VA Disability & VA Pension, what's the difference? | theSITREP

In this episode of theSITREP, Paul and Dan Newpher discuss the difference between VA Disability and VA Pensions. To learn more, visit the links below.

Have an idea or question you would like to see addressed in a future episode of theSITREP? Email us at theSITREP@va.gov. Please know we are not able to respond directly to your submission, but our team DOES review all of them and we appreciate your support in making theSITREP a success!

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TOPIC LINKS

For additional information about VA Pensions, visit:
https://www.va.gov/pension/

For additional information about Aid & Attendance and Housebound, visit:
https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/

For additional information for Surviving Spouses, Dependents & Parents, visit:
https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension/

ADDITIONAL VIDEO LINKS

For videos on VA Disability & Pensions, visit:

For videos on VA Health Care, visit:

For videos on VA Education, Entrepreneurship & Employment, visit:

For videos on VA Home Loans, visit:

For videos on Specialty Topics, visit:

ABOUT THE VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is comprised of three different administrations:

(1) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Provides health care at 1,298 facilities, including 171 hospitals and 1,113 outpatient clinics, serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.

(2) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) - Provides a variety of benefits and services for Service Members, Veterans, and their families including compensation, pension and fiduciary, insurance, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and more.

(3) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) - Provides burial space for Veterans and their eligible family members, and maintains national cemeteries as national shrines, sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized there.

DISCLAIMER: The Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse or officially sanction any entities that may be discussed in this video, nor any media, products, or services they may provide.

#theSITREP #VetResources #VAbenefits

More than 200 new items at Emblem Sales

Perhaps you noticed something a little different at the district meeting. Maybe a flash of color caught your eye during an awareness ruck, golf outing or 5K.That “something different” is a dynamic variety of new American Legion Emblem Sales apparel and merchandise that adds the organization’s new brand marks to the traditional, time-honored emblem on products we use, to promote the organization – and look good doing it. Newly designed shirts, hats, and even golf balls are moving fast from the Geiger Operations Center in Indianapolis.And, in case you missed it, the U.S. Space Force awaits welcome from The American Legion, including items like outdoor flags, patches, decals, shirts and mini-flag sets.More than 200 items are brand-new to the Emblem Sales catalog and website this year. In fact, something new is added every week, from Be the One T-shirts and IndyCar jerseys to spread the message of our life-saving initiative

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager named 2023 Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has been selected as the 2023 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year. Seager played Legion Baseball for Post 115 in Kannapolis, N.C.Scheduling of the official award presentation is still in the works.Seager is a three-time All-Star who in 2020 became just the eighth player — and third American Legion Baseball alumnus — to earn League Championship Series and World Series MVP honors in the same season when he helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the seventh title in franchise history and first since 1988.In the 2020 NLCS, Seager set series records with five home runs and 11 RBIs as the Dodgers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Braves. Seager then hit .400 with two home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored as Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay in six games in the World Series.In December 2021, after seven seasons

Opportunity until April 18 to fund IRAs

LEARN HOW YOUR PLANNED GIFT CAN HELP THE AMERICAN LEGIONIndividuals with earned income may fund an IRA up to the 2022 limits on or before April 18, 2023. The 2022 funding amount may be the lesser of earned income or $6,000 ($7,000 if the individual is over 50). The regular IRA contribution amount increased to $6,500 in 2023.A traditional IRA may be funded this year, but if you are covered by a company plan there are phase-out limits. A single person who is an active participant in a company retirement plan may contribute to the IRA if their income is less than $68,000. The ability to contribute is phased out between $68,000 and $78,000 for single individuals or heads of household. A married individual has a phase-out limit from $109,000 to $129,000. However, if the married individual is not an active participant but has a spouse who is an active

VA’s National Cemetery Administration leads all public and private organizations in 2022 customer satisfaction ratings

VA's National Cemetery Administration (NCA) - which provides Veterans and their families with burial benefits and memorial services - led all organizations, public or private, in the prestigious American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for 2022. NCA received a score of 97, the highest score ever achieved by any organization rated by the ACSI. This is the seventh consecutive time NCA has ranked first overall in customer satisfaction.

Deadline: Eagle Scout of the Year applications due to departments March 1

Nominations for the 2023 American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year award are now being accepted. Nominate an Eagle Scout here. An applicant’s nomination packet must be received by their respective American Legion department headquarters no later than March 1. Departments must then select and certify their department’s top nominee to American Legion National Headquarters no later than April 1. Award and application information is available at legion.org/scouting.The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year will receive a $10,000 scholarship. Three runner-up scholarship awards will be granted in the amount of $2,500 each. Applicants that have questions or need additional information about their application, or the application process, should contact their respective American Legion department (state) headquarters. Department contact information is online here. 

Americanism report highlights Legion’s dedication to youth 

The American Legion recognizes February as Americanism Month – a time to reflect on the importance of upholding what the Preamble to The American Legion Constitution states, which is “To foster and perpetuate a 100 percent Americanism.”The released Americanism By-the-Numbers report for 2022 highlights the commitment by Legionnaires to uphold a 100 percent Americanism through youth program support and post activities.See the full Americanism By-the Numbers report for 2022 here. Below are a few highlights from the report:- 50,575 youth from 2,975 teams played American Legion Baseball, representing 49 American Legion departments.- 10,597 rising high school seniors participated in 50 American Legion Boys State programs. - 859 oratorical contests were conducted that involved 4,917 youth from 50 departments.- 854 individual athletes and 134 shooting clubs entered the 2021-2022 postal round competition of The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports National Tournament. - 14,205 students were presented an American Legion School Award Medal.- 4,527 Flag Day activities were

Life before, during and after the military

Air Force veteran Stacy Pearsall is the host of a new PBS show, “After Action,” which reveals the experiences of 21 diverse veterans through candid conversations about what life is like before, during and after service.She is the guest on this week’s American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast, hosted by Jeff Daly and Ashley Gutermuth.Pearsall, a member of American Legion Post 166 in Goose Creek, S.C., served as a combat photojournalist. “I've lost friends to suicide and have had my own battles,” she said. “If this show saves one life, then it's been worth it.” On the show, Pearsall sits down with three other veterans to talk about one topic. “Wherever that conversation goes, it goes,” she said, noting that sometimes veterans don’t have these types of conversations with family members. “’After Action’ is trying to achieve a more open dialogue, lifting the veil of the military experience and explaining

National Cemetery Administration nets prestigious honor  

VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) received the highest score ever in the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), according to a news release on Feb. 21.NCA, which received a score of 97, was ranked first overall for the seventh consecutive time by ACSI. The administration provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans, their spouses, and their dependents — at no cost to the family. This includes a gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker or medallion, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Some veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances.In 2022, NCA laid 145,737 veterans and family members to rest. NCA is now providing 94% of veterans with burial sites within 75 miles of their homes. The ratings are “the only national cross-industry measure of customer satisfaction available in the United States.” NCA’s

Five Things to Know, Feb. 20, 2023

1.   President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Monday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a striking gesture of solidarity that comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country. Biden spent more than five hours in the Ukrainian capital, meeting Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace, honoring the country’s fallen soldiers and meeting with U.S. embassy staff in the war-torn country. 2.   North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the country Monday in its second test launch in three days, prompting Japan to request an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. The launches continue a tit-for-tat exchange that began Saturday, and follow a year in which North Korea launched more than 70 missiles, the most ever. 3.   Dozens of well-wishers made the pilgrimage Sunday to The Carter Center in Atlanta, as prayers and memories of former President Jimmy Carter’s legacy were offered up at his

Suicide survivor extols Be the One message

Jeffrey Freeman shared his story of surviving a suicide attempt for the first time to a live audience. “This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart,” said Freeman, an Air Force veteran and member of American Legion Post 190 in Ripon, Calif. Freeman, who had previously shared his story on The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast, relayed how a back injury, subsequent fibromyalgia and inability to work led him down a spiral. “I can say the Legion saved my life,” Freeman said during a presentation at a Veterans Campaign Awareness event Feb. 18 in Merced, Calif. “It was 10 years ago next month when I attempted suicide. And in the process of my recovery, I joined the Legion and that’s what gave me what I needed in the past 10 years. It gave me purpose. It gave me a mission. Be the One is

Driving solutions, awareness and more for veterans

Retired Navy veteran Bruce Fultz went to The American Legion Veterans Awareness Campaign in Merced, Calif., looking for a solution. Fultz, a 75-year-old newly renewed American Legion member, has been encountering some challenges in completing his yardwork. “I came down to see what was going on and to ask some additional questions about resources,” he said. “I’m getting to the point where I can’t mow my yard anymore. After speaking with the post commander, I’m feeling optimistic and upbeat. It’s nice to get a warm, fuzzy feeling when somebody says ‘yes.’” The event, an expansion of the standard Legion revitalization membership drive, was held at American Legion Post 83 in Merced from Feb. 17-19. American Legion members connected veterans with accredited service officers, raised awareness of the Be the One initiative, and formed enduring bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. American Legion Post 190 member Jeffrey Freeman presented his personal Be

Nat’l. Vets Summer Sports Clinic, Nat’l. Vets Golden Age Games, Nat’l. Vets Wheelchair Games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuQNdTH5xHY

Veterans from across the country participate in sports. The National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, National Veterans Golden Age Games, and the National Veterans Wheelchair Games keeps Vets moving in the spirit of good health, fitness and community.

@sports4vets #vethealth #Veterans #TheBLUF

Visit on the web:
blogs.va.gov/nvspse/
wheelchairgames.org
news.va.gov

VA Benefits Intro: Disability Housing Grants

VA has three adapted housing grant types: Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant, and Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA). Each grant type has different criteria for determining eligibility for the grant award.

***More Info***
- https://news.va.gov/84813/specially-adapted-housing-changes-help-seriously-disabled-veterans/
- https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/

Winners revealed in VA’s $20M Mission Daybreak Grand Challenge to reduce Veteran suicides

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the 10 winners of Mission Daybreak, a $20 million grand challenge aimed at developing innovations to reduce Veteran suicides. During this challenge, VA received more than 1,300 innovation submissions from Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, community-based organizations, health technology companies, startups, and universities – with solutions ranging from lethal means ... Read more

Deaths among active-duty troops from fentanyl overdoses rise sharply, Pentagon says

Fentanyl was involved in 88% of the deaths of service members who overdosed on illicit drugs in 2021, a steep increase in five years, according to Defense Department data provided to Congress.“Our military is not immune to the opioid epidemic," Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said in a statement Wednesday. “The Department of Defense’s latest report underscores the urgency of this moment and our need to ensure access to quality care and treatment without stigma or shame.”Five years ago, the synthetic drug was involved in 36% of troop overdose deaths, according to Pentagon data.Markey and other senators requested data on overdoses from the Defense Department in September and last week received 12 pages from Pentagon officials that included statistics and prevention efforts.From 2017 to 2021, 15,293 service members overdosed on drugs and alcohol and 332 died. More than half of those who died had taken fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is

VA and NFFE reach key agreements to better serve Vets and support VA employees

WASHINGTON — This month, VA reached three key agreements with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) that will help VA better serve Veterans and support VA’s employees. Specifically, VA and NFFE agreed to memorandums of understanding that will: Significantly expedite the hiring process for NFFE’s bargaining unit employees, which will help VA implement the PACT Act and ... Read more

VBA History in Focus: 100 Objects - African American Soldiers in the Civil War and Afterwards

In honor of Black History Month, the latest episode of VBA History in Focus: 100 Objects pays tribute to the more than 200,000 African Americans who served in the Union military during the Civil War. Black soldiers and sailors saw action in 39 major engagements and earned 26 Medals of Honor. After the war, they often struggled to obtain benefits from the federal government for their service. Despite the obstacles they encountered, thousands of Black Veterans successfully pursued their claims and received compensation for their service-related wounds or medical conditions.

This video is adapted from the History of VA in 100 Objects virtual exhibit:
VA.gov/HISTORY/100_Objects/

To learn more about the experiences of African American soldiers in the Civil War, visit Object 54 in the exhibit: Civil War Broadside Recruiting “Men of Color:”
VA.gov/HISTORY/100_Objects/054_USCT_Broadside.asp

Legion Family brings Valentine’s Day to local senior citizens

Pelion American Legion Post 101 in South Carolina has only been in existence for seven years. It doesn’t have a building. Yet in those seven years, the post has become a strong presence in the community for a simple reason: its American Legion Family members get out in the community.That includes organizing an annual Breakfast with Santa; delivering shoes, comforters, backpacks and other items to a transitional homeless facility; attending local government and civic organization meetings; and, most recently, making sure those in a local assisted living facility or unable to leave their own homes weren’t forgotten on Valentine’s Day.Members of Post 101’s Legion Family delivered Valentine’s Day gifts, cards and food to the residents of Highlands Senior Living – Rapha in nearby Gaston, as well as to shut-ins within the community. It was similar to their effort at Christmas, when they delivered stockings filled with goodies to the same

Michigan post’s Legion Family steps up to assist one of its own

A health issue has kept Richard M. Jopling Post 44 Service Officer Richard Jacobson from working, and the expenses from his medical care and travel to and from that care have started to add up. When his fellow members of Post 44, located in Marquette, Mich., learned about his situation, they wanted to help out. Because that’s what they knew Jacobson would do if the situation was reversed. “Everybody can end up in a medical situation where you can have loss of income and new bills,” Post 44 Vice Commander John Mayotte said. “And when that happens, you want to help out. Richard is the kind of guy you want to help. He’s helped out here in the kitchen, he’s helped out with trivia here and now he’s the service officer. He’s the kind of guy who wants to help others, so we wanted to help him.”That’s why the post’s

Ukraine fights on

It was a special session called to address an international crisis. On Feb. 25, 2022, The American Legion National Security Commission met to address Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. Days later, The American Legion National Executive Committee unanimously passed Resolution 1: Statement on Ukraine. While the resolution opposes the deployment of U.S. troops for in-theater combat operations unless several stringent conditions are met, the statement also urges the administration to “continue the supply of lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukrainian forces.”This pragmatic approach recognizes that while the United States has many valuable allies, our country has historically sacrificed more than our share of casualties in recent wars.  If Ukraine wants freedom, Ukraine must fight for it. And fighting they did. The bravery and valor shown by the people of Ukraine has been truly inspirational. Many armchair generals expected Ukraine’s sovereignty to collapse within 12 days, never mind 12 months. Yet

Wisconsin post provides proper send-off to deploying commander

Since becoming commander of Paul Herrick Post 21 in Kenosha, Wis., last summer, 37-year-old Matt Christiansen has made it a point to stress the family side of The American Legion. But recently, Christiansen was shown firsthand the strength of that Legion Family bond. A 12-year member of and captain in the Army National Guard, Christiansen recently found out he was going to be deployed to the Horn of Africa for a tour of approximately six months, serving as a chief engineer. But before he departs, members of Post 21’s Legion Family made sure he got a proper sendoff – and an assurance his family he’s leaving behind will not be alone.The post staged a going away event for Christiansen on Feb. 12 that was attended by members of the post’s Legion Family, Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, two state representatives and State Sen. Robert Wirch, a member of Post 21. “It

Legion Baseball flashback: Washington state’s three-time ALWS champs

Yakima, Wash., has always had a strong American Legion Baseball program.The Post 36 team, nicknamed “Beetles,” have a state-record 26 state championships that is highlighted by five American Legion World Series appearances and three ALWS titles.Yakima won its first state championship in 1941 and claimed at least one state title in every decade from the 1940s to the 1990s. The Beetles won their first ALWS championship in their first visit to that event in 1953. It also marked the first ALWS champion from the Pacific Northwest.Yakima would add ALWS titles in 1975 and 1979 and made ALWS appearances in 1976 and 1988.1953When Post 36 won its historic title in 1953, it set another record that lasted 20 years, as they travelled a record 3,188 miles to play in that year’s ALWS in Miami, Fla. That record lasted until 1973 when Rio Piedras, P.R., travelled 3,462 miles to Lewiston, Idaho, for

Training Tuesday on conflict management

The February Training Tuesday will be on conflict management. Internal Affairs & Membership Division Member Engagement & Training Coordinator Erin Bossen will present the training with a focus on feelings, observations, needs and requests with conflict management.  Listen to the training on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Eastern by clicking here. Or visit the Training Tuesday web page at legion.org/training/training-tuesdays.The last Tuesday of each month American Legion National Headquarters staff and other leadership present 60- to 90-minute sessions on topics aimed at post commanders and adjutants. 

Samsung scholars to be recognized in D.C.

The 10 national scholars of the 2022 Samsung American Legion Scholarship will be in Washington, D.C., during the Legion’s Washington Conference. The scholars will be in the nation’s capitol Feb. 26 to March 1 to be recognized for their achievement and visit with Legionnaires. During their stay, the scholars will tour the National Mall with Sons of The American Legion members, attend a special recognition dinner with American Legion and Samsung leadership, meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill with their respective department leadership, and tour the Samsung Solutions Center. The Samsung American Legion Scholarship recognizes eligible American Legion Boys State and Auxiliary Girls State attendees for being a direct descendant (or legally adopted child) of a U.S. military veteran, and for their academic achievement and community service. The Samsung American Legion Scholarship has been presented by The American Legion and funded by Samsung since 1996.The 10 national scholars received