Click here for the Morning Call article which appeared in its Sunday edition of 17 July 2016. Is there more to this story? At his press conference on 16 July, the Auditor General, Eugene DePasquale, stated “… the State of Pennsylvania needs to develop a more effective strategic plan on Read more…
On 5 May 2016, the Pennsylvania War Veterans Council (PWVC), an important association of the major veterans service organizations in the commonwealth, agreed to its legislative goals for 2016-2017. They should not be overlooked by our Governor and General Assembly, as they are germane to improving the care of our veterans, including those of the most recent generations: (more…)
Application deadline for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program extended until Dec. 31 Pennsylvania’s state government never seems to set the correct deadline for this program. However, this failure of government happens to be to your advantage. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians 65 and older, widows and widowers age Read more…
It is estimated forty-five percent of those in the armed forces are from rural areas. Surprisingly, considering its its wealth of industry and size of population, Pennsylvania has large rural tracts. About 89.5% of its area and 21.3% of its population is rural. Even in the Lehigh Valley, the third largest metropolitan area of commonwealth, there are sizeable, rural areas. These fall within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s sphere of responsibility, and that is useful to know. (more…)
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 17, 2015
Harrisburg, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs encourages Pennsylvania veterans to connect with them via their new online Pennsylvania Veterans Registry at www.register.dmva.pa.gov for assistance with obtaining veterans benefits and services. (more…)
Just got out and maybe wondering if going back to school is for you — maybe even lacking a little self-confidence about being the right material for a school of higher learning? Not sure how to best use your educational benefits? Confused about the process or the next step? You’ve served in the military, one of the hardest environments in which to survive even if you did not go into combat — and you’ve done it … what most could not. Wonder why? The U.S. military is one of the best trainers and educators in the world, second to none.
So … why not then take advantage of some of the finest educators and subject matter experts in the state to learn about how to train for civilian employment using your military skills, the GI Bill and other benefits. Why not learn how to use every ounce of your benefits to your advantage and not someone else’s; why not learn from others who are and have just gone through the school on what to look out for, tips and traps. Why not learn about what jobs are in demand in the Lehigh Valley if you intend to remain here after schooling; why not get to know the schools and trade schools in the area; and why not just figure out — plain and simple — if school is the right fit for you? (more…)
Gulf War Vets Needed for Research: The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center at the VA in East Orange, N.J., currently has several research studies focused on Gulf War veterans who deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm, as well as non-deployed veterans of the same era. If you are a veteran from the 1990-91 era, or if you have a Gulf War illness and would like to know more about the research, please call 1-800-248-8005 or visit their Gulf War Research page at: http://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/research/volunteer/nj-wriisc.asp.
(Source: VFW Action Corps Weekly, 18 September 205) (more…)
Real Estate tax exemptions for veterans have come up more than once at veterans group meeting. Confusion often reigns. Word of mouth frequently leads to misunderstandings. Perhaps the worst part is surviving spouses are often forgotten – to include the surviving spouses of a servicemembers killed in action. This article is an attempt to clarify the situation for our members who live in Pennsylvania and that other country, New Jersey. While it is beyond the scope of this article to determine with certainty any local ordinances regarding exemptions exist (none are currently known), the existing laws in both states are discussed.
First, the belief that real estate tax exemptions for a disabled veteran are federal law is not true. Any real estate tax exemption, waiver or reduction (hereafter, called “exemption”) is the result of a local ordinance or state law. (more…)
After years of foot dragging, the General Assembly has finally acted. The one-year residency requirement to receive the in-state tuition rate at a public institution of higher leaning in Pennsylvania is now officially waived. Act 11 of 2015 was signed into law by the Governor on 29 June. It amends Act 287 of 1982 by requiring community colleges and state related/state-owned institutions to provide in-state tuition rates for veterans, their spouses and dependent children wanting to use their GI Bill benefits regardless of how long they have resided in the state. (more…)
VA Extends Disability Benefits to Air Force Personnel Exposed to Contaminated C-123 Aircraft
On 18 June, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a long-awaited regulation that expands eligibility for some benefits for a select group of Air Force Veterans and Air Force Reserve personnel who were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange through regular and repeated contact with contaminated C-123 aircraft that had been used in Vietnam as part of Operation Ranch Hand (ORH). (more…)