NEWS for VETERANS 2020 National Defense Authorization Act includes improved survivor benefits n The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act— signed into law in December—contains a provision that will completely eliminate the Survivor Benefit Plan/ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (SBP/DIC) offset by January 2023. The SBP is insurance purchased out of pocket by military retirees for their survivors, while the Department of Veterans Affairs DIC program provides monthly support to surviving spouses of veterans who die from service-related disabilities. Currently, surviving spouses who are eligible for both are having the SBP annuity reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of their DIC payment. When DIC benefits are payable, but the monthly rate is equal to or greater than the monthly SBP payment amount, beneficiaries lose the entire SBP payment. “For years, DAV has called on Congress to repeal the unfair offset between SBP annuities and DIC payments,” said Washington Headquarters Executive Director Randy Reese. “We are extremely pleased that Congress has finally passed legislation that will remove this unjust off-set and that the president signed this provision into law.” The bill will remove the offset incrementally by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley (top center) watches as President Donald Trump signs the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Dec. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) one-third in January 2021, a second third in January 2022, and the final third in January 2023, ultimately allowing surviving spouses to receive both the purchased SBP annuities and their earned DIC benefits. Recoupment of offsets from previous years will not be provided, as the law will not be retroactive. To find out more about how this provision may affect you, contact your local DAV national service office at benefitsquestions.org. Walmart joins VA-led ATLAS program to serve rural veterans n Walmart joined a group of organizations delivering new pilot locations for VA-led Accessing Telehealth Through Local Area Stations (ATLAS) services in rural communities across the nation. The goal is to increase accessibility to Department of Veterans Affairs health care for eligible veterans. According to the VA, organizations that collaborate with ATLAS provide veterans with comfortable, private spaces to have video appointments with VA providers. At ATLAS sites such as Walmart, veterans meet with VA providers through VA Video Connect, the VA’s secure videoconferencing software. Walmart, which operates more than 4,700 U.S. stores in primarily rural and suburban locations, has donated equipment and space at five sites as part of a pilot initiative. VA telehealth clinical services vary DAV | @DAVHQ | DAVHQ | by location and may include primary care, nutrition, mental health and social work. “The VA has a mission to deliver best-in-class service to veterans everywhere,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs executive adviser Deborah Lafer Scher, who leads the secretary’s Center for Strategic Partnerships. “We can be much more successful if we have strong and effective partnerships.” This new option makes VA care easier to access and eases the burden of long travel times to appointments. For a veteran to attend an appointment at an ATLAS site, the site must be associated with the VA medical center in which the veteran is enrolled for care. Family members who receive care through the VA can visit ATLAS sites for select VA appointments. Find out more at connectedcare.va.gov. DAVETERANS | DISABLEDVETERANS 27 COMPANY/DAVHQ |
Issue Articles
2020 National Defense Authorization Act includes improved survivor benefits
Visit Article: http://digital.dav.org/article/2020+National+Defense+Authorization+Act+includes+improved+survivor+benefits/3606481/650738/article.html.
Walmart joins VA-led ATLAS program to serve rural veterans
Visit Article: http://digital.dav.org/article/Walmart+joins+VA-led+ATLAS+program+to+serve+rural+veterans/3606482/650738/article.html.