witchdoctor

Carlie -- Rest in Peace.

the check you will get on 31 dec 08 is your check for the entitlement earned in december. The VA does not pay in advance. The 5.8% COLA took effect on 1 DEC 08 and will be reflected in the 31 DEC check. GO here: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/rates/index.htm and click on 12-1-2008 to see current or prior rates.

Congrats on the backpay. Sorry about the previous post. Wasn't clear on whether VA or SSDI. You can separate SSDI back pay over the time frame if you want to. File amended returns for those years. Or, you can include the taxable portion in this years income, whichever results in the lower tax. GO TO: http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq6.html 6.1 Social Security Income: Back Payments I received social security benefits this year that were back pay for prior years. Do I refile my returns for prior years? Are the back benefits paid in this year for past years taxable for this year? You must include the taxable part of a lump-sum (retroactive) payment of benefits received in the current year in your current year's income, even if the payment includes benefits for an earlier year. Generally, you use your current year's income to figure the taxable part of the total benefits received in the current year. However, you may be able to figure the taxable part of a lump-sum payment for an earlier year separately, using your income for the earlier year. You can elect this method if it lowers the taxable portion of your benefits. Refer to Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, for a detailed explanation of the election and worksheets. References: Tax Topic 423, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits

GO TO: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch05.html#d0e18798 scroll down about 3/4 and find this: Veterans' benefits. Do not include in your income any veterans' benefits paid under any law, regulation, or administrative practice administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The following amounts paid to veterans or their families are not taxable. Education, training, and subsistence allowances. Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid either to veterans or their families. Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living. Grants for motor vehicles for veterans who lost their sight or the use of their limbs. Veterans' insurance proceeds and dividends paid either to veterans or their beneficiaries, including the proceeds of a veteran's endowment policy paid before death. Interest on insurance dividends you leave on deposit with the VA. Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program. The death gratuity paid to a survivor of a member of the Armed Forces who died after September 10, 2001.

I've had high quality dental care at the Minneapolis VAMC. 100%P&T since Sep 2003.

Have your primary care doctor refer you to audiology if you are 10% SC or above and meet the following criteria: Eyeglasses and hearing aids may be provided to the following veterans when certain conditions apply: (a) Those with any compensable service-connected disability (b) Those who are former prisoners-of-war (POWs) © Those in receipt of benefits under Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1151 (d) Those in receipt of an increased pension based on being permanently housebound and in need of regular aid and attendance and and (e) Those with the following conditions: 1. Those who have visual or hearing impairment resulting from the existence of another medical condition for which the veteran is receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care, or which resulted from treatment of that medical condition. 2. Those with significant functional or cognitive impairment evidenced by deficiencies in the ability to perform activities of daily living, but not including routinely occurring visual or hearing impairments 3. Those who are so severely visually- or hearing-impaired that the provision of sensori-neural aids is necessary to permit active participation in their own medical treatment. 4. Those rated 0 percent for hearing loss, based on the criteria outlined in 38 CFR.17.149©. Replacements of hearing aids and eyeglasses may be covered when the device becomes ineffective, irreparable or lost due to circumstances beyond the control of the beneficiary. Hearing aids and eyeglasses will not be replaced because of availability of newer technology, unless there is evidence that it will significantly benefit the veteran. NOTE: Hearing aids and eyeglasses should not be replaced solely for cosmetic purposes. (a) For eyeglasses, replacement will be at any time due to required refractive change of prescription to improve one line of acuity. (b) For hearing aids, replacement will be due to a change in hearing loss combined with the age of the hearing aid. NOTE: Generally, hearing aids are expected to have a lifespan of 4 years. (3) Issuing spares, if necessary, but only as determined by the audiologist or https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/endus er/std_adp.php?p_faqid=17 - 50k I just picked up my hearing aids last week and it took about four months from the time I asked for the referral until I got them.