Government and You E-News - January 8, 2008

1. NDAA Still on Hold: President Bush used a "pocket veto" during the Christmas holiday to stop the National Defense Authorization Act for FY08 from going forward. The pocket veto can only be used when Congress is not in session and means that the legislation died at midnight on December 31, 2007. The president used this tactic to object to particular provisions within H.R. 1585, especially section 1083 which would reshape Iraq's immunity to lawsuits, exposing the new government to litigation within the United States courts stemming from treatment of Americans in Iraq during Saddam's reign. Even cases that had once been rejected could be refiled. The President said the legislation "would imperil billions of dollars of Iraqi assets at a crucial juncture in that nation's reconstruction efforts."

Much is being publicized about the delay of a pay raise as a result of the veto. In reality it means that troops will get a 3 percent raise instead of the 3.5 percent authorized by the bill, unless an agreement is reached. As of now, Congress has not ruled out any legislative options; including dropping the language on lawsuits against Iraq and sending the rest of the bill back to President Bush. The Administration has said that as soon as the House returns on January 15th, they will work with Congress to fix the provision as quickly as possible. NMFA hopes that this will be accomplished in a timely manner so that all the other provisions in the NDAA so important to service members, military families and the wounded can be implemented. Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071228-3.html

2. New Year Brings New Pay and Allowance Rates: Effective January 1, 2008 service members received a 3.0 % increase in basic pay. In addition, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rates are now being paid at 2008 levels. According to the Department of Defense BAH rates increased an average of 7%. To determine your 2008 BAH or COLA rate visit the rate query website at http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/. For a complete 2008 pay table visit the Military Compensation website at: http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bp/index.html.

3. TRICARE Enhances Behavioral Health Accessibility: TRICARE is making behavioral health care access simpler for Prime beneficiaries by offering assistance with appointments. All active duty service members and their enrolled family members living in the U.S. who need help locating and making appointments with behavioral health care providers can now contact their Managed Care Support Contractor (MCSC) for assistance.

For assistance making behavioral health appointments the toll-free numbers are: West Region, 1-866-651- 4970; North Region, 1-877-747-9579; and in the South Region the number is 1-877-298-3514. Hours vary according to region.

All active duty service members must have a referral from their primary care manager for behavioral health care before calling the MCSC appointment assistance line. TRICARE Prime active duty family members can receive the first eight outpatient behavioral health care visits per fiscal year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) without a referral, but they must receive the care from TRICARE network providers to avoid point-of-service cost sharing charges.

TRICARE Oversees Program beneficiaries can also use the appointment assistance line when traveling in the U.S. Beneficiaries are reminded that the Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Service is not a help line for behavioral health treatment, counseling or advice.

For more information about TRICARE and the behavioral health appointment assistance service, visit the mental health and behavior section at http://www.tricare.mil/ and create a profile. If you are a TRICARE Standard or Extra beneficiary your options vary slightly. Go to http://www.tricare.mil/ and follow the instructions for assistance in making behavioral health appointments.

4. VA Cost-of-Living Increases Take Effect: Millions of veterans and eligible family members will see their disability compensation, pension, and survivors' benefits increased as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides an annual cost-of-living increase for key benefits.

A recent law signed by President Bush provides a 2.3 percent increase in disability compensation and survivors' benefits. Eligible veterans and family members will see this increase starting in their January 2008 checks.

Under the veterans’ disability compensation program, tax-free payments will generally range from $117 to $2,527 per month depending on the degree of disability. Special payments up to $7,232 per month apply to the most severely injured veterans.

Pension disability benefits will also be increased by the same percentage and effective on the same date. The maximum annual rate for permanently and totally disabled veterans or veterans over age 65 can range from $11,181 to $18,654, based on household income and whether veterans are in need of help with activities for daily living.

This increase also applies to survivors of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability. The basic monthly rate for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) survivors’ benefit payments increased from $1067 to $1091 per month. The basic rate for each dependent child under age 18 increased from $250 to $271 per child. For more information on DIC compensation payment rates go to http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp03.htm.

Survivors of wartime veterans receiving death pensions are also entitled to an increase. The maximum annual payment rate for a surviving spouse can range from $7,498 to $11,985. Benefits under this program are intended to bring an eligible spouse’s income to a level established by law. Under each benefit program, additional allowances may be payable for helpless, minor or school age children. For more information about VA benefits and services, go to VA’s website at http://www.va.gov/ or call 1-800-827-1000. (Source: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1436)

5. New Electronic Health Information Sharing Capability Announced: The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can now share health care information electronically through the Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE) and the Clinical Data Repository/Health Data Repository (CHDR) interfaces. These new product enhancements will allow DoD and the VA to see each other’s clinical encounters, medical procedures, and lists of medical problems. DoD will also be able to view data collected in theater including inpatient information from the use of the Theater Medical Data Store. Earlier this year, DoD and the VA were able to view pharmacy, allergy, microbiology, chemistry/hematology information, and radiology reports.

The CHDR software actively synchronizes data between DoD and the VA repositories for service members receiving health care services from both government agencies. CHDR has been in operation since late 2007, but in a limited basis. New enhancements to CHDR software will allow each agency to see shared service members’ information. Having access to service member’s pertinent information in a timely fashion will greatly increase continuity and quality of care to our wounded service members from the time of their initial injury in theater to care received stateside.
(Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11588)

6. It’s Tax Time! As you make your New Years resolutions, this year consider curbing unnecessary expenses. Each year service members and their families needlessly spend their hard earned income on tax preparation services that are available free. Your local installation tax office will prepare and file your return at absolutely no charge. In addition, Military OneSource has provided free online preparation for the past several years. While the program has not yet been announced for this year, it is likely that it will be offered again.

The first step in preparing your return is collecting the necessary documents. Just in time, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has announced the release schedule for military W-2 and 1099 forms. Service members and civilian employees can log into their DFAS myPay accounts and download tax documents. These electronic documents are available as much as two weeks prior to hard copy forms mailed to recipients. The following forms are currently available for download:

Retiree 1099R
Annuitant 1099R
Air Force, Army and Navy Reserve W2
Civilian W2
Marine Corps Active and Reserve W2

Other forms will be available according to the following schedule:

NAF Civilian W2, 1/11/2008
Savings Deposit 1099INT, 1/18/2008
Air Force, Army, and Navy Active W2, 1/22/2008

For complete details visit the DFAS myPay website: https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx

Remember, the new Military Lending Act is now in effect and provides regulation for long overlooked refund anticipation loans. Don’t pay fees and interest to access your money. File your own return or seek assistance at your local installation tax office.

7. Primary Season Has Begun: The race for the White House officially kicked off with the Iowa Caucuses last week. Have you filed your request for an absentee ballot yet? Each state has its own rules regarding absentee ballots, but all require an absentee voter to actually request a ballot if they cannot be present on the day of the election. Service members and their families can request an absentee ballot by obtaining and returning a Federal Post Card Application (SF-76). These forms are available from your command Voting Assistance Officer or online at: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/fpca.html.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program website, http://www.fvap.gov/, provides voters with publications and forms, information on voting laws, services available, and links to local voting information. Voting is one of our most fundamental rights and privileges. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your voice heard!

8. Military Families Benefit from Changes in Space-A Travel: Dependents of service members who have been deployed for 120 days or longer will now find it easier to travel on Space Available military flights (Space-A). Due to a change in policy effective December 6, 2007, military families no longer need to be accompanied by their service member when traveling Space-A regardless of where they are based. Prior to the change, military dependents could only travel unaccompanied from an overseas location to the family’s home of record within the continental United States or within an overseas theater of operation. Additionally, they were limited to one round trip during the military sponsor’s deployment period.

Under the new policy, family members may now travel unlimited times during the deployment when seats are available. However, family members planning to use Space-A transportation will need a verification letter from the military sponsor’s commander confirming the service member’s deployment. In addition, an eligible parent or legal guardian must accompany family members under age 18.

NMFA wishes to thank the Department of Defense for this new policy, which provides better support for military families during deployments. For more information regarding the Space-A travel program, please visit the Air Mobility Command website at http://www.amc.af.mil/.

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