LVMAC Tidbits

Homebuyer Tax Credit Ending,  Full Concurrent Receipt Proposed, Military ID Cards for 100% Disabled

Veteran’s Home Buyer Tax Credit:  The program will soon end. Under the problem, veterans who served overseas in the past two years are probably eligible for an $8,000 tax credit when purchasing a home. Under the extension passed late last year by Congress for veterans, a contract must be signed by April 30, 2011, but applicants have until June 30, 2011 to close the deal. Veterans should check with their professional tax preparer in regards to their eligibility

Full Concurrent Receipt: Legislation (S. 344, HR 333) was introduced in both houses of the 112th Congress on 14 February that would allow qualified military retirees to receive both their VA disability compensation and DoD pensions at the same time. Concurrent receipt of retirement pay and disability compensation has been expanded in recent years, but it still does not apply to military retirees with service-connected disabilities rated less than 50 percent.

Military ID Cards and Disability: We have been asked by a couple of younger veterans if permanently disabled veterans rated 100% service-connected  by the VA are entitled to military ID cards, even if they are not military retirees, medical or otherwise.  The answer is yes.  DoD instructions say it is be issued to 100% disabled veterans who have been honorably discharged, and their eligible dependents and survivors.  That can mean in addition to spouse and unmarried children, the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, stepparent, or parent-by-adoption – if they are dependent upon the disabled vet for 50% or more for their care/support. The benefit?  A military ID card gains one access and use of  the  commissary, theater and post exchange … and even certain lodgings.

The procedure to obtain one requires a letter from the Veterans Benefits Administration stating the individual is 100 percent disabled service-connected and permanently.  Typically a DD Form 214 together with two other forms of acceptable identification are required to be presented to the nearest RAPIDS ID processing site and a DD Form 1172 (Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card) may be required if the sponsor is not present.  The VA states it can assist one in completing the form, if necessary.  Contact the nearest regional office for that using 1-800-827-1000.  Our nearest ID card processing center is at the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC)  Lehigh Valley, 1400 Postal Road (just north of  Rt 22 and Airport Rd),  Allentown,  PA 18109, tel: (610) 264-8823.  Appointments are normally made using the website: http://appointments.cac.navy.mil/

16 Mar 2011