MEMBERSHIP

Submitted by Ed Baisden

16 May 2021

COL (Ret) Ed Baisden

Membership Update:  

We continue to show steady growth in our membership.  As of mid-May 2021, we have 336 members in all fifty states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  We are trying in  2021 to expand and reorganize our  Membership “Committee” which now has only one person.  We have broken out all the functions into discrete segments which can be handled by newly added members of the Committee, without imposing too much work onto any single person.  If you feel like stepping up to participate in the management of the Virtual Chapter please consider the following areas where just a little bit of help would be greatly appreciated:

*  SOCIAL MEDIA:  Monitors our Facebook Group page to ensure that it stays up to date; sharing posts from other groups and organizations with information of interest to our members. (WE HAVE "FILLED" THIS POSITION, WITH LENNIE ENZEL NOW ADDED AS AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FB GROUP)

*  SCOUTING/RECRUITING/ASSESSING:  I initially saw this as three separate functions, but now realize that everything can easily be done by the same person.  Actually, every VC member can be doing this simultaneously.  The steps that are involved are:

*  Identify a friend of yours who has current or past service as a Uniformed Service nurse

*  Get this friend to agree to join the VC and report this to musnavc@gmail.com.  I will send you a "New Member In-processing Check List".  Obtain all the necessary personal information and return the completed Check List.

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I can then do everything else necessary to bring the new member into the VC and National MOAA..  If you would like to help with this recruiting effort, please just send me an email expressing your interest and I'll get with you to explain more fully how you can make a much-needed contribution to the overall management of the Chapter. This will NOT require much time or effort on your part.  I promise.

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 We have also created an OUTREACH LETTER with information about the chapter, along with an application form, which includes an easy way to join MOAA for those who are not yet members.  I’d like to suggest that you print off a few of these, put them in envelopes, and be ready to pass them along to eligible folks you might run into at your Nurse Organization meetings and conferences or at promotion/retirement ceremonies.  It is both easy and cheap and these gatherings probably present “target-rich environments”.

Thanks very much for your continued support and willingness to “Never Stop Serving”.  Cheers…Ed Baisden, Membership Chair

LEGISLATION

July 2021

Submitted by webmaster

Here is a listing of several bills being considered by Congress which will have an impact on our military and deserve our advocacy monitoring.  

You may read further on the bills, see sponsors and the status of the bill by entering the bill number HERE.

An important part of our MUSNAVC advocacy is staying informed of pending legislative issues.

Thank you for your advocacy efforts and "Never Stop Serving".

SURVIVING SPOUSE LIAISON

July 2021

Submitted by webmaster

LTC (Ret) Susan McKennon

Remarriage Rules Relaxed For Surviving Spouses Seeking VA Benefits

30 Jun 2021

Military.com | By Jim Absher
 

A little-noticed provision in Public Law 116-315, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, makes it easier for surviving spouses to continue receiving Department of Veterans Affairs benefits if they remarry.
 

The law made changes to the remarriage rules for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Effective Jan. 5, 2021, a veteran's surviving spouse who remarries after the veteran's death will remain eligible for the benefit paid by the VA if the spouse is at least 55 years old. The remarriage must have occurred on or after that date.

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Prior to this change in the law, surviving spouses who remarried before their 57th birthday lost eligibility for the benefit.

What Is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation?

DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of certain deceased veterans, including survivors of:

• Military members who died while on active duty

• Veterans whose death was the result of a service-related injury or disease

• Veterans whose death wasn't related to their service but who received VA disability compensation
   

The monthly tax-free benefit is currently more than $1,300.
 

To be eligible for DIC, the surviving spouse must have been married to a service member who died on active duty or married a veteran whose death was service-connected. There are other rules regarding when the marriage occurred, if there are children or if the marriage was terminated due to divorce.
 

See: Details about the dependency and Indemnity Compensation program

If the spouse remarries after the veteran dies, they can remain eligible for the benefit if the date of remarriage is on or after Dec. 16, 2003, and they are at least 57 years old.  Effective Jan. 5, 2021, that age limit dropped to 55.
 

The surviving children of a qualifying veteran are also eligible for the DIC benefit if they are unmarried and under 18, or between the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school. Certain adult children who cannot provide for themselves due to physical or mental disabilities also can be entitled to DIC. Some surviving parents may be eligible for the benefit if they meet income limits.

TRANSITION and PERSONAL AFFAIRS

Submitted by webmaster

COL Tonya Dickerson

July 2021

MOAA offers a range of resources for servicemembers seeking to take the next step in their professional life. Whether you plan to enter the workforce or maximize your GI Bill benefits, don't skip this must-read guidance.

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Get the details from the MOAA 2021 Transition Guide HERE