TOWN OF ANDOVER VETERANS’ SERVICES 36 Bartlet Street Andover, MA 01810 [email protected] 978-623-8218 Michael Burke, Director Veterans “Blast Email” Update As of March 2014 The purpose of “Blast Email” updates is to reach as many Andover Veterans and keep them informed on calendar items, benefit information and other items. You’ve received this update because I have your email address. If you wish to discontinue receiving updates, please email me at [email protected]. COMMUNICATION Communication methods. I will try to provide you updates via “Blast Emails”, the Andover Townsman, the Eagle Tribune, submissions to the Senior Center Newsletter, the Public Access Channel and information I provide directly to The American Legion, Post Andover. Additionally, you can check our Website @ http://andoverma.gov/veterans/. My Office Hours are: - Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM for Walk-ins and Appointments - Monday through Thursday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for Appointments and Emergency Services. - Friday for Emergency Services. - If the office is closed, I’m on official business. Please leave a note or a telephone message @ (978) 623-8218. If it is during the day and an emergency, please call Christine Barraford @ (978) 623-8219. BENEFITS AND SERVICES The Director of Veterans Services’ mission is to assist all eligible veterans and their dependents in accessing federal and state benefits. If you’re unsure if you qualify for any benefits or services, financial or other, please contact the Veterans’ Office. Additionally, please pass the word to our fellow veterans. Ask them how they are doing and let them know we are here to assist. Suicide Prevention – The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hrs a day 800-273-TALK (8255). PTSD is a real item for all who served from D-Day to Fallujah. Massachusetts Department of Veteran Services Financial Aid – If you are a veteran, dependant of a veteran or a widow/widower of a veteran and struggling financially, you may be entitled to assistance. Assistance is based on your income and assets. This office has seen a steady increase in veterans needing this assistance. Massachusetts Welcome Home Bonus – Active Duty service during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, The Persian Gulf and the Global War on Terror (GWOT) means you are entitled to a Welcome Home Bonus. Amounts vary depending on assignment and there is no time limit on applying for this one time bonus. Massachusetts Education – All Massachusetts veterans are entitled to free tuition at Massachusetts’ state colleges and universities. Determining Veteran Status – Required for State Benefits. See below for requirements. DATES ERA of Service Requirement for Veteran Status 6-Apr-1917 WWI 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” 11-Nov-1918 and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. 12-Nov-1918 PEACETIME 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 15-Sep-1940 release under honorable conditions. WWII 16-Sep-1940 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a (Merchant Marine: 7-Dec-1941 25-Jul-1947 last discharge or release under honorable conditions. through 31-Dec-1946) 26-Jul-1947 PEACETIME 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 24-Jun-1950 release under honorable conditions. KOREA 25-Jun-1950 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 31-Jan-1955 last discharge or release under honorable conditions. Korean Defense 28-Jul-1954 90 days of active duty service, last discharge under honorable Service Medal (to be determined later) conditions and the Korean Defense Service Medal VIETNAM I 1-Feb-1955 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 4-Aug-1964 release under honorable conditions. VIETNAM II 5-Aug-1964 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 7-May-1975 last discharge or release under honorable conditions. PEACETIME 8-May-1975 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or 1-Aug-1990 release under honorable conditions. Lebanon Campaign * 25-Aug-1982 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a (to be determined later) last discharge or release under honorable conditions. Grenada Campaign * 25-Oct-1983 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 15-Dec-1983 last discharge or release under honorable conditions. Panama Campaign * 20-Dec-1989 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a 31-Jan-1990 last discharge or release under honorable conditions. PERSIAN GULF 2-Aug-1990 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a (to be determined later) last discharge or release under honorable conditions. *Training Duty Exception Active duty service in the armed forces shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the Armed Forces of the United States. Discharges and DD214s – Have you provided a Military Discharge to your Local Veterans Office? ALSO, for the retired members of the Reserves and National Guard, it is just as important to provide copies of your retirement orders as well. This ensures your retired military rank is officially on record for funeral honors and VA Grave Markers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEDERAL INFORMATION *(Note this is general information to pass along. Please confirm with your local Veterans Officer or the respective Agency to review your specific circumstances.) VA Long-Term Care. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide spectrum of geriatric and extended care services to veterans enrolled in its health care system. One question we often have is regarding VA Nursing Home Care. Who is Eligible for Nursing Home Care: Any veteran who has a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more; A veteran who is rated 60 percent service-connected and is unemployable or has an official rating of “ permanent and total disabled" A veteran with combined disability ratings of 70 percent or more; A veteran whose service-connected disability is clinically determined to require nursing home care * To receive services through the VA, for any geriatric and extended care services, the veteran needs to be enrolled with the VA Health Care System and receive Primary Care Services. The veteran will have to be followed by a VA Primary Care Physician, which is the person that initiates the referral for all services. The veteran must be seen by the VA at least one time per year to continue receiving services. VA Health Care. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers health care to certain veterans. Note: You are only eligible for VA Health Care if you have a VA disability, are a recent GWOT veteran, or meet a financial means test. Note: The Veterans Health Administration will be issuing new, more secure ID cards. VA is introducing a new, secure identification card called the Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). VHIC replaces the Veteran Identification Card (VIC), which was introduced in 2004. On February 21, 2014, VA began issuing the newly designed, more secure VHIC to newly enrolled and other Veterans who were not issued a VIC. Starting in April VA will begin a replacement effort to automatically mail the more secure VHIC to Veterans who have the old VIC. All Veterans who are enrolled and have the old card should have their new replacement card by July. VA expects to complete mailings of the replacement VHICs by July. The new VHIC is distinguished by additional security features and will have a different look and feel. The Social Security number and date of birth were removed from the barcode and magnetic strip. Similar to a typical health insurance card, the VHIC displays the Veteran’s Member ID and branch of service emblem, a new unique identifier, as well as a Plan ID which reflects the Veteran’s enrollment in VA health care. VA Disability Claim. A VA Disability claim requires 3 items. They are: (1) Military Discharge, (2) current medical diagnosis and (3) proof that the illness (disability) is connected to your military service. If you do not have these, you do not have a claim. VA Pension. A VA Pension is for Low-income veterans. To receive Pension, a veteran must have served on active duty, at least 90 days, during a period of war. There must be an honorable discharge. If younger than 65, the veteran must be totally disabled. If age 65 and older, there is no requirement for disability. Income must be less than $12,652 for the veteran. VA Counseling (Vet Center) PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND HISTORY Deyermond Park “Deyermond Fields”, on Chandler Road, is named after Andover’s last casualty of Vietnam – Warren “Buster” Deyermond. “Deyermond Fields” has been a solemn location for Andover’s youth for many years. Now, “Deyermond Fields” is now being moved. A new field, on Blanchard Street, will be dedicated as “Deyermond Park”. A dedication ceremony of the fields and memorial to Warren Deyermond is scheduled for Opening Day of Andover The Dedication of the fields and unveiling of Little League . the memorial is scheduled for: April 26, 2014 at 2:00P.M. Please plan to join us for the dedication. “Heroes Among Us” – “Book V” Focuses on our Korean Era Veterans. On Veterans Day 2013 “Book V” was released and special tribute was given to those veterans in the book during our official ceremonies. “Heroes Among Us” – “Book VI” We are currently working on our next book. “Book VI” continues our effort to capture the stories of our Korean Era Veterans.