This Month, SBP; Next Month, Concurrent Receipt.
The Veterans Disability Benefits Commission met last week to consider options to improve survivor benefits. Commission issue papers on concurrent receipt and two other topics are expected in December. |
DoD/VA Casualty Assistance Update.
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs recently provided an update for service representatives, advocacy groups and survivors on current initiatives in casualty assistance. |
Happy Thanksgiving
MOAA wishes you and yours a warm and safe holiday. |
This Month, SBP; Next Month, Concurrent Receipt
The November 16, 2006 Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) hearing considered one of MOAA's top priorities - repeal of the law that reduces military SBP annuities by the amount of survivor benefits payable from the VA.
Under current law, the surviving spouse of a retired member who dies of a service-connected cause is entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the VA. In the case of a military retiree enrolled in SBP, the surviving spouse's monthly SBP annuity is reduced by the amount of DIC - a little more than $1,000 a month.
This offset also affects many survivors of members killed on active duty - including all active duty deaths since Sept. 11, 2001. Most active duty deaths occur among relatively junior servicemembers, whose survivors are eligible for only modest SBP payments. That means most survivors of members killed on active duty lose most or all of their SBP benefit.
Commission members didn't come to a consensus on the issue, so VDBC Chairman Terry Scott (LTG, USA-ret) tabled it, asking the commission staff to provide additional information. MOAA will provide the commissioners copies of our latest brochure on this topic (Undue Sacrifice).
Commissioners then tackled several staff-developed topics to include VA claim-processing time limits, lump-sum payments, and resolution of pending claims that end with veteran's death, but came to a final decision on only one issue. They unanimously agreed to eliminate from their final report any recommendation for a buy-out or lump-sum payments.
Finally, the commission reported that three previously discussed issues are now undergoing legal and technical review: 1) line of duty; 2) character of discharge; and 3) concurrent receipt. The Commission stated these issue papers are expected to be released in December and stakeholders, including MOAA and other military associations, will be allowed to provide comments in January.
DoD/VA Casualty Assistance Update
On November 17, DoD and VA hosted military and association representatives (including MOAA's Auxiliary Advisory Committee representative Jennifer McCollum and Deputy Director for Government Relations CDR René Campos, USN (Ret) for an update on casualty assistance and survivor outreach efforts.
The VA highlighted its issuance of a new pamphlet, "Benefits and Services for Survivors of Servicemembers Who Die on Active Duty".
On the military side, DoD has been working to upgrade procedures for transporting servicemember remains, including providing an Honor Guard detail upon arrival at the destination.
Additionally, DoD has been working to standardize all service casualty assistance programs, developing checklists and a survivor survey that will eventually provide performance standards and evaluations. Current service programs vary in support and service levels provided to surviving family members. For instance, only the Air Force provides a full-time person to assist with benefits. The Marines give each family a print-out of government survivor benefits as a planning tool for making financial decisions, while Army spouses must specifically request the print-out.
DoD is finalizing a survivor notebook to help survivors organize the large amount of information they receive over time. The notebook (which will be updated semi-annually) will be in use by all services beginning January 1.
DoD and the VA also will provide long term-support services and counseling for surviving family members via Military OneSource and Vet Center programs.
Happy Thanksgiving
This legislative update is coming to you a couple of days early, because MOAA headquarters will be closed the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Your MOAA staff wishes you a happy and healthy holiday with your family this Thursday. Please stay safe in your travels, as this week sees more Americans on the road than any other.
As we take time to count our collective blessings, let's make sure to give thanks for the dedication of thousands of servicemembers who won't be with their families on this holiday because they are guarding our country's interests around the globe.
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