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.

An eBenefits Accounts Is A Plus

Dealing with the VA or any federal government organization can have its moments. There are rules, regulations, updates, forms, certified documents, wet signatures, DD-214s, evidence and a myriad of other hoops you have to jump through. Oh, wet signatures you ask. They are original signatures. Not copies, reproductions or electronic signatures.

When becoming involved with the VA, an eBenefits account is a good way to keep track of a multitude of things. Any veteran can create an eBenefits account. If you file a claim for disabilities or pension, you can follow the progress of your claim. You can add evidence to your claim. You can add or subtract dependents to your claim.

When you claim is approved, you can track your monthly payments. Which are tax free by the way. Change your address, update your bank account information, print out an VA Award letter (a letter from the VA stating what percentage you have been awarded depending your disability). If you want to apply for a VA mortgage, you need a COE (certificate of eligibility) to go with your application. Print it from eBenefits.

Want to use your GI Bill to go to school? The steps and forms are available here. How about batteries for hearing aids or set up an appointment for eyeglasses.

How about health care? Besides my family doctor, I have been going to the VA for healthcare for about three years. I can check my appointments, ask for prescription refills, read notes from my VA doctor's visits and print out a complete list of my blood tests. I give my family doctor a copy of all this information.
Go to www.ebenefits.va.gov <http://www.ebenefits.va.gov>  to get started. The home page will give a nice rundown of all the information you can access. Click the Register button and you are asked a series of questions. 

Questions are:

Select registration method:
I have a Common Access Card (CAC) with accessible card reader. 
I have a Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) myPay account. 
None of the above conditions apply, however at least one of the following conditions is true:

I am a Veteran
I am a Dependent of a Veteran
I am a Survivor of a Veteran
I am registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)

Just follow the prompts and account you too can have your very own eBenefits account. It is well worth the time and effort.

For questions or information contact me at 765-529-4305 or jguglielmi@henryco.net. My office hours are 7 am till noon, Tuesdaythrough Friday room 114 in the old Henry County Courthouse.