Congresswoman Titus shares the philosophy of our Commander in Chief in regards to providing services for our veterans: “When you come home to America, America will be there for you.” Congresswoman Titus is committed to providing for our nation’s veterans when they return home.  She has been working in a bipartisan way to provide for our veterans, including providing advance appropriations for the Veterans Administration and working with veterans’ advocacy and outreach groups in Southern Nevada to receive federal grant funding for veterans.

Congresswoman Titus' district office is available to help veterans in the Third District on a number of issues, from securing the VA benefits they have earned to helping them readjust to our communities when they return home.  For assistance, contact Congresswoman Titus' office by email or at (702) 387-4941.
 

G.I. Bill for the 21st Century

Last year, Congress enacted the new G.I. Bill for the 21st Century to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, making them part of the economic recovery.  These benefits started August 1st and will be available to an estimated 2.1 million veterans.  On May 1st, veterans were able to start applying for a certificate of eligibility for the new college benefits at the VA website https://www.gibill.va.gov/.  And this year, Congress extended those college benefits to all children of fallen soldiers (with no minimum military service needed to qualify). 

Who Qualifies:

Generally, the measure provides up to four years of education benefits at a college or university for individuals with at least 90 days of active duty service on or after September 11, 2001 who have been honorably discharged from service. The benefits are correlated on a sliding scale to the years served and to receive full benefits, you must have served on active duty for three years

To Determine Eligibility & Benefits, visit https://www.gibill.va.gov/ or call 1-888-GI BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

GI Bill for Children of Fallen Heroes – Fry Scholarship

Legislation signed into law this past June expands G.I. Bill benefits to all children of active duty service members who have died on active duty since September 11, 2001.  Children of fallen service members were eligible for the full G.I. Bill education benefit beginning on August 1, 2009, regardless of the length of military service of their parent.  These benefits expire 15 years after 18th birthday of surviving military children. 

Under the current G.I. bill, beneficiaries must serve 6 years with an additional 4 year commitment in order to earn the right to transfer their benefits among their dependents.  The provision for children of fallen service members extends the full benefit to each dependent child and does not impose a minimum of military service to qualify.
 

Payments for Service Members Who Served Under Stop Loss Orders

Special payments for more than 185,000 service members who had their enlistments involuntarily extended since September 11, 2001 are now available.  Under provisions Congres enacted this summer through the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act, service members will receive $500 for every month they were held under stop-loss orders.

The Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is available to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between September 11, 2001, and September 30, 2009.  Service members from every branch of the military will receive compensation.  Service members have until October 21, 2010 to submit claims and must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim.  Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim:

• Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
• Navy: send email to NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
• Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
• Air Force: www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss
   

VA Begins Health Care Enrollment for Priority 8 Veterans

As a result of legislation passed by Congress last year, the VA is now enrolling some veterans with no service-connected disabilities who were previously excluded from VA health care. In 2003, income limits were imposed effectively blocking veterans with no service-connected disabilities from VA health care services. The VA is now enrolling veterans whose income exceeds current means-tested thresholds by up to 10 percent.

To determine if you qualify, go to the VA website at http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/ and use the income calculator. The calculator provides a format in which veterans enter their household income, number of dependents, and zip code to see if they may qualify for VA health care enrollment. In addition to applying online, Veterans may also contact VA's Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (1-877-222-8387).
 

111th Congress Fighting for Veterans

Key accomplishments of the House of Representatives on behalf of our nation's veterans include:

• The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act to authorize Congress to approve investments in VA medical care one year in advance in order to provide it time to plan how to deliver the best care to an increasing number of veterans;
• The Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act to provide support services to caregivers of veterans;
• The Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act provides more funds for veterans both with service-connected and non-service connected disabilities to make home improvements that increase accessibility;
• The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act to expand and improve VA health care services for the 1.8 million women who have bravely served our country;
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide $250 economic recovery payements to disabled veterans;
• Funding for the HUD Veterans Affiars Supportive Housing Program to provide rental assitance under supportive housing programs for homeless veterans.

Tags: veterans