veterans

GRANT money might be available to Veterans for a home purchase!!

I just learned about a new program. It is being offered by a non profit called Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation with a program they’ve created called Dream Makers. You can visit their site at
http://www.PentagonFoundation.org and click on the link in the Nav bar titled Dream Makers. They have grants up to 5K for those that qualify.

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veterans

Veterans and Hunting & Fishing in MN

Did you know there are special deals/opportunities for Veterans to obtain their hunting and fishing license? Check out the rules here and take advantage of your status. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/military/index.html

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veterans

Found A Veteran Blog

I was clearing out my emails today and found a message from a blog owner who had recommended I look at his blog. His blog is http://www.vabenefitblog.com/ I think it is pretty good. I’d recommend you check it out as he has a lot to share as well.

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veterans

Homeless Veterans - A Short Message

By Laverne John Riley Jr.

Our Nations veterans are a national treasure. That’s right… a treasure. Unfortunately in today’s culture, veterans are rarely acknowledged. I mean sure, you can ask someone if they know a vet or if they respect a vet and most will readily say yes, but where is their action? I can tell you… I am a combat veteran, and much of the social perceptions and cultural understandings of sacrifice and commitment of veterans is completely misunderstood, ignored and even looked down upon by many young people today. Now, due to the Iraq War there are many young veterans and they of course understand this issue and the problems veterans face, and they are all heroes! However, there are many others who really have no clue. For this I am disheartened. What I am however, is impressed by the motivation, policy and movement by our government in creating more resources, programs and systems for veterans. The Veterans Administration is committing a great deal of funding and man power to helping veterans today. I am impressed by the action of many of our leaders in helping veterans today in finding employment, helping with housing, mental health, substance abuse, suicide, family issues and many other problematic conditions plaguing veterans. There seems to be a call for duty among our leaders to help these hero’s! However, there is still much work to be done and many are still suffering! If we are to combat homelessness and other veterans problems it will take ALL OF US.

Homelessness

According to the Veterans Administration there is an estimated 200,000 veterans chronically homeless. On any given night during a year there is an estimated 400,000 homeless veterans. According to the Urban Institute on Homelessness approximately 23% of all homeless people are veterans; about 1 in 3. Of course, these stats are not accurate. There is no way to accurately quantify the number of homeless veterans; it is estimation, and one that is unacceptable!

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, many of the homeless veterans (about 96% are male) and about 4% are female. Many come from poor communities, have little support structures of family, suffer from mental illness (about 45%), have substance abuse problems (about 50%), many served for 3 years (about 67%), and many served in combat zones (about 33%).

Why Are They Homeless?

Understand that many suffer from ecological conditions beyond their control as well as individual choice issues. They lack affordable housing, a livable earning wage, they lack consistent health care, lack of support structures and many suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse issues (NCHV, 2008). Furthermore, it is a compilation and a manifestation of many issues and problems for which homeless veterans find themselves living on the street. One interesting fact is that much of the funding in the system to help homeless veterans are structured in good faith to help veterans and their families and or woman from becoming homeless; however this leaves single male veterans at very high risk and the evidential outcomes prove such statements (NCHV, 2008).

Even with the Veterans Administration helping veterans it is estimated that they only reach about 25% of needing veterans. This means that there are many areas and needs for programs that will reach veterans in many areas they have been missed (NCHV, 2008).

What Do Veterans Need?

Veterans need motivated and compassionate people, services and resources willing to reach out and make a difference? Are you that person? If so, contact your local VFW or Veterans Administration and ask them how you can help!

Veterans need community based programs for which have been deemed most effective through qualitative and quantitative research. Well funded community based programs by federal, state and local funding with a strong level of feasibility and variability is important. Areas of need include; mental health programs (outpatient / residential), substance abuse treatment (outpatient / residential), housing programs, transportation programs, rehabilitation programs, homeless programs, food programs, employment assistance, etc. There are so many needs, but these are just a few! Most of all, veterans need and deserve your emotional and social support as a friend, family member or leader.

Remember, veterans were not born with an identity for preference; they earned it. Every veteran sacrificed a great deal for their identity. Regardless of what they may be suffering from; they deserve treatment, they deserve respect and they deserve your love in helping them in their time of need. In times for which this country needed them, all volunteered or were ordered; never the less they served and the American culture and people must stop and take the time to realize this enormous sacrifice. I realize that no man or woman could possibly fathom the sacrifice without actually being inside the shoes of these heroes, but I am asking America to at least try to become educated; try to gain insight to the incredible sacrifice these veterans have made regarding themselves and their own families.

I will now close with a poem for which my experiences can relate as a veteran. I write for all those veterans who have sacrificed; regardless of their branch of service or position; regardless of their race or creed. They are my brothers and sisters… I stand with them.

A Soldiers Wish

By L. J. Riley Jr.

Ordered to those far off lands; into God and generals hands.

Circumstance where faith must roam; wish for me to soon be home.

Prepared for this? No one can say. Duty calls my place today.

Between commitment and my life; I hope I live to see my wife.

Beyond such want, and even more; behind my will I lock the door.

Courage calls and I must say; what plans lay kept for me today?

Marching toward uncertainty; unto grips of destiny.

Hands are filled with cold blue steel; I pray for strength, to God I kneel.

Men mingle in their deathly dance; compromise has lost its chance.

Over bodies, trenches, mines; seared within my shattered mind.

Fight or flight to live or die. Over head those bullets fly.

Behold my life, has lost its gold. Spent by hate before I’m old.

Explosions lamp, a rumbling noise; waypoints hold a soldiers poise.

Guided glow by compass hand, in darkness through this foreign land.

One eye open, one eye shut; a soldier digs a shallow rut.

Taking turns, a resting day; I hope my dreams take me away.

Staring stars bring thoughts too soon. Does my lover see that moon?

Is it that to call our own? Somewhere between the lands we roam?

A soldier thinks, a soldier cares, a soldiers boots begin to wear.

Soldiers pray mail calls their name; letters keep a soldier sane.

As some may live, some will die; leaders laugh, leaders cry.

When ugliness of man has spoke. When battle fields have cleared of smoke.

Some will ride among a plane; some will ride upon a boat.

Families wait and set their clocks; the silent ones ride in their box.

Home will never be the same. Parts of me do not remain.

Deathly faces in my dreams. Wakened by familiar screams.

Within my role, I’m still not here. My soul is forced to live in fear.

Time is served but never done; a mind at war that’s never won.

So if it’s said; if it’s lied. That veteran soldier’s never cried.

That killing fuels a soldiers will. That soldiers crave a battles thrill.

That vision’s of a man’s demise excites a soldier through their eyes.

If any carry such a thought; you’ll know they never truly fought.

Trust me to say…I know too well.

Somewhere between this life and hell; they sacrificed themselves as well.

If soldiers had a chance to say; a statement gave upon release.

A soldier my friend…would wish for peace

Poem Copyright2005 / Published2005

Compassionpwr@juno.com

L.J. Riley Jr. is a Michigan native, a graduate of Davison High School, a graduate of the U.S. Army Combat Infantry School, Bradley Fighting Vehicle School and Dragon Missle School. L.J. or John Riley is a combat veteran and served in Oper. Desert Shield / Storm. He left the military and enrolled at Mott Community College, graduating with Phi Theta Kappa and pursuing a BSW at the University of Michigan Flint where he won the “Maize and Blue” Scholar Award. L.J. then was accepted to the one year Masters program at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor MSW Program for clinical social work. He graduated in 2007 with a 4.0 and the acceptance of the Howard and Judith Simms Fellowship. L.J. loves people, loves helping people and seeks to change lives directly and in-directly through his writing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laverne_John_Riley_Jr.
http://EzineArticles.com/?Homeless-Veterans—A-Short-Message&id=1203012

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Financial Assistance For Elderly Veterans and Their Widows is a Well Kept Secret

Financial Assistance For Elderly Veterans and Their Widows is a Well Kept SecreBy Sonja Kobrin

Ask an elderly Veteran if they are aware they may be eligible for a pension from the Veteran’s Administration and they will tell you “I’m not eligible because I was not injured in the War.” This is a common misconception which keeps many Veterans from tapping into a benefit they well earned by serving our country. The fact is elderly, disabled Veterans and their widows may very well qualify for large sums of money, but they have to apply for the funds. There are several Veteran pensions, but the pension designed to help elderly Veterans and Veteran’s Widows pay for costly Home Health Care, Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home fees (if the Veteran is not covered by Medicaid) is called Special Monthly Pension with Aid and Attendance. The pension can pay a married Veteran up to $1,949.00 per month, an unmarried Veteran up to $1,644.00 per month and a Veteran’s Widow can receive up to $1,056.00 per month. The amount one receives is based upon their medical expenses and their current financial and medical status. The pension is paid by check directly to the Veteran or Veteran’s Widow every month as long as they meet the criteria.

The Special Monthly Pension with Aid and Attendance is the government’s best kept secret. I cannot tell you how many seniors have told me that they called Veterans Affairs and were actually told that this pension does not exist or that they do not qualify. For thirteen years, I have assisted Veterans and Veteran’s Widows in obtaining these funds - they really do exist.

To get the maximum pension amount, a Veteran must qualify medically and financially and must have served their country for at least one day during “War Time”. Also the Veteran must have been honorably discharged. Every case is considered individually. If a Veteran or Veteran’s Widow feels they may qualify, they can apply for the pension. The pension can take many months to actually be approved. The average waiting period is three to eight months. The first check will be retroactive to the month the application arrived at the Veterans’ Affairs, therefore the first check may be for thousands of dollars. Subsequent checks will arrive monthly for the approved amount. This pension money can mean the difference between affording adequate care for an aging Veteran/ Widow or having no care at all.

As with any governmental program, success is all in the paperwork. The pension application is many pages long and some of it is in essay form. It is the exact wording used in the essay areas that mean the difference between approval and denial. Also, Veteran’s Affairs does not tell Veterans about all the supporting documents that they would like to see. The better the medical and financial records, the better the chances are of approval. Including the right medical forms signed by a doctor is very important for approval. Also typical of governmental red tape is the frustrating lack of communication. Once the application is filed and in the process of being reviewed, it is nearly impossible to get an update or check on the status of the application unless the Veteran/ Widow make the call themselves. For most of our clients, they are too ill or too confused to make a call like that.

In a perfect world, financial assistance for those who qualify should be easily accessible and easy to get. But the reality is that government agencies are inherently complicated and their application processes are never self explanatory or simple. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse and no one will tell you the rules. The rules are written in a handbook, but the Veterans Affairs is not allowed to give them to you. Seasoned Eldercare professionals can often navigate these processes for you. They may charge for their services, but to attempt to do it yourself and have your application denied, will cost much more money. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs supposedly employs staff to help Veterans and their Widows apply for these pensions for free, but it is these very people who have told so many seniors that they do not qualify, when in fact they could qualify if they made one small change. Perhaps Veteran’s Affairs is afraid that if they made it easy for every Veteran to apply, the pension fund would go broke. Given that War Time includes the Gulf War Era which began in 1990 and has not ended yet, I anticipate the pension fund will one day be either broke or impossible to get. For now, the money is very much available and attainable.

Here are the Special Monthly Pension with Aid and Attendance eligibility criteria for the year 2008.

1) Veteran served in the Military for at least one day during War Time or had a spouse who served at that time. Spouses are people whom you never divorced.

2) Honorably Discharged from the Military.

3) Currently has medical or psychological condition which make the Veteran or Veteran widow dependent on the aid or assistance of a non- family member in order to meet their daily care needs or they reside in an Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home ( not on Medicaid). This claim must be supported by physician signed forms, financial data and medical records.

4) Veteran Financial Criteria: Have assets in their own name below $80,000 (if married) or below $50,000 (if single). The car and house does not count as an asset. Annual income below $19,736,.00 (if single) or $ 23,396.00 (if married) after all medical expenses such as insurance premiums/copays, assisted living facility fees, paid caregiver salary, medications, medical transportation/ supplies, certain housing expenses, etc.

5) Veteran Widow Financial Criteria: Assets below $50,000 and income less than $12,681 per year (after medical expenses listed above).

6) Note: Income figures are AFTER MEDICAL EXPENSES. VA may require someone of advanced age to have fewer assets than quoted above. We have seen this when applicants are near 100 years old.

In many cases, if a person has a paid care giver, such as a nurse’s aide, or they pay an assisted living facility, or they pay out of pocket for a nursing home, those expenses impact so greatly on a person’s net income, that they will meet the criteria for the income level.

If a Veteran or Veteran Widow has cash assets above the limit, they are allowed to place those assets into certain investments in order to have them “sheltered”. This sheltering does not have a penalty or “look back period” associated with it. Proper asset sheltering for Special Monthly Pension with Aid and Attendance should be done under the supervision of an elder care professional or attorney well versed in Medicaid planning because one could easily ruin the chances of ever getting Medicaid if the V.A. pension planning was done incorrectly.

With a little professional planning, many Veterans and Veteran Widows can receive pensions that make a significant difference in the amount of care they receive. After all, the reason for this particular pension is to assure that a Veteran or Veteran Widow does not live in a substandard environment in their old age. It takes a little work to apply for this pension, but anything worth having usually does.

Geriatric Care Managers and Elder Health Care Professionals Committed To Providing Senior Care Management, Guardianship, and Long Term Care Planning. Also can call toll free at V.I.P. Care management, inc. 1-877-588-5158.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonja_Kobrin
http://EzineArticles.com/?Financial-Assistance-For-Elderly-Veterans-and-Their-Widows-is-a-Well-Kept-Secret&id=3470434

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veterans

Thank You Veterans!

Thank you to those of you who served in the military.

REALLY MAKES ME PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Preparation for Memorial Day

Keep it
moving, please, even if you’ve seen it before.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the
VETERAN who
salutes the Flag,

It is
the
VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag,

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

I’d be
EXTREMELY proud if this email reached as many as possible. We can be very
proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless them all!!!

Makes you proud to be an AMERICAN!!!!

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veterans

We Give Thanks To Our Veterans

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