eBenefits & Military Appreciation Month

There is a rumor that Spring is in the air and temperatures are rising. Now remember, this is Indiana and it could be snowing next week. As the weather warms up so do request for donations and help from many charities and organizations. Veterans are a very visible group and there are many organizations that claim they want to help them. If you want to reach out and help, there are a number of proven valid groups that you should look into.

May is the start of National Military Appreciation Month. It is a declaration that encourages U.S. citizens to observe the month in a symbol of unity. This month honors the current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom.

There are lots of ways to show your gratitude for our military veterans and active duty members. You can say thank you to veterans and service members. They can be found having breakfast in restaurants, shopping for groceries, or walking down the street. They can often be identified by their ball caps and or jackets with patches of service branches and units.

Active military members, wherever they are, appreciate a letter from home. Or maybe you can send a care package to someone who is deployed overseas. Depending on the contents, make sure you designate male or female. You can volunteer with a local veterans’ group or organization or maybe attend an event. You can also support one of the many great organizations that are serving active and retired members of our military and their families.

For more information about National Military Appreciation Month, go to   https://militarybenefits.info/national-military-appreciation-month/#ixzz5D4nJ2wwi

If you would like to donate to help veterans or maybe help out personally, there is a web site that lists groups and organizations that have been vetted and reviewed. The site is www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=531. Funky looking address but the site holds a wealth of information. The groups are divided into three groups: Wounded Troops Services, Military Social Services and Military Family Support.

A couple examples of each group are as follows. Wounded Troops Services: Hope for Warriors, Adaptive Sports Center, The Gary Sinise Foundation. Military Social Services: Challenged Athletes, Hire Heroes USA, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Military Family Support: Air Force Aid Society, National Veterans Foundation, Our Military Kids.

New Year & Maybe Some New Choices

It's the start of a new year, a new administration and a new head of Veterans Affairs. What the coming years will bring is anyone's guess. There are a few changes in the pipeline that could effect veterans and their families.

For Indiana veterans there a couple things you should know. If you have a 10% or higher VA or DOD rated disability you can apply for a tax deduction on your home. If there is any credits left, they can be deducted from your license plates. Note: your home can not be assessed for more that $175,000. The assessment was increased in 2017 from $143,160 to $175,000. If you rent, you can receive a $70 deduction on your license plates.

Effective July 1, 2016, the Military Family Relief Fund is available to all veterans that served on active duty during a national conflict or war time period. The emergency grants may be used by the families for needs such as food, housing, utilities, medical services, transportation and other essential family support expenses which have become difficult to afford. Grants up to $2,500 may be awarded.

Over 33,000 women veterans reside in Indiana. They served in every war period, including World War II, and 1,087 of them are military retirees. Today, there are a few thousand women on active duty not including those serving in the Indiana National Guard or who are members of a Reserve unit. Indiana has established a registry for Hoosier Women's Veterans.  The purpose of the registry is to serve as an informational bridge to connect women veterans to the numerous resources and benefits that are available and that you are entitled to. To register go to www.in.gov/dva/2344.htm. or go to the Veterans Service Office in the Henry County Courthouse.

On the national side, VA seeks to expand the time limit that veterans of the Gulf War may claim disability benefits for the chronic multi symptom illness known as Gulf War Syndrome from December 31, 2016 until December 31, 2021. Gulf War Syndrome is defined by the VA as a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems. Veterans can register to receive a comprehensive health exam. This includes an exposure and medical history, laboratory tests, and a physical exam. A VA health professional will discuss the results face-to-face with the Veteran and in a follow-up letter.

Many veterans want to have an ID card to take advantage of discounts and benefits that are available from many retailers and restaurants. Any veteran who requests such card and is neither entitled to military retired pay nor enrolled in the VA system of patient enrollment. Requires such card, among other things, to: (1) display their name and photograph, and (2) serve as proof that the veteran honorably served in the Armed Forces and has a DD-214 form or other official document in their personnel file that describes their military service. A small fee, as yet defined, will be payable to receive the ID card.

For questions and information you can contact my office at 765-529-4305 or jguglielmi@henryco.net