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Opinion Columnists Guest Columnist Some vets eligible for stop-loss benefits
Some vets eligible for stop-loss benefits
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Veterans, let’s talk veterans benefits in general. Again, most benefits require a discharge that is honorable. First are the federal benefits. We will begin with burials. Veterans are eligible for an inscribed marker for their grave and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Veterans who served after Jan. 31, 1955, or during a time of war are eligible for a burial flag in addition to the above. A veteran who is drawing VA compensation, pension or dies in a VA facility is entitled to up to $300 burial/funeral allowance and up to $300 plot allowance plus the above-mentioned benefits. Finally, a veteran who dies of a service-connected disability is entitled to up to $2,000 in reimbursement of burial expenses. Let’s talk now about living benefits. If you are a seriously disabled veteran requiring nursing home or special care, you may qualify for housebound or aid and attendance benefits. If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability of greater than 10 percent you are also entitled to outpatient treatment and hospital care for your service connection. You may also be entitled to other care that may require a small co-payment.Veterans may also qualify for veterans education benefits. This includes college, vocational schools, apprenticeships and reimbursement for licensing and certification. VA-guaranteed home loans for your personal residence are another benefit that is available. Lastly, some veterans qualify for a federal parks pass. Now let’s discuss benefits offered by the state of Oregon. Oregon offers Oregon veterans home loans to purchase a home or improve an existing home. The state provides its own state educational aid of up to $150 a month to its veterans. It will issue a high school diploma to a veteran who did not graduate from high school because they were serving in the armed forces. The state provides, to veterans with varying disabilities, state parks passes, game licenses, property tax exemptions and recognition license plates as well as other benefits. Finally, let’s discuss a benefit that originally wasn’t a part of this week’s column, but our two Oregon senators sent out a joint correspondence that I felt needed to be addressed in a timely manner. As part of the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, service members who were forced to serve beyond their scheduled discharge or retirement date are eligible for an additional $500 for each month in which they served after their discharge date. The process, known as stop-loss, suspended discharges or retirements for a period of time in order to meet necessary troop levels. Service members and veterans who were stop-lossed between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for this Stop-Loss Special Pay. The Department of Defense estimates that 145,400 personnel are eligible nationwide, although only 58,000 claims have been paid to this point. The deadline for claiming stop-loss benefits is Oct. 21, 2010. Call me for additional information or to set up an appointment at 541-962-8802. I am located at The Center for Human Development, 2301 Cove Ave., La Grande.
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