Military Families Stressed By Delay In Parental Rule From The Army, Navy And Marine Corps
One day after the Pentagon issued the long-awaited parental leave policy, the Air Force and Space Force implemented the guidance, allowing airmen and guardians to take advantage of the time off almost immediately.
'Widow's Tax' On Survivors Will Be Completely Gone As Of Feb. 1 Benefit Checks
Feb. 1 benefits checks won’t have the so-called “widow's tax” reducing income for the surviving spouses of military retirees who participate in two programs.
Red Hill Task Force Expands Scope After Toxic Foam Spill
Joint Task Force Red Hill, the military organization tasked with defueling the massive fuel tanks at the Navy's underground Red Hill fuel facility, has expanded its scope of operations after a spill of toxic firefighting foam in November.
Starting Jan. 17, Veterans In Suicide Crisis Can Go To Any VA Or Non-VA Health Care Facility For Free Emergency Health Care
By: VA Office Of Public Affairs | VA.gov
Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.
This expansion of care will help prevent Veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care to Veterans in times of crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA.
“Veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive the free, world-class emergency health care they deserve – no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they’re enrolled in VA care,” said VA Secretary for Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. “This expansion of care will save Veterans’ lives, and there’s nothing more important than that.”
VA has submitted an interim final rule to the federal register to establish this authority.
Provide, pay for, or reimburse for treatment of eligible individuals’ emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care at a VA or non-VA facility for up to 30 days of inpatient care and 90 days of outpatient care.
Make appropriate referrals for care following the period of emergency suicide care.
Determine eligibility for other VA services and benefits.
Refer eligible individuals for appropriate VA programs and benefits following the period of emergency suicide care.
Eligible individuals, regardless of VA enrollment status, are:
Veterans who are discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces, including reserve service members, who served more than 100 days under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Former members of the armed forces who were the victim of a physical assault of a sexual nature, a battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment while serving in the armed forces.
IMPORTANT TO REITERATE: VA Health And Benefits Mobile App: A Convenient Way For Veterans To Access Service
By: Vanessa Lee AFSA Legislative Communications & Administrative Assistant
In order to make it simpler for veterans to interact with the VA and receive benefits, the VA wants to remind them of the availability of a mobile app for VA Health and Benefits.
In August 2021, VA soft-launched the app; since then, more than 800,000 veterans have downloaded it. Veterans can check and cancel medical appointments using the interface, see the status of their claims and appeals, submit documents, communicate with their doctors, find facilities, and more. Access to the VA Crisis Line is also made available.
VA's Office of Information and Technology (OIT) and Veterans Experience Office (VEO) collaborated to develop an app that veterans would find practical and easy to use. They engaged the veteran community in order to better understand their requirements and preferences for mobile app features, using human-centered design methodologies.
Veterans can also save time and money by photographing and uploading papers to the VA rather than physically mailing them. Because claims and documents are submitted automatically using this new system, Johnston claimed that there is "no space for error." The application places a high priority on security. To protect user privacy, the software has encryption and two-factor authentication.
The VA mobile app for health and benefits, which provides simple access to a variety of services, is safeguarded by built-in phone security features like fingerprints and facial recognition. The smartphone application allows veterans to:
Complete health care and benefits transactions;
Update VA.gov profile account information;
Check claims and appeals status, and upload documents;
Download VA documents, such as the Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter, and VA vaccine records;
View and cancel health care appointments and add them to the phone’s calendar;
Securely message their health care team.
Users' comments will be utilized to improve the VA mobile app, which has a current rating of 4.8 on Apple and 4.6 on Google Play.
Today, manage your VA experience wherever you are, whenever you want, by downloading the VA mobile app for health and benefits.
IMPORTANT TO REITERATE: AFSA 2023 Total Force Survey!
The Total Force 2023 survey is now available on the HQAFSA.org website, just in case you missed it or haven't caught up. Please take the time to complete the survey so that our Military and Government Relations Team can best assist you. The survey this year is thorough and covers a variety of vital subjects for our members, such as an Active Component, Reserve Component, and more! Have any inquiries? Contact our M&G team by sending an email to milgov3@hqafsa.org.
Several historic events occurred on Tuesday, the first day the 118th Congress met. Despite being a long list, these legislation addresses a larger variety of public policy objectives that fall under the purview of the seven main emphasis groups of our legislative platform. The bills are currently being introduced, and AFSA is striving to provide more details on the following:
H.R.254 – To amend title 10 United States Code, to improve the administration of the TRICARE program in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.
H.R.236 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate a week as “Battle Buddy Check Week” for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sheila Lee Jackson [D-TX-18]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.234 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a burial allowance for certain veterans who die at home while in receipt of hospice care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Jack Bergman [R-MI-1]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.228 – To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
Committees – House Armed Services, House Veterans Affairs
H.R.226 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to promote and encourage collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning that provide administrative assistance to veterans.
Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.221 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand eligibility for participation in the Federal Pell Grant program to certain trade schools.
Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
Committees – Education and Labor
H.R.214 – To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide eligibility for TRICARE selected for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Gregory W. Steube [R-FL-17]
Committees – House Armed Services, House Veterans Affairs
H.R.196 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the information technology systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the automatic processing of claims for certain temporary disability ratings, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Matthew M. Rosendale Sr. [R-MT-2]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.129 – To require the Secretary of Defense to ensure drop boxes are maintained on military installations for the deposit of unused prescription drugs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Vern Buchanan [R-FL-16]
Committees – House Armed Services
H.R.105 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-5]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.104 – To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-5]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.41 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure the timely scheduling of appointments for health care at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: James R. Baird [R-IN-4]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
If you have any additional questions on this specific issue, please e-mail our Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
This edition features Port Mortuary and America’s Missing Heroes, Living with Bipolar Disorder in the Military, Fly-By Wire Defense and AFSA’s American Award Recipient – Don Ward. Read, download, print and share: https://www.hqafsa.org/fallmagazine.html
Greetings AFSA Division and Chapter Leadership,
We are pleased to share the AFSA Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay procedures and marketing materials to help share the process with our members, your membership and potential new recruits.
The Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay program creates an opportunity to JOIN AFSA or RENEW a membership by making a $36 once-a-year/every-year auto payment, or a $4-each-month/every- month auto payment. The $36 once-a-year option is set at $36, and the $4-a-month option includes a bank processing fee of $1 each month.
Review the two ways to enroll, the benefits to using the auto-pay option, and the marketing materials to help share the details of this program and ensure its success.
For questions, please contact AFSAHQ Member & Field team at 800-638-0594 x 288.
Please Update Your Contact Information Today!
Dear Air Force Sergeants Association Member,
In order for the AFSA to effectively communicate with our members, it is essential to ensure we have your current and / or valid e-mail address. We are in the process of updating our records and need your help! Please take a moment to ensure that we have your most current mail and email address (no .mil's); and accurate membership listing information.
We've made it easy, as you can update your information in either one of three ways:
Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
Visit www.hqafsa.org and select the UPDATE button on the right
We thank you in advance for your support and prompt updates.
In sum, as of Friday Jan 13, 2023, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were still in a holding pattern, leaving thousands of military members who wanted to start families in a precarious situation. Most soldiers will have to adhere to current leave regulations.
The Navy was still striving to put its advice for sailors into practice. The Marine Corps was being held back as a result of that delay. The Navy was contacted by Military.com for comment, but it did not answer on Friday.
According to Maj. Jordan Cochran, a Marine Corps spokeswoman, the Marine Corps is "implementing instructions for the extension of the military parental leave program [which] is in final development and will be released once cleared for release."
In addition, until 2020, survivors could not simultaneously collect the full amount of two survivor benefits. The government deducted payments made under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) "offset" rule by the amount of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) beneficiaries received from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
DIC is often for the relatives of veterans who passed away while performing their duty or as a result of an illness or injury related to their service. In contrast, veterans can choose to pay premiums under the Defense Department's SBP to ensure that their spouses or other beneficiaries will get a portion of their retirement salary after their passing. Usually, the decision is taken after retirement.
And lastly, the task force's commander in charge, Vice Adm. John Wade, made the declaration on a panel at the Military Affairs Council Partnership Conference of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
JTF Red Hill was initially created with the sole purpose of defueling the tanks, which are located just 100 feet above a vital aquifer that supplies the majority of Honolulu with drinking water. Other military organizations and contractors were tasked with shutting down the facility and managing day-to-day operations at the site.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
Stay tuned for our next M&G-B, where we will continue to keep you in the loop on all things pertinent to the coronavirus, veterans, active-duty members, guards and reservists, and military family members. Stay happy, and stay healthy!
