This generation of veterans and servicemembers have access to the best benefits of any era in history. From the VA Home Loan program, to the GI Bill you can save you money, enhance your career opportunities and even change your life. Don’t miss out on any of the military and veteran benefits you have earned.
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There are many employment resources for disabled veterans. If you are transitioning out of the military, or have already done so but need to expand your resource list, it’s important to take stock of your situation. As part of the transition to civilian employment after a military career, some veterans turn directly to USAJobs, the… Read more »
Every fall, there is a window of eligibility for TRICARE enrollees to start or change plans without a “qualifying life event.” This is called the TRICARE Open Season, which begins on November 11, 2024. It coincides with similar windows of opportunity under FEDVIP for federal benefits and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account open seasons. Fall… Read more »
The Department of Defense has finished what it calls a “proactive review” of service members administratively discharged from the military due to their sexual orientation during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era. This policy, in effect from 1994 to 2011, prohibited gay, lesbian, and bisexuals from openly serving in the U.S. military. Over 13,000 service… Read more »
The U.S. Army announced a change in policy in October 2024 that benefits soldiers on real-world deployments. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth announced a higher compensation rate for soldiers deployed for more than 60 days. Qualifying troops now earn $240 more per month in Operational Deployment Pay. Who Qualifies for Army Operational Deployment Pay? Those deployed… Read more »
Update: The Pentagon has completed a review of military discharges under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. That process resulted in many military discharge upgrades for qualifying servicemembers kicked out of the military under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. According to a Pentagon news release, more than “96% of those administratively separated” under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” who… Read more »
Permanent change-of-station moves require military families to pack up their homes and move to a new base and neighborhood. Once the family gets to the new assignment, the process of finding essential services, including military-friendly childcare, begins. The childcare aspect can be challenging for incoming families, but the Department of Defense launched a pilot program… Read more »
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a grant program to help legal groups offering help to veterans. Described as a pilot program (with the potential to become a permanent feature later), the VA provides grants to legal clinics, focusing on assisting veterans who did not receive honorable discharges in accessing VA disability payments, college tuition… Read more »
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has expanded veterans’ access to emergency care via a nationwide tele-emergency care (tele-EC) service. This initiative, announced in a late September VA press release, helps qualifying veterans enrolled in VA health care remotely connect with emergency care providers through VA Health Connect or the VA Health Chat app. The… Read more »
Military paychecks were potentially due to stop coming in October because of lawmakers’ inability to find a solution to fund the federal government, but that has been delayed for now. Under a stopgap funding measure passed in the last full week of September 2024, the government will stay open for a while longer. The House… Read more »
The House and Senate have approved a $3 billion supplemental funding bill that prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from having a lapse in veteran benefit payments. That comes despite lawmakers’ complaints that the VA has been less than transparent or timely about its budgetary needs. Federal News Network reports some lawmakers are unhappy with… Read more »