coast Guard Historian's website  http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/collect.html  To find the latest news and special features concerning the Coast Guard, visit the Coast Guard Community Center website  http://www.military.com/Community/Home/1,14700,COASTG,00.html  [Source: Military Report 3 AUG 04]

Reserves Early Tricare Access:  DoD announced the start of a new temporary program authorized under section 703 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2004. The program provides members of the Reserve Component (RC) activated in support of a contingency operation for more than 30 days and family members early access to TRICARE medical and dental benefits. Benefits under this program are in effect 6 NOV 03 though 31 DEC 04, the date the temporary benefits end, unless extended by law. To be eligible for the temporary benefit, RC members and their family members must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) and be Tricare eligible. The member's Service personnel office is responsible for determining the member's eligibility for the early Tricare benefit. Tricare eligibility for the RC sponsor and family members begins either on the day the members receives-delayed-effective-date active duty orders or 60 days before the member reports to active duty, whichever is later. Tricare Management Activity is sending a one-time letter to all affected RC members who were eligible 6 NOV 03 though 31 DEC 04. After that time, RC members who were eligible for the early Tricare Benefit will be notified by their Service personnel office when they receive their delayed-effective-date active duty orders. Members may verify their eligibility through the secure Guard and Reserve Web portal at  http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/Guard-ReservePortal  Members who require assistance to verify eligibility for the early Tricare benefit may contact their Service personnel office. A list of Service contacts is available on the Tricare site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/reserve/reservepoc.cfm  Additional information on the "early" TRICARE benefit, under Section 703, including a fact sheet with Service personnel contact information, is also available on the TRICARE Web site at  http://www.tricare.osd.mil/Factsheets  and on the Reserve Component Web site at  http://www.defenselink.mil/ra   In order to apply for reimbursement, eligible members must submit a Tricare (CHAMPUS) claim form, a copy of their itemized bill, an explanation of benefits, and proof of payment (if the bill was already paid) to their regional Tricare claims processor. Claims processing instructions and a downloadable Tricare claims form, DD Form 2642, are available at local Tricare service centers or from Tricare regional contractors, or may be downloaded from the Tricare Web site.
[Source: MOAA Benefit Info Update AUG 04]

VA Home Loan Update 03:  The house approved a bill on 23 JUN 04 that would increase the VA maximum home loan amount from $240,000 to $333, 700. It includes a provision to link the amount to the national Freddie Max index to guarantee the VA limit increases each year. H.R. 4345 would offer qualified vets the opportunity to r3eceive a loan guaranty of up to 25%, or $83,425, on a mortgage of $333,700. Currently VA provides loan guarantees of up to $60,000 on a maximum mortgage of $240,000. In the last 60 years, VA's home loan program has financed more than 18 million mortgages. Before the bill can become law it must go before a conference committee of the House and Senate members to iron out any differences and then be forwarded to the President for signature. Information on the VA home loan program is available at http://www.homeloans.va.gov  [Source: VFW Magazine AUG 04]

COLA 2005 Update 02:  Last month a 2005 COLA in the neighborhood of 3.4% was projected. This week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped about 0.2 percent. The size of the 2005 COLA now depends on what the CPI will do in the last two months of the fiscal year, which is anybody's guess. The BLS will post the final percentage on October 15th. The last time there was a drop in the July CPI was 2001, after which it was flat in August and gained 0.6% in September. In five of the last six years, the CPI has gained at least 0.5% in the last two months. The exception was 1998, when it gained 0.2%. So the best guess is that the 2005 COLA will be somewhere between 2.8% and 3.1%. One caution to bear in mind, is that in two of the last three years, the December CPI number actually ended up lower than the July-through-September average. That kind of volatility makes any projection pretty iffy. To view detailed CPI data and COLA calculations for the last six years, refer to  http://www.moaa.org/FinancialCenter/CPI.asp   For a more extensive history of military COLAs refer to http://www.moaa.org/FinancialCenter/COLAincreases.asp  [Source: MOAA Leg Up 20 AUG 04]

National Debt:  The National Debt on July 12, 2004, was $7,265,299,676,980.06. The U.S. population on July 14, 2004 at 8:59 am EDT was estimated to be 293,735,011. If you divide the National Debt of 7 trillion dollars by the number of men, women, and children, we each owed
$247,341.97 on 14 July. To track at any given time the amount you owe you can get the latest figures on debt at  http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/  and population at  http://www.census.gov  Intragovernmental holdings, such as the Social Security Trust Fund make up 40% or approximately three trillion dollars of the National Debt ($3,044,908,289.853.89 ). [Source: NAUS Update for 16 JUL 04]

VA Medical Facilities Management:  The House Health Subcommittee has approved the "Veterans Medical Facilities Management Act of 2004". The bill, H.R. 4768 sponsored by the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Congressman Rob Simmons of Connecticut, provides VA with increased flexibility to better manage their capital assets to meet the needs of America's veterans. It is expected to go before the full Committee later this month. If approved in its current form this bill will:

  * Provide VA with the funding authority to open 16 new outpatient clinics. The locations of these facilities are: Wilmington, North Carolina;
Greenville, North Carolina; Norfolk VA; Summerfield FL; Knoxville TN; Toledo OH; Crown Point IN; Fort Worth TX; Plano TX; San Antonio TX; Corpus Christi TX; Harlingen TX; Denver CO; Oakland CA; and San Diego CA (2 clinics).

  * Give VA the authority to enter into a 75-year lease for land on which to construct a new medical facility on the Fitzsimons Campus of the
University of Colorado, in Aurora CO. The Fitzsimons project itself was authorized in separate legislation, Public Law 108-170, signed by President Bush last year.

  * Change the way in which the Department of Veterans Affairs handles the transfer of excess properties. The bill would allow VA to retain the
proceeds from any sales, leases, or transfers of excess, unneeded properties and facilities to other agencies or organizations. The proceeds
would be placed into a new Capital Asset Fund, which could then be used by VA to improve the delivery of health care services to veterans.

  * Place a requirement on VA that before it could take advantage of the new Capital Asset Fund, it would have to certify that the number of
long-term care beds for elder veterans met its statutory requirement, and that a plan was in place to continue meeting that requirement.

  * Allow VA to transfer facilities to qualified providers of homeless veterans services at below market prices.

  * Includes new language to help protect VA's historic properties.

     H.R. 4768 would require VA to make annual reports to Congress on the status of all historically significant facilities, buildings, and properties. The bill would also allow VA to use the Capital Asset Fund to help preserve or adaptively reuse historic VA properties.
[Source: NAUS Update for 16 JUL 04]

SBP for Reservist:  Reservists with 20 years of satisfactory service are eligible for retired pay at age 60. If they die before turning age 60 that
entitlement to retired pay ends. If this happens there is a way for designated persons to receive a portion of the veterans retirement pay in the form of a monthly annuity through the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP).. When reservists receive their 20-year letter they
have available to them three options:

     1. No election until age 60 with spousal consent: Servicemembers can decline coverage until they reach age 60, but they will not have coverage between retirement eligibility and age 60. Coverage after age 60 will remain subject to the retiree's election upon reaching that age.

     2. Deferred annuity with spousal consent: The survivor annuity will begin when a servicemember would have turned 60, if the member dies before reaching that age. If the member lives to age 60, the annuity starts the day after his or her death.

      3. Immediate annuity: The survivor annuity begins the day after the servicemembers death, regardless of his or her age.

     The annuity is 55% of the base pay amount before the annuitant's age 62 and might be reduced to as low as 35% after that age if the annuitant is eligible for social security poayments on the member's account. The maximum base amount is the servicemember's gross monthly retired pay, but it could be less. The servicemember can select the base amount, as long as she or he receives at least $300 a month in retired pay. Retirees can voluntarily discontinue the RCSBP during a one year period beginning on the second anniversary of the date they became eligible to receive retired pay. A recall to active duty following retirement does not change this date. Once participation is discontinued there will be no refund of premiums, no benefits will be paid in conjunction with previous participation, and a member may not resume participation for any
beneficiary. Members can elect beneficiaries as follows:

  * SPOUSE: An annuity is paid to the eligible spouse for life, unless the spouse remarries before her age 55.

  * SPOUSE & CHILDREN: The spouse is the primary beneficiary, and the children are contingent beneficiaries.

  * CHILDREN ONLY: Children receive an annuity until age 18, or 22 if they are enrolled in school full time.

  * INCAPACITATED CHILDREN: Receive an annuity as long as they remain unmarried and disabled.

  * FORMER SPOUSE: Annuity is paid to the elected former spouse.

  * FORMER SPOUSE & CHILDREN : The former spouse is primary beneficiary and the children are contingent beneficiaries.

  * INSURABLE INTEREST PERSON: Annuity is paid for life of the beneficiary. This can only be a person who depends on your income for
support such as a parent, dependent or non-dependent child, relative, or associate.

[Source: TROA Magazine AUG 04]

USFSPA Lawsuit Update 05:  A group of 58 military retirees and active duty service members who are divorced are suing to overturn a federal law that enables their ex-spouses to share in their retainer or retirement pay. Their group, the USFSPA Litigation Support Group (ULSG), is challenging the constitutionality of the Uniform Services Former Spouses' Protection Act in court after legislative efforts to amend it failed. The ULSG wants to return to the policy that applied before 1981, the year that the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in McCarty v. McCarty that divorce courts could not touch veterans' retainer or retirement pay. The USFSPA undid that Supreme Court ruling. In JUL 2004, the government filed a motion to dismiss the ULSG's lawsuit on several grounds. ULSG, in turn, filed an in-depth rebuttal. A hearing on the government's motion is scheduled for September 10 in the U.S. District court in Alexandria, VA. [Source: NAUS Leg Up 27 AUG 04]

VA Survivors Benefits Available:  The VA has a variety of programs to assist the survivors of military personnel who die on active duty. Regardless of whether the in-service death is due to combat, accident or disease, the following eligibility criteria, services, and benefits apply:

  * Reservists and National Guard: When a member of the Reserves or National Guard dies while federally activated or on inactive duty for
training, the death is considered service-connected for VA death benefits. Activation of a National Guard unit by a governor alone in support of
current security operations does not qualify unit members for these VA benefits, except life insurance.

  * Casualty Assistance Program: This VA program gives personal attention to surviving family members after in-service deaths, and to help
them with benefit information and applications. A casualty assistance officer is designated at each of VA's 57 regional offices. These VA officers work closely with military casualty officers to ensure timely assistance is available to beneficiaries.

  * Monthly Payments for Spouse & Children When a service member dies while on active duty, the death is considered service-connected unless it was due to willful misconduct. VA pays at least $967 a month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation to surviving spouses. In most cases, survivors' claims are processed within 48 hours. In some cases VA can pay more than $967 a month, such as a $241 benefit for each dependent child who is unmarried and under age 18 or up to age 23 if studying at a VA-approved school. Payments are increased if the surviving spouse is housebound or needs a home aide. The basic rate for survivors is adjusted annually and payments continue generally until the death or remarriage of the spouse before age 57. Remarriage after age 57 does not affect benefits. Additional information about benefits for family members, to include low-income parents of the veteran, is available at  http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/dependents

  * Life Insurance: Most service members and reservists take VA's life insurance coverage, Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, though a few decline coverage. Most choose coverage at the highest levels and their designated beneficiary receives a payment of $250,000. VA has paid every claim related to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom within 48 hours of receiving the necessary paperwork. VA also offers beneficiaries free, personalized financial planning through a financial services company. More information is available at  http://www.insurance.va.gov  

  * Educational Assistance: When an active-duty service member dies, VA's Survivors' and Dependents'Educational Assistance Program generally provides up to 45 months of education benefits to the unremarried surviving spouse for 10 years, or for children aged 18 to 26. Currently the rate is $788 a month for full-time attendance, with lesser amounts for part-time education. This benefit may be used to pursue secondary school programs; associate, bachelor or graduate degrees; technical or vocational training; apprenticeships; and other types of training, including work-study programs. More information is available at  http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/C35pam.htm  

  * Refund of Service Member's Unused GI Bill Contribution: If the deceased service member had contributed to the Montgomery GI Bill education program, the designated life insurance beneficiary or surviving spouse is entitled to a refund of the money that was collected through payroll deduction but was not awarded in education benefits during the service member's lifetime. Most active-duty military members participate in this educational benefit program, which deducts $1,200 from their pay at $100 monthly during their first year of service.

  * Home Loans: Surviving spouses of military members may be eligible for a VA-guaranteed home loan from a private lender. The loan may be used to purchase, construct or improve a home, to refinance an existing mortgage or for certain other purposes. As with the program for veterans, VA guarantees part of the total loan, permitting the purchaser to obtain a mortgage with a competitive interest rate. Except for manufactured homes and other select cases, the surviving spouse may obtain a no-down payment loan if the lender agrees.

  * Refer to separate Bulletin article on burial locations available and financial assistance.

  * Refer to DoD's Tricare program for survivor's health benefits at  http://www.tricare.osd.mil  

     More information about how VA services apply in individual cases is available from veterans services representatives at (800) 827-1000. People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe on the internet at:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm  [Source: VANEWS-L 17 Aug 04]

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