Breaking News

VA Failed To Process 56,000 Requests To Update Veterans' Dependents Dating As Far Back As 2011

The Department of Veterans Affairs said Tuesday it failed to properly process 56,000 requests from veterans to add or remove dependents -- some dating back to 2011.

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Former VA Leaders Ask Public To Call Vets To Help Prevent Suicide

All seven living former Veterans Affairs Secretaries are joining with a coalition of advocacy groups to call for all Americans to participate in National Warrior Call Day this November in an effort to help prevent veteran suicides.

To read more, please click here.

Navy Unveils New Process To Speed Payouts For Camp Lejeune Illnesses

Officials from the Navy and Department of Justice on Wednesday announced plans for new fast-track financial settlements for veterans and family members poisoned by toxic water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune that could benefit tens of thousands of individuals already awaiting compensation for their illnesses.

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AFSA On The Hill

How We Can Fix Food And Housing Shortfalls For Veterans And Military Families 

By: Craig Newmark and Anne Marie Dougherty | Military.com

We as a nation have an obligation to ensure that our veterans and military service members have what they need. When the basics of food and housing are not met, we collectively must fight for solutions.

While most veterans excel with good jobs and a stable family, others struggle with complex and often overlapping issues of financial, food and housing insecurity, as outlined in a Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) study that found that one in six veterans and military families faced food insecurity or hunger.

The challenge for veterans and military service members requiring assistance has been locating a central point of access, a place to find local resources they can trust to meet their families' needs. The answer is a national network of respected and forward-looking organizations. This nonprofit network complements government agencies like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense that work tirelessly on behalf of veterans. However, the support these agencies can provide is sometimes limited.

We have a model to provide help. When our organizations joined forces, we were able to build a network of over 350 veteran-focused organizations and 10,000 extended partners reaching more than 20 million veterans and uniformed military members in communities across the country. Our partners use existing resources to provide more veterans and military service members with valuable information, services and referrals.

Many operate as a hub, essentially a single front door. If a veteran goes to an organization that can meet only some of their needs, that group will introduce them to other vetted resources in their area. Named for the World War I term meaning "Got Your Back," the Bob Woodruff Foundation Got Your 6 Network reaches 97% of the U.S. veteran and uniformed military population in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and Guam.

This network also provides data and insights on veterans' needs nationwide, community by community, enabling us to dig deep into the challenges our veterans and service members face through national and regional research. To get a true picture of the impact of the pandemic, for example, we surveyed partners in our Got Your 6 Network. Sixty-seven percent reported that many or almost all their veteran clients requested food or nutrition assistance, and 53% saw significant needs for assistance with housing or homelessness.

To help us understand what these issues look like in different communities, we convene experts from government, military, academic and nonprofit sectors. At a recent summit in San Antonio, regional and national organizations shared the challenges of significant population growth, a plus that presents opportunities for military families, but can intensify difficulties in accessing affordable housing, medical care, food and child care.

Likewise, MFAN's research report on what's causing military and veteran family food insecurity points to other financial pressures, such as the costs of frequent moves, and employment and earning challenges facing military spouses, as driving the problem.

Sadly, food and housing insecurity can hit military families and veterans hard.

Both veterans and military families make serious sacrifices to defend democracy. We will not accept them struggling to get enough to eat or find a safe place to sleep.

That's why, over the last three years, led by data, research and expertise, we have financially supported 130 organizations to address, among other topics, food insecurity and housing instability. In 2022 alone, our funding supported programs reaching more than 6,200 veterans and addressed complex needs around housing, health care, food, employment and benefits. In 2023, we've continued our commitment to investing in these efforts, and military families can find resources in their areas here.

Our veterans and service members often know what they need. It's up to us as philanthropists and advocates to listen, to identify root causes, to enable local solutions, and to inform the national dialogue from the lessons we learn from our community partners across the U.S.

IMPORTANT TO REITERATE: VA On Track To House 38,000+ Homeless Veterans In 2023, Awards $1B In Grants To Help Homeless And At-Risk Veterans

By: VA Press Room | VA.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced it has permanently housed 26,470 Veterans through July 2023, on pace to exceed its goal of housing 38,000 homeless Veterans in 2023. VA also announced more than $1 billion in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs. These grants are a critical part of VA’s efforts to provide housing for Veterans in collaboration with the community.

Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, VA is awarding 256 grants totaling approximately $799 million to community organizations that help rapidly rehouse Veterans and their families, prevent the imminent loss of Veterans’ homes, or identify more suitable housing situations for Veterans and their families. Through the Grant and Per Diem program, VA is awarding 454 grants totaling approximately $257 million to community organizations that provide Veterans with transitional housing and case management — including connecting Veterans to VA benefits, community-based services, and permanent housing.

Ending Veteran homelessness is a top priority for the VA and the Biden-Harris Administration. In 2022 alone, VA housed more than 40,000 formerly homeless Veterans, prevented more than 17,700 Veterans and their families from falling into homelessness, and helped nearly 191,700 additional Veteran families who were experiencing financial difficulties retain their homes or avoid foreclosure. Thanks in part to these efforts, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has fallen by 11% since early 2020 and by more than 55% since 2010.

“We won’t rest until every Veteran has the safe, stable home that they deserve – because none of our nation’s heroes should be homeless in this country they fought to defend,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “These grants will allow VA, alongside our community partners, to help provide more housing and wraparound services to more homeless and at-risk Veterans than ever before.”

Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced major new actions to prevent and reduce homelessness among Veterans, including launching supportive services to quickly rehouse Veterans experiencing homelessness; providing new legal services for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness; and funding programs to help Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness find jobs and connect to work.

VA’s efforts to end Veteran homelessness are built upon the evidence-based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing and providing them with the wraparound support they need to stay housed, including health care, job training, legal and education assistance and more.

For more information about VA’s comprehensive efforts to end Veteran homelessness, visit VA.gov/homeless. To learn more about the Grant and Per Diem program or view the full list of grantees, visit the Grant and Per Diem website. To learn more about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program or view the full list of grantees, visit the Supportive Services for Veteran Families website.

If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.

Legislative Action Center

Below are the campaigns that are currently located on our Action Center. Please take no more than 5-10 minutes to scan through each of the campaigns and click on the custom links provided below. 

Support the Military Spouse Hiring Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103707/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Military Spouse Hiring Act would encourage companies to employ military spouses, who frequently face disproportionate impediments in the job market, by extending the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include them. 
• Intends to help military spouses find better work opportunities. 

Support the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/93860/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Authorizes veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation. 
• Makes qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service eligible for concurrent receipt, subject to specified reductions in retired pay.

Support the Major Richard Star Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/93862/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Qualify approximately 42,000 military retirees with combat-related injuries to concurrently receive both military retired pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation. 
• Provide total offset relief to veterans who suffered combat injuries or illnesses who were medically retired with less than twenty years of service.

Support the Retired Pay Restoration Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/92798/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability.
• Extends full concurrent receipt eligibility to individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability.

Support the Military Family Nutrition Access Act of 2023!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103672/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Military Family Nutrition Access Act was created to aid military families with active duty members who are facing food insecurity. 
• By eliminating Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the income calculations used to establish eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the bipartisan bill will combat food insecurity. 
• Military personnel risk their life to protect our nation; they shouldn't have to worry about providing for their families. 

Support the Not Just a Number Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103681/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Not Just a Number Act would oblige the VA to look into how veterans use their benefits in their yearly report on suicide prevention in order to assess the connection between VA benefits and suicide outcomes. 
• In its fight against veteran suicides, the VA evaluates which VA benefits have the best impact on preventing suicide and requires the Department to submit recommendations for an increase in such benefits.

If you have any questions, please reach out to AFSA's Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.

AFSA Membership Information

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

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 more information, please click here.

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: 

1. Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
2. Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
3. Visit www.hqafsa.org and select the UPDATE button on the right

We thank you in advance for your support and prompt updates.

And That's The Way It Is...

In sum, when investigating a technical issue that nearly 900 veterans had when attempting to appeal PACT Act claim determinations online, the agency found the errors.

After receiving complaints from veterans and a query from Military.com regarding issues with the system, the VA began an investigation into its PACT Act online appeal procedure on August 31. The technological problem that stopped hundreds of veterans from submitting a "notice of disagreement" form via the website was found and corrected, according to officials on Tuesday.

In addition, the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 12, the day following national Veterans Day festivities, aims to draw attention to the estimated 17 veterans who die by suicide each day and inspire the general public to assist in helping veterans.

Anthony Principi, Jim Nicholson, James Peake, Eric Shinseki, Bob McDonald, David Shulkin, and Robert Wilkie are the former secretaries. They represented party support for the outreach initiatives and served three different presidents. AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, and America's Warrior Partnership are among the organizations that also signed the letter.

And lastly, the new procedure would award victims between $100,000 and $550,000, but it will only cover certain illnesses like leukemia, Parkinson's disease, and kidney cancer. People who do not meet the requirements for the program or who want to pursue extra damages may still be able to obtain compensation by filing civil lawsuits against the government.

The modifications are a part of the PACT Act, which was passed into law in August 2022 and stands for the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics. Legal actions and compensation for those who resided at or worked at the base between 1953 and 1987 were covered by the Act.

And that's the way it is for Thursday, September  7, 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!