Archived Website Articles
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Amid record high inflation, Social Security beneficiaries will get an 8.7% increase to their benefits in 2023, the highest increase in 40 years. Like Social Security, Veteran Affairs benefits and pensions are tied to the same COLA as Social Security. So recipients should see an 8.7% increase in January. The Department of Veterans Affairs is set to release finalized VA compensation rates on Dec. 1
Read more: Social Security COLA will be 8.7% in 2023, highest increase in 40 years (cnbc.com)
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Our organization now has its own Veterans Resource Advisor!
What is a VRA?
Our VRA can assist veterans by addressing questions, problems, or special needs of veterans and family members and refer them to the appropriate entity for resolution.
To reach out to our VRA, please contact:
Corine "Cory" Lombardo, 518-528-4770
or email at: glenlakesveteranadvisor@gmail.com
For immediate assistance, please contact:
- If you are in crisis or need Immediate Help, please call 911 or visit: Military Crisis Line
- For a comprehensive list of Veterans Programs: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Resources for our Active-duty, Veterans and Military Families: National Resource Directory
- Veteran Resources by Location: Pathfinder
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For those members who utilize the VA benefits website "eBenefits", the website which is known as a long-time VA disability claims site, is moving much of the site's content to a new central site for VA disability, health, and services known as VA.gov to improve the Veteran experience.
Here is the breakdown of the specific benefits that are on the eBenefits website or on the new VA.gov website:
Use VA/DoD eBenefits to:
Purchased Care Health Benefits Forms
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
Certificate of Eligibility for Home Loan
VGLI Policy Management
Use VA.gov to:
Disability Compensation
Add or Remove Dependent
Pension Benefits
Education Benefits
Veteran Readiness and Employment Benefits
VA Health Care
Burial Benefits
Read more about what claims and benefits information is still hosted on eBenefits (for now) and what has been moved to the new VA.gov website: VA/DoD eBenefits (click on any one of the 6 benefits links presented on the home page of the eBenefits website for specific details for each general benefits area of interest).
Here is the breakdown of the specific benefits that are on the eBenefits website or on the new VA.gov website:
Use VA/DoD eBenefits to:
Purchased Care Health Benefits Forms
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant
Certificate of Eligibility for Home Loan
VGLI Policy Management
Use VA.gov to:
Disability Compensation
Add or Remove Dependent
Pension Benefits
Education Benefits
Veteran Readiness and Employment Benefits
VA Health Care
Burial Benefits
Read more about what claims and benefits information is still hosted on eBenefits (for now) and what has been moved to the new VA.gov website: VA/DoD eBenefits (click on any one of the 6 benefits links presented on the home page of the eBenefits website for specific details for each general benefits area of interest).
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Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, will ease access to $280 billion in aid for men and women suffering from cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and other illnesses related to their exposure to waste incinerated in open-air pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. The act also extends more help to Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange and to veterans exposed to radiation or other hazards during their service.
This law helps us provide generations of Veterans — and their survivors — with the care and benefits our veterans have earned and deserve.
This law helps us provide generations of Veterans — and their survivors — with the care and benefits our veterans have earned and deserve.
PACT ACT also provides for expanded benefits for Agent Orange exposures.
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Vantage Point, VA’s official blog, has transitioned to VA News. For the latest in VA news and information, visit the new site at news.va.gov and update your bookmarks. Vantage Point is no longer being updated.
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The Department of Defense has many components aside from the service branches. Some of the websites associated with the DoD might be of use to you.
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Veterans can follow VA news events "as they happen" as well as be informed of public service announcements targeted to veterans by following the VA on Twitter.
There are numerous ways for GLVFA members (and our website visitors reading this posting) to follow the VA on Twitter.
Twitter Website: easily follow the VA on Twitter through Twitter's website page for Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs (@DeptVetAffairs) / Twitter
Smartphone/Tablet: easily follow the VA on any device that has the Twitter application installed (iPhone, Android). It is convenient to install the Twitter app (apple store or google store) and log in using your Twitter account previously set up on your PC or laptop (in fact, you can sign up through the Twitter app on the smartphone just as easily).
How?
For those that might be "technically concerned" with respect to using a social media platform such as Twitter, rest assured, it is not a difficult task to create a Twitter account and "follow" the VA (and any other group of interest you may find interesting or useful). For further information on how to create a new Twitter account, consult Twitter's help page on the process: How to sign up for Twitter and create a new Twitter account
Why?
Important "tweets" for the VA (or any other group you might follow) can be sent to your email "inbox" where you can easily click on links in the email that will display such VA tweets (news, info, etc.) directly on your Twitter app (phone) or direct URL on your PC/laptop web browser. An example of such VA tweets on Twitter recently: on 7/5/22, the president presented the Medal of Honor (MOH) to 4 US Army soldiers who served bravely and gallantly in Vietnam. That presentation was posted on Twitter "live".
Military branches on Twitter:
@USArmy
@USAirForce
@USMarines
@USNavy
@USCoastGuard
@USSpaceForce
@USNationalGuard
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June is PTSD month but veterans with PTSD live with this debilitating mental illness each and every day. There are many organizations that assist veterans with their PTSD challenges, including VA services and programs as well as private organizations such as GLVFA.
Of particular interest to our members, and a presentation topic given at the recent June membership meeting, GLVFA is involved with supporting the local veteran community by contributing to the Veterans SAVES program, an initiative that helps local veterans learn to reduce their PTSD stressors through learning the sport of golf. A recent Hernando Sun news article details how GLVFA has engaged in this worthy program.
GLVFA Dicky Keane, 2nd from right, with other program members, at the Sweet Swing Golf Driving Range located in Homosassa Florida.
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New Smart Phone Check-In Technology Coming!
Beginning this summer, some VA facilities will let you use your smartphone for check-in for your scheduled in-person appointment. By end of August 2022, all VA health care facilities are expected to have adopted this new check-in technology. To learn more, click on: VA Smart Phone Check-In
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Jun 18th, 2022: new Florida laws boost options for vets, military families
Veterans and military families can receive new educational and employment options under six bills that became Florida law last week. Another bill recognizes the Space Force as a U.S. military service.
SB 430 and SB 438 became immediately effective upon DeSantis’ signature. HB 45, SB 514, SB 896, and SB 526 go into effect on July 1, 2022
For full details. click on the picture above to be directed to the Hernando Sun news article that contains the full content of the story.
To learn more about various bills ongoing in the Florida senate, click on this link: Senate Bill 430 (2022) - The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov)
Veterans and military families can receive new educational and employment options under six bills that became Florida law last week. Another bill recognizes the Space Force as a U.S. military service.
SB 430 and SB 438 became immediately effective upon DeSantis’ signature. HB 45, SB 514, SB 896, and SB 526 go into effect on July 1, 2022
For full details. click on the picture above to be directed to the Hernando Sun news article that contains the full content of the story.
To learn more about various bills ongoing in the Florida senate, click on this link: Senate Bill 430 (2022) - The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov)