SMW Legislative Report
July 2010
The good news is that our widows on Tri-Care are apparently secure through 2011, but there are still some concerns. As long as doctor’s compensation and other issues are tied to Medicare and other elements of the new national insurance program, we must be vigilant in following up on changes and how they will affect us.
The elimination of the SBP/DIC offset is not on the table at this time, and can probably only move forward if someone actually brings it to the floor outside of committee hearings. Everyone acknowledges its unfairness, but blame lack of action on our total economic picture.
As one article I read recently reported, we are 300,000,000 against 545 in trying to work with the government. In stead of acting as our employees, the president, the nine members of the Supreme Court, the 435 members of the House of Representatives and our 100 senators seem to think THEY should take over all phases of our lives and income and tell us what we want, how THEY think we should live and borrow against our Future as well as that of our children and grandchildren to pay for it.
Just a few of the changes that are confirmed to change our lives beginning next year include:
Insurance and benefits provided by employers will be taxed as additional income. This will include military members and families.
Illegal aliens will get “permanent” temporary visas and be allowed to receive social security and other benefits with no penalties.[includes known gang members]
Home owners/buyers will pay a 3.8% sales tax straight to the federal government on each sale.
New agencies will have to be created to administer all the new laws, thus creating more expenses and more people dependent on the government for their income.
This is a critically important election year. Almost a third of our population is now over the age of 55. We are the ones who have survived more than one depression, kept the world safe for democracy and helped protect and re- build the economies of former enemies all over the world. It is/was our families who send husbands, sons and daughters to protect our own and other developing nations. We need to GET OUT and VOTE for Candidates who will support the Constitution, support out troops and keep their promises to take care of the families of the fallen. While we live and breathe, we cannot give up the precious right to VOTE and be sure that the VOTERS CONTROL the government. I urge you strongly to be part of the decisions made; do not be victims of apathy.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Walker, SMW Legislative Chair
All members NEED to contact their people in Congress to ask support for S 3162 and HR 5014. These bills will add protection for widows, survivors and children of survivors affected with spina bifida as a result of exposure to Agent Orange in Korea and Viet Nam who are covered under CHAMPVA rather than TRICARE. The bills will insure that CHAMPVA recipients will be covered under the "minimal acceptable coverage" provision of the new health care law.
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APRIL 5, 2010
Surviving Spouses May Benefit from Recent VA Ruling:
Did your spouse serve in Vietnam? If so, a new ruling by the VA (Veterans' Administration) may make you eligible for DIC (Dependents Indemnity Compensation.) The VA recently issued a "presumptive" which added three more diseases, Parkinson's, B-cell leukemia's, and ischemic heart problems which can be attributed to Agent Orange. If your spouse's death certificate lists any of the above or any previously "presumed" diseases such as diabetes or prostate & respiratory cancer as cause of death, DIC may be awarded to you. DIC is a monthly compensation of approximately $1,150, tax free when the cause of death is service related. The VA "presumptive" is important because you do not have to prove an association between the disease and death. The VA has "presumed" that Agent Orange is a factor if death certificate includes one of the listed illnesses.
If you believe your spouse's death meet the qualifications, you need to apply immediately as the VA will pay DIC retroactively to the date it receives the application if you are eligible. Since this is a new ruling, perhaps one of the quickest ways to apply is to use the VA Affairs Benefits agents in your locality. If you are not near a military base, find the phone number (listed under Government Offices, U. S, -Veterans Affairs) and call to schedule an appointment. They will be happy to help you file the application using the appropriate forms and documentation. Their assistance and expertise in the process will get the ball rolling efficiently. Remember, you must have proof of your spouse's deployment to Vietnam and a death certificate with one of the "presumptives" listed.
DIC is a significant monthly benefit which your spouse earned for you so check your eligibility today.
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PLEASE GO TO NAUS -- naus.org -- AND READ THE LATEST ON THE REMARRIED WIDOWS COURT CASE, AND THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO GET THE SBP/DIC OFFSET REMOVED. WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
