Today's VA payment should reflect a 3.6 percent increase in benefit payments due to a cost of living allowance(COLA) increase. In addition to disability compensation, this COLA rate also applies to death pensions, survivors receieving Dependency and Idemnity Compensation, automobile and clothing allowances and other benefits. Although not provided by the VA, Social Security benefits have also been increased by 3.6 percent.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this increase, please contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
The VA Gave Ancestry.com the SSNs of 2,200+ Veterans -- Were You Affected?
More than 2,200 veterans are eligible for free credit monitoring services after the VA mistakenly released tehir social security numbers to Ancestry.com following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Under the FOIA law, the VA is required to release information about deceased veterans. This information includes the veteran's name, social security number, date of birth, military branch assignments and more.
Somehow, information about more than 2,200 living veterans was included with the requested information about deceased veterans. No health-related information was provided to Ancestry.com.
This information was provided to Ancestry.com on March 18, 2011 and posted on that site on December 13, 2011. When the errors were discovered, the information was promptly removed.
Veterans who believe they may have been affected can verify this information by writing to:
ATTN: Garnett Best
The Department of Veterans Affairs, OIT Privacy Officer (005R1A)
810 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington DC 20420
Veterans can also request a free credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228 or on http://www.annualcreditreport.com/.
Somehow, information about more than 2,200 living veterans was included with the requested information about deceased veterans. No health-related information was provided to Ancestry.com.
This information was provided to Ancestry.com on March 18, 2011 and posted on that site on December 13, 2011. When the errors were discovered, the information was promptly removed.
Veterans who believe they may have been affected can verify this information by writing to:
ATTN: Garnett Best
The Department of Veterans Affairs, OIT Privacy Officer (005R1A)
810 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington DC 20420
Veterans can also request a free credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228 or on http://www.annualcreditreport.com/.
Friday, January 27, 2012
New Site Offers Job Opportunities, Benefits Advice and More to Veterans & Servicemembers
Connect with other veterans and veteran supporters on the new veteran portal at VeteranCentral.com. This site gives users access to a social media network, job bank, and "buy veteran" PX.
Veteran Central was created in response to the dramatic suicide rates among US servicemembers and veterans. The goal of the site is to connect servicemembers and veterans with a support network. According to the About Us page, the purpose of Veteran Central is "to develop a one stop support structure that would centralize efforts to alleviate these challenges including: improving community support, providing Veterans employment opportunities, and collecting programs and services from across the government and private sectors in one, easy to access location."
Sign up at VeteranCentral today to connect with these wonderful resources.
Veteran Central was created in response to the dramatic suicide rates among US servicemembers and veterans. The goal of the site is to connect servicemembers and veterans with a support network. According to the About Us page, the purpose of Veteran Central is "to develop a one stop support structure that would centralize efforts to alleviate these challenges including: improving community support, providing Veterans employment opportunities, and collecting programs and services from across the government and private sectors in one, easy to access location."
Sign up at VeteranCentral today to connect with these wonderful resources.
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