New Benefits for 100% disabled veterans/families and caregivers

[Richard1954]

On August 13, 2018, the president signed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law. Although the NDAA is primarily a legislative vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD), it contains several provisions that pertain to service disabled veterans and their families.

Space-available travel on DoD aircraft for veterans with service-connected disabilities rated as permanent and total. Veterans who are service-connected permanent and total are eligible to fly on military aircraft, space permitting. This provision can be found under Section 624 of the NDAA

Extension of certain morale, welfare, and recreation privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers. Beginning in January 2020, service-connected disabled veterans and their caregivers will be eligible to use base commissary stores and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities. This provision can be located under section 621

 

 

 

[Berta]

Interesting. The VA OIG recently found deficiencies in the way the Caregiver Program has been handled:

https://www.va.gov/oig/publications/report-summary.asp?id=4541

"The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited the Veteran Health Administration’s (VHA’s) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers from June 2017 through June 2018 to determine if VHA effectively provided program services to qualified veterans and their caregivers. The Family Caregiver Program pays a monthly stipend to caregivers of eligible veterans.

The OIG found that veterans and their caregivers did not receive consistent access to the program. The OIG found that caregiver support coordinators (CSCs) did not determine eligibility within the required 45 days for about 65 percent of the 1,822 veterans approved for the program from January through September 2017. The OIG also found that VHA did not correctly apply eligibility criteria when enrolling veterans. Four percent of the 1,604 veterans discharged from the program from January through September 2017 were never eligible. As a result, VHA made about $4.8 million in improper payments to their caregivers. VHA also did not consistently monitor and document the health statuses of an estimated 50 percent of the veterans discharged during the same period. The OIG found clinicians and CSCs either did not adequately document the extent that veterans’ health conditions changed or they failed to routinely monitor veterans and their caregivers before the reassessment leading to their program discharge. 

VHA failed to manage the Family Caregiver Program effectively because it did not establish governance that promoted accountability for program management. Also, VHA did not establish a staffing model to ensure medical facilities were well equipped to manage the program’s workload. 

The OIG recommended designating additional program oversight, applying program criteria to ensure eligibility determinations are accurate, ensuring veteran applications are processed within the 45-day standard, consistently monitoring and documenting veterans’ health statuses, and establishing guidelines for when a veteran’s need for care changes."     August 16, 2018

[Vync]

22 hours ago, Richard1954 said:

Extension of certain morale, welfare, and recreation privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers. Beginning in January 2020, service-connected disabled veterans and their caregivers will be eligible to use base commissary stores and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities. This provision can be located under section 621

I wonder if they will be giving military ID cards for this. Or maybe removing the requirement to show an ID card when making a purchase on base.

[Guest L]

It will be the same ID - issued for the 100% Rating IF not a retiree.

I am in a good location to use Space A and have - Good Luck - it is packed- Military retirees ... I travel alone so I have been fortunate so far. The Military exchanges are privately owned - Sales are poor that is one thought on why they opened it up to all. 

Gym's now in my area with 3 bases have restrictions for active duty only - CAC card required to enter... FYI

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by L

[acesup]

Unless I'm misunderstanding something here, it sounds to me like ANY disabled vet, with ANY SC disabilty at even a 0% rating will get commissary and MWR privileges.  If so, I find it ironic, since I was just granted 100%.  However, I think it is good thing.

[broncovet]

I agree.   I got my MWR card about 5 years ago, and have/do use commissary, base priveledges, and MWR facilities.  I just dont get it...we have had that for years.  The Space A is new.