VA Press Release Jan 7, 10 RE 2010 Benefits and Programs

[Phantom Blooper]

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) wants to inform Veterans of the following changes that will take effect in 2010:

· VA will Freeze Increase in Prescription Copayments: Any increase in Veterans out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals will be delayed until June 30, 2010. This means the department will delay a scheduled $1 increase – to $9 – in the copayments facing Veterans for each 30-day supply of medicine for the treatment of conditions not related to military service. During this period, VA will also keep $960 as the maximum, annual out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals for non-service-related conditions. The yearly maximum out-of-pocket payment was scheduled to increase to $1,080. There are no copayments associated with the treatment of conditions related to military service.

· VA will Distribute Insurance Dividends: Approximately 900,000 Veterans are in line to share $286.4 million in annual insurance dividends during 2010. VA operates one of the nation’s largest life insurance programs, providing more than $1 Trillion in coverage to seven million servicemembers, Veterans, and family members. These payments will be made to insurance policy holders on the anniversary date of their policies. Payments will be sent automatically through different payment plans and the amounts will vary based on the age of the Veteran, the type of insurance, and the length of time the policy has been in place. Consistent with private mutual insurance company practice, the VA is returning a portion of premium payments back to policyholders because the agency had strong financial results.

Veterans who have questions about their policies may contact the VA insurance toll-free number at 1-800-669-8477 send an email to VAinsurance@va.gov. They may also visit the Internet at www.insurance.va.gov.

· No Adjustment in COLA for Disability Compensation + Pension Benefits:
As a result of negative inflation and the consumer price index going down over the past year the Social Security Administration has announced there will be no COLA this year for Social Security recipients. Under federal law VA’s COLAs cannot exceed the Social Security COLAs. Therefore, VA is barred from making a COLA increase for recipients of its benefits.

VA provides compensation and pension benefits to over 3.8 million Veterans and other beneficiaries. Presently, the basic monthly rate of compensation paid to Veterans ranges from $123 to $2,673. Annual income limits for disability pension begin at $11,830 for a Veteran without dependents and increase for Veterans who have dependents, who are housebound, or who need regular aid and attendance.

Veterans who have questions about their benefits may contact the VA’s financial benefits toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000 or go to www.vba.va.gov/VBA.

[Ed Palmer]

VA Health Care Enrollment Update 02: Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 1722(c) requires that on 1 JAN of each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs increase the means test (MT)...

[Rocky C]

Veterans Compensation Benefits Rate Tables - Effective 12/1/09


Basic Rates - 10%-100% Combined Degree Only



Rates (No Dependents): 10% - 20% (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#BM01)
Without ChildrenWith Children30% - 60% (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#BM02)30% - 60% (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#BM04)70% - 100% (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#BM03)70% - 100% (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#BM05)To find out how to use these rate tables CLICK HERE (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01b.htm)

10% - 20% (No Dependents)
PercentageRate10%$12320%$243


30% - 60% Without Children
Dependent Status30%40%50%60%Veteran Alone$376$541$770$974Veteran with Spouse Only$421$601$845$1064Veteran with Spouse & One Parent$457$649$905$1136Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents$493$697$965$1208Veteran with One Parent$412$589$830$1046Veteran with Two Parents$448$637$890$1118Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#FNB))$40$54$68$81


70% - 100% Without Children
Dependent Status70%80%90%100%Veteran Alone$1,228$1,427$1,604$2,673Veteran with Spouse Only$1,333$1,547$1,739$2,823Veteran with Spouse & One Parent$1,417$1,643$1,847$2,943Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents$1,501$1,739$1,955$3,063Veteran with One Parent$1,312$1,523$1,712$2,793Veteran with Two Parents$1,396$1,619$1,820$2,913Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#FNB))$95$108$122$136


30% - 60% With Children
Dependent Status30%40%50%60%Veteran with Spouse & Child$453$644$899$1129Veteran with Child Only$406$581$820$1034Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child$489$692$959$1201Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child$525$740$1019$1,273Veteran with One Parent and Child$442$629$880$1106Veteran with Two Parents and Child$478$677$940$1178Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 $22$30$37$45Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#FNA))$72$96$120$144Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#FNB))$40$54$68$81


70% - 100% With Children
Dependent Status70%80%90%100%Veteran with Spouse & Child$1,409$1,634$1,837$2,932Veteran with Child Only$1,298$1,507$1,694$2,774Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child$1,493$1,730$1,945$3,052Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child$1,577$1,826$2,053$3,172Veteran with One Parent and Child$1,382$1,603$1,802$2,894Veteran with Two Parents and Child$1,466$1,699$1,910$3,014Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 $52$60$67$75Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#FNA))$168$192$216$240Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm#FNB))$95$108$122$136
FOOTNOTES:
Rates for each school child are shown separately. They are not included with any other compensation rates. All other entries on this chart reflecting a rate for children show the rate payable for children under 18 or helpless. To find the amount payable to a 70% disabled veteran with a spouse and four children, one of whom is over 18 and attending school, take the 70% rate for a veteran with a spouse and 3 children, $ 1,513, and add the rate for one school child, $168. The total amount payable is $1,681.


Where the veteran has a spouse who is determined to require A/A, add the figure shown as "additional for A/A spouse" to the amount shown for the proper dependency code. For example, veteran has A/A spouse and 2 minor children and is 70% disabled. Add $95, additional for A/A spouse, to the rate for a 70% veteran with dependency code 12, $1,461. The total amount payable is $ 1,556.

[Rocky C]

Well, that didn't come out right, SORRY!!!
Can't fix it!!!

Semper Fi,
Rocky