New Law May Bring New Benefits to Veterans

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 was signed into law this fall and addresses many of the needs of veterans; including employment opportunities, insurance and housing needs.

2010-12-22

December 22, 2010 (Press-News.org) President Obama signed The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 law this fall. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner said, "This bill will make a big difference in the lives of many of America's brave veterans."

The new law addresses many of the needs of veterans, with key provisions including:

Enhances Employment Opportunities
- Provides an 18-month period for training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by the National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute.
- Extends authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs Reauthorization of Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.

Working to Prevents Homeless Veterans
- Reauthorizes appropriations for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.
- Makes grants to programs and facilities to provide dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

Ensuring the Welfare of Veterans and Their Families by Increasing Insurance Limits
- Increases the amount of supplemental insurance for totally disabled veterans.
- Creates a permanent extension of duration of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for totally disabled veterans.
- Adjusts coverage of dependents under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
- Allows the opportunity to increase the amount of Veterans' Group Life Insurance.
- Secures Compensation, Pensions and Other Benefits.

Protecting Service Members Called to Combat
- Clarifies that Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) prohibits wage discrimination against members of the Armed Forces.

Honoring Fallen Service Members and Their Families
- Increases certain burial and funeral benefits and plot allowances for veterans.
- Allows interment in national cemeteries of parents of certain deceased veterans.
- Reports on selection of new national cemeteries.

Strengthening Education Benefits
- Extends the life of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.

Addressing Housing Needs of Disabled Veterans
- Enhances disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury.

Investing in Research for Gulf War Veterans
- Allows for National Academies to review the best treatments for Gulf War illness.
- Extends and modifies the National Academy of Sciences reviews and evaluations regarding illness and service in the Persian Gulf War and Post 9/11 Global Operations Theaters.

American Legion National Commander Jimmie Foster commented on the bill: "...In our view, the real successes were the passage of bills that affected nearly every veteran in America."

There are continuing issues related to the ongoing physical and mental healthcare needs of veterans. Congress is working on ways to develop, train and retain healthcare professionals within the VA Healthcare system and improve the quality of health-related research initiatives within the VA. There is ever increasing pressure on the VA to effectively treat and care for the complex health needs of returning veterans.

If you are a veteran and you have questions on how provisions of this bill could help you, or you need assistance with determining and applying for benefits, speaking with attorney experienced with veterans' benefits can be a good place to start. A lawyer understands the complexities of the system, can identify the benefits to which you may be entitled and can assist you with the benefits process.

Article provided by The Law Offices of Goodson & Piemonte, P.C.
Visit us at www.pgoodson.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Will Immigrant Youth Ever Get to Live the American DREAM?

2010-12-22

The oft-delayed Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act took one step forward and two steps back recently, as the United States House of Representatives passed a version of the legislation that would bring illegal immigrants who were brought to America as children a chance at citizenship. Less than one day later, however, the Senate tabled a vote that was supposed to take place, putting it on hold until further notice. Unfortunately, on December 18 the Senate, in a special Saturday session, voted against the bill, leaving the DREAM Act back in legislative ...

Helpful Tips To Avoid Distracted Driving

2010-12-22

Driving has become increasingly more dangerous with the advent of text messaging and mp3 players. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that car accidents kill 40,000 Americans and account for millions of injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving contributed to 16 percent of all traffic accidents. Distracted driving has become such a prevalent issue, it has lead to a ban on the use of cell phones while driving many states and the District of Columbia. However, a number of factors -- beyond the use ...

Are Medical Rankings Reliable?

2010-12-22

When we go under the knife for surgery, we place our lives in the hands of the doctor performing the operation and the hospital where it is taking place. We trust that we will be treated with care and that all precautions will be taken to keep us safe. However, sad it may be, some doctors and hospitals simply do a better job than others when it comes to protecting the safety of patients. While there are surveys and rankings of hospitals to available to patients, keep in mind that they might not really be an accurate representation of the care you will receive. Dr. Atul ...

Test Indicates Which Mothers Need Cesarean Sections

2010-12-22

For the mothers that endure prolonged hours of labor only to have a Cesarean section (C-section) in the end, a new test performed at the early stages of labor could indicate that a C-section should be performed. Based on research by Liverpool University, Swedish company Obstecare has developed a test that measures the amount of lactic acid in the amniotic fluid. If high levels of lactic acid are present, it is doubtful that the mother will be able to deliver the baby vaginally, as lactic acid at certain levels begins to inhibit contractions. The test could help end difficult ...

Van City Man Urges City to Ban Pit Bulls after Granddaughter Attacked

2010-12-22

After a horrifying dog attack on his granddaughter, a Texas grandfather recently urged the Van City Council to ban dangerous dog breeds. The state of Texas has a state-wide law on dog bites, however, cities and counties may instate local laws that create more protection for their residents. Terrifying Dog Attack On Halloween night, Douglas Wolfe's 2-year-old granddaughter, Summer, was viciously mauled in Van, Texas by a neighbor's 7-month-old pit bull. Summer knew and trusted the dog, but for unknown reasons, attacked her that evening. According to East Texas KLTV ...

Tucson Police Work to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents

2010-12-22

According to The Arizona Daily Wildcat, the Tucson Police Department received a $44,000 grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to help prevent pedestrian and bicycle accidents. With the grant money, undercover officers have been targeting motorists who drive too close to sidewalks and bike lanes, and bicyclists and pedestrians who jaywalk or do not use bike lanes. The officers have issued 789 citations since the special enforcement started on August 10. The Phoenix-based law firm of Solomon & Relihan applauds the Tucson police department and the Governor's ...

Will Arizona See Distracted Driving Laws?

2010-12-22

The rise of cell phone and mobile device use in cars has led to a new category of driving danger: distracted driving. Distracted driving has become one of the most common causes of automobile accidents in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Per the CDC, 16 people are killed and over 1,300 are injured every day due to a distracted driving accident. Recent studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Automobile Association of America (AAA) indicate that distracted drivers pose as much of a danger to other ...

The Harley Medical Group Announces Rise in Sales of Gifts Vouchers

2010-12-22

The Harley Medical Group has revealed Botox and dermal fillers are high on Christmas wish lists this year, with the UK's leading cosmetic surgery group reporting a 200% rise year-on-year in sales of their gift vouchers, which can be spent on non-surgical treatments and products. The Harley Medical Group has revealed hundreds of people are choosing to give the gift of injectable beauty this Christmas, a trend also popular amongst celebrities. Multi-millionaire Simon Cowell reportedly bought the X-Factor judges, Cheryl Cole, Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh, GBP3,000 worth ...

December is Last Chance for 2010 Energy Efficient Tax Credit, Reports Atlanta Window Replacement Company

2010-12-22

Maintenance Free Windows, a leading provider of Atlanta replacement windows, reports the last days in December are the final time to become eligible for the 2010 Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency. The Residential Energy Property Credit (Section 1121) gives homeowners the opportunity to receive a tax credit on recently installed products, such as Atlanta windows and doors, which meet certain requirements for energy efficiency. The tax credit includes 30% of the cost of qualified energy efficient windows and doors, up to $1,500, not including installation ...

Atlanta Fireplace Company Craft Stove and Fireplace Center Encourages Homeowners to Take Advantage of 2010 Energy Efficient Tax Credit

2010-12-22

Craft Stove and Fireplace Center, an Atlanta fireplace and Atlanta wood stove supplier, is advising homeowners to take advantage of the 2010 Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency as the deadline nears. The Residential Energy Property Credit (Section 1121) gives homeowners the opportunity to receive a tax credit if they install energy efficient products, including biomass stoves, before December 31, 2010. The tax credit covers 30% of the cost of qualified energy efficient biomass stoves, up to $1,500. The tax credit does include installation costs. Biomass ...

New Law May Bring New Benefits to Veterans

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: