This week in Newsbytes:
FRA Supports for Hearings on VA Testing Drugs on War Veterans
Concurrent Receipt Update
War Supplemental with MGIB Reform Passes the House
Senate Vote on Defense Authorization Bill Delayed
Some Military Retirees may Receive Retroactive Payment
Retirees: The IRS Wants You!
FRA Supports Hearings on VA Testing Drugs on War Veterans
News reports this week revealed that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
using veterans to test experimental drugs with the potential of severe side
effects. In response, FRA National President wrote to leaders of the House and
Senate Veterans Affairs Committees stating that the Association "strongly
supports the plan to schedule committee hearings in July to obtain additional
information on this controversy, and to assure the public and our Nation's
veterans."
Unfortunately, some of the test's participants apparently include veterans who
have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are suffering from Post Traumatic
Stress Syndrome. Copies of the letters are available on www.fra.org on the legislative agenda page under
the agenda item: "Monitor Benefits and Programs Administered by the Department
of Veterans Affairs."
Concurrent Receipt Update
Payment of Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) for military
retirees rated less than 100-percent Individual Unemployable (IU) was
originally scheduled to be phased-in gradually through 2013. However, an
FRA-supported amendment in the FY 2008 Defense Authorization bill eliminated
the phase-in and made benefits payable on 1 October 2008 and retroactive to
January 2005. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has indicated the
enhancements will take effect on schedule and will be included in 3 November
2008 retired pay checks.
FRA is currently supporting a pending Senate floor amendment sponsored by
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) that would eliminate the phase-in for
all CRDP recipients (see story above). FRA continues its strong advocacy for
the immediate payment of concurrent receipt of full military retired pay and
veteran's disability compensation for all disabled retirees.
War Supplemental with MGIB Reform Passes the House
After a long stalemate House Republicans and Democrats worked with White House
staff to create a compromise FY 2008 emergency war supplemental funding bill.
The measure, which passed the House this week and is expected to pass the
Senate next week, now also includes disaster relief for the flooding in the
Midwest. The White House indicated that if the funding bill is not passed by
the end of July the Department of Defense "will no longer be able to pay
the troops - including those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Significant to the legislation is the authorization of significantly improved
education benefits for service members who have served since 11 September 2001,
including VEAP-era personnel. The measure includes the following enhancements
and is virtually identical to "The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational
Assistance Act" (S.22) sponsored by Senators Jim Webb (Va.), and includes
an FRA-supported transferability provision from "The Enhancement of
Recruitment, Retention, and Readjustment through Education Act" (S. 2938)
sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.).
· Four years of full-time college after
serving 36 months or more on active duty;
· Elimination of the current $1,200 enrollment
fee;
· Payment equivalent to tuition at an in-state
university issued directly to the school;
· Transferability of education benefits (50
percent after 6 years of service and 100 percent after 12 years of service) to
spouse and children.
· A monthly housing allowance of $1,000-$2,700
per month based on BAH rates, and a $1,000 annual stipend for books;
· Proportional eligibility of benefits for
Reservists after 90 days of active duty; and
· Access provided up to 15 years after
service.
The importance of MGIB reform has been repeatedly referenced in FRA's
congressional testimony, NBOD Hill visits, and meetings with congressional
staff.
Senate Vote on Defense Authorization Bill Delayed
Senate debate on its FY2009 Defense Authorization bill (S. 3001) is being
delayed until after the Independence Day recess. The Senate will consider
numerous floor amendments which address accelerating the phase-in of concurrent
receipt for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) recipients
from 31 December 2013 to 30 September 2008; declaring that military personnel
already pay for their future health care coverage with in-kind sacrifices, and
therefore future fee increases should not exceed the annual percentage increase
in military retired pay; eliminating the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) offset
experienced by those who receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
(DIC); reducing the Reserve retirement age (age 60) by three months
for each cumulative 90-days ordered to active duty for active duty service
after 11 September 2001; and providing "gray area retirees" and their
immediate family members the option of maintaining continual health care
coverage within the TRICARE system. Additional details on these amendments were
included in the 6 June 2008 NewsBytes.
FRA strongly supports these amendments and shipmates are encouraged to use the
FRA Action Center on www.fra.org to contact
their senators to request their support.
Some Military Retirees may Receive Retroactive Payment
Service members who retired in January or February of this year may receive a
retroactive payment based on the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA). The legislation was not enacted before 1 January 2008, preventing the
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) from computing the final active
duty pay rates for members retiring in these months. These personnel had their
retired pay computed on a 3-percent active duty increase formula rather than
the final 3.5 percent level, retroactive to 1 January.
As a result, DFAS will recompute the additional 0.5-percent increase on
accounts impacted by this legislation. A Retiree Account Statement detailing
the increase will be mailed to the effected retiree's address of record and
will also be available for viewing online at www.mypay.gov.
No action is required by the retiree to receive the retroactive payment which
should be received within 30 days. Payments on or after 1 March 2008 reflect
the 3.5 percent increase.
Retirees: The IRS Wants You!
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched a campaign to reach seniors and
veterans who qualify for the economic stimulus payment that was signed into law
last February. IRS statistics indicate that approximately 5.2 million potential
recipients have not filed a claim.
A special stimulus category includes recipients of certain benefits from Social
Security and VA who are not normally required to file a tax return. However,
these individuals must file a tax return before 15 October 2008 to receive
their economic stimulus payments. Later this summer, the agency will
send potential recipients a special letter explaining stimulus payment
eligibility and how to claim it. The letter will include a sample tax form and
an actual tax form that people can complete and mail to the IRS. This will be
the second special mailing to reach of those individuals.
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and former Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel. If you are not a
member and are eligible, please join FRA at www.fra.org/join.
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