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moaacfc2021

Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans

Benefits, Military, Veteran Benefits / By

SB 554 Substituted for HB 45- -HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a disabled veteran who receives a tuition benefit to attend a state university, Florida College System institution, career center operated by a school district, or charter technical career center under the GI Bill, but who does not qualify for the 100-percent eligibility tier federally, is eligible for a waiver of tuition and fees from the institution attended. The award amount is equal to the amount that is the difference between the portion of tuition and fees authorized under federal law and the full amount of tuition and fees charged by the institution attended

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Department of Veterans Affairs

Newly Enacted Service-Connected Benefits

Veteran Benefits / By

Dear Veteran,
You may be eligible for newly enacted service-connected benefits.

Over the course of the last six months, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun processing service-connected disability claims for six new presumptive conditions related to environmental exposures during military service. We request your help in making more Veterans aware of these newly added presumptive conditions to help them file a claim and obtain any earned benefits.

In May 2021, VA started implementing provisions of the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the list of medical conditions presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange. A few months later VA added asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include rhinosinusitis) on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas.

Any Veteran who was previously denied service-connection for any of these six conditions but had symptoms manifest within
10 years of military service would need to file a supplemental claim. Be sure to use VA Form 20-0995, Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim when filing. The claim form should include the name of the condition and specify that the condition is being claimed due to in-service exposure to environmental hazards.

VA is committed to assisting Veterans who may have been exposed to hazardous materials during their military service.

Be sure to stay plugged in to www.va.gov for the most recent developments around environmental exposures during military service, as VA is constantly conducting research and surveillance as well as reviewing scientific literature for conditions that may be related to exposure during military service.

For more information about VA benefits and eligibility, or how to file a claim, Veterans and survivors can visit VA’s website at www.va.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

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DOD Seal

Defense Dept Announces Cost of Living Increase Retired Pay

Military / By

The Department of Defense announced annual cost of living adjustments that will benefit military retirees and survivors during calendar year 2022. Most military retirees will receive a 5.9 percent increase to their retired pay beginning with the pay they receive on January 1, 2022, which is the largest such increase since 1982. Likewise, survivors of members who died on active or inactive duty, or survivors of military retirees who participated in the Survivor Benefit Plan will, in most cases, see a 5.9 percent increase to their annuities beginning in January.
Survivors who are eligible for the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) will also receive an increase to their SSIA payments that reflects this 5.9 percent adjustment. The maximum amount of SSIA payable will be $346 beginning in January, although some survivors may receive less in SSIA as the Department of Defense continues to implement the phased reduction in the Survivor Benefit Plan – Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset, as enacted by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
These cost of living adjustments are calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the four quarters ending with the third calendar quarter of 2021 (July, August, and September 2021), and generally go into effect for all pay received beginning in January 2022.
Those military retirees who retired during calendar year 2021, and all military retirees who retired under the REDUX retirement system may receive a slightly different annual cost of living adjustment. The complete list of updates to military retired and retainer pay, and survivor annuities, allowances, and premiums can be found at https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/Cola.aspx.

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MOAA National

Membership and Mission of MOAA

Military, MOAA / By

The National Military Officer’s Association of America (MOAA) and affiliated Councils and Chapters are non-partisan and encourages active engagement to understand legislative issues and the stance of officials to inform MOAA membership during elections. The last page of this newsletter will always be a Central Florida Chapter (CFC) membership application for your use to recruit new members. MOAA’s greatest mission is to improve the lives of those who serve, and their families. The larger our numbers, the greater our voice. All commissioned and warrant officers of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the reserve and other components of these services (regular members), and their surviving spouses are eligible for MOAA membership. If you know of an eligible veteran, please print and cut out the membership application form and ask the veteran to join up and become a member of your Central Florida Chapter!

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