07-09-2009 - VETERANS AFFAIRS - CHEROKEE COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS UPDATE

Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric Shinseki is encouraging Americans to volunteer their services by participating in President Obamas United We Serve campaign. United We Serve is a summer service program which encourages Americans to recommit themselves to improving their communities. Helping Veterans is one way volunteers can serve. Secretary Shinseki said there is no better way to honor Americas heroes than to spend time every week giving back to those who have already given so much. The campaign, coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Services, is encouraging Americans to develop their own service programs that benefit their communities. The campaign runs through September 11, 2009, which will be the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Toolkits for developing projects are available online at www.serve.gov.

VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits, known as DIC, may be authorized by the VA to the eligible survivors of military personnel who die in the line of duty while on active duty, to include active duty for training, or when death occurs after military service due to a VA rated service-connected disability. The rates of DIC payments vary and are based upon specific eligibility criteria. For instance, for up to two years after entitlement to DIC commences, the payment to a surviving spouse who has a child or children under 18 years of age is increased by $286 a month. This is in addition to any other DIC compensation payment the surviving spouse may receive including payments for dependent children. Certain veterans are exempt from the VA pharmacy co-payment if their annual income is below a dollar threshold which is the amount of the VA pension that a particular veteran would receive if the veteran were otherwise eligible for a VA pension. That amount will vary depending on the number of dependents the veteran has, if any, and whether the veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance of another person. For more information on this benefit, please contact your nearest VA medical facility. For further information on these programs or any other information in regards to VA benefits, please contact Don Tucker your local Veterans Service Officer at 927-3366. My office is located in the Cherokee County Administrative Center (Suite 103 Cherokee County Commission Wing), which is located at 260 Cedar Bluff Road in Centre. Office hours are from 8:00-noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.