MEMBERSHIP

Submitted by Ed Baisden

October 2021

COL (Ret) Ed Baisden

Membership Update                                                                     

As we approach the sixth anniversary of VC01 (15 Dec 2015) we have 350 members in all fifty states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  With apologies to all country-music fans we can truly say…” We were virtual before virtual was cool”.  The lengthy period of forced isolation due to Covid-19 has changed, perhaps permanently, the attractiveness of doing business virtually.  It is certainly working well for us.

Our VC01 founders (Jeri Graham and Joe Gollasch) realized from the beginning that there was great value in documenting the processes and lessons-learned in forming the first Virtual Chapter in MOAA.  The creation of a “Toolbox” with step-by-step guidance on how to form a new Virtual Chapter has borne fruit.  There are now four Virtual Chapters: VC01 (Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates), VC02 (Surviving Spouses), VC03 (US Public Health Service), and VC04 (Chaplains).  Also, approved at the last MOAA BOD meeting is a Council of Virtual Chapters (VC00).

So, that’s where we stand today (October 2021).  We are certainly a growth industry at this point, but we still have great possibilities to improve our advocacy efforts by increasing our membership, and our influence.  While we have members in 175 different Congressional Districts there are hundreds more out there.  I would like to close this update with a repeated request that every current member become a recruiter.

If you know of a friend who is eligible for membership in VC01 (or any other VC for that matter), ask that friend to join and send him/her to our website to submit an application.  Let’s keep the ball rolling!  Thanks for your membership and thanks for your adherence to “Never Stop Serving”. 

Cheers…Ed Baisden, MUSNAVC 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