Military & Veteran News

Military & Veterans News VA increases maximum life insurance coverage for Veterans and service members by $100,000 WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden-Harris administration released the president’s budget for fiscal year 2024. This budget proposes critical resources to help VA serve all Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors as well as they have served their country.

Military & Veterans News VA relaxes masking requirements at medical facilities WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it has relaxed the masking requirement at VA medical facilities. This update ensures the safety of Veterans while accommodating individual masking preferences and aligning with CDC guidelines.

Military & Veterans News Winners revealed in VA’s $20M Mission Daybreak Grand Challenge to reduce Veteran suicides WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the 10 winners of Mission Daybreak, a $20 million grand challenge aimed at developing innovations to reduce Veteran suicides.

Military & Veterans News VA housed more than 40,000 homeless Veterans in 2022 WASHINGTON — During 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs permanently housed 40,401 homeless Veterans, providing them with the safe, stable homes that they deserve. This exceeded the department’s goal to house 38,000 Veterans in 2022 by 6.3%.

Military & Veterans News Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for free emergency health care WASHINGTON – Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit.

Military & Veterans News VA reaches 1M Veterans in military exposure screenings WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs marks a historic milestone by screening 1 million Veterans for military exposures as part of the PACT Act signed into law Aug. 10.

Military & Veterans News VA will begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for all Veterans and survivors WASHINGTON — On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin processing PACT Act benefit claims for all Veterans and their survivors.

Military & Veterans News DoD Releases 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates The Department of Defense has released the 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing rates. Basic Allowance for Housing rates will increase an average of 12.1 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2023. An estimated $26.8 billion will be paid to approximately one million Service members. The significant increase in average BAH rates is reflective of the unique market conditions experienced across many locations nationwide over the past year. While average BAH rates increased substantially, different rental markets experience different market trends, and the 2023 BAH rates reflect those geographic market condition differences. 

Military & Veterans News VA to begin processing PACT Act benefits claims immediately for terminally ill Veterans WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will begin processing PACT Act benefits claims for eligible terminally ill Veterans.

Military & Veterans News VA continues aggressive hiring push to deliver PACT ACT care and benefits WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring qualified individuals to join the benefits team as VA begins processing PACT Act claims starting in January 2023.These new VA employees will help ensure Veterans and survivors get the PACT Act-related benefits they’ve earned in a timely manner.

Military & Veterans News VA will launch new life insurance program in January, making life insurance available to more Veterans than ever before WASHINGTON — On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will open enrollment for Veterans Affairs Life Insurance — the first new VA life insurance program for Veterans in more than 50 years — extending VALife access to millions of Veterans.

Military & Veterans News VA creates scholarship program to help aspiring VA mental health professionals WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will establish a Vet Center (Readjustment Counseling Service) Scholarship Program to assist individuals pursuing graduate degrees in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling.

Military & Veterans News Tomorrow, all Veterans enrolled in VA health care will be eligible for new toxic exposure screenings Beginning tomorrow, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics across the country will offer enrolled Veterans a new toxic exposure screening. These screenings are a key part of the PACT Act, a new law that empowers VA to deliver care and benefits to millions of toxic exposed Veterans and their survivors. 

Military & Veterans News VA will prioritize delivering benefits to Veterans with cancer under PACT Act Today, on National Cancer Awareness Day, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will prioritize the processing of Veterans’ benefits claims for cancers associated with the PACT Act. VA will expedite these claims to ensure Veterans with cancer are getting timely access to the care and benefits they need and deserve.

Military & Veterans News VA closes gap in benefits for LGBTQ+ Veterans and their survivors WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is closing a gap in survivor benefits for certain survivors of LGBTQ+ Veterans — specifically, for those who were unable to wed until the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision, and who, therefore, were not married to their now-deceased Veteran spouses for long enough to qualify for survivor benefits.

Military & Veterans News VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers expands to Veterans of all eras WASHINGTON — Today, VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is expanding to include eligible Veterans and family caregivers of all eras.

Military & Veterans News VA offers benefit debt relief to Veterans affected by recent hurricanes WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering a suspension of debt repayments for Veterans and family members affected by Hurricane Fiona or Hurricane Ian.

Military & Veterans News VA opens health care eligibility for Vietnam, Gulf War, post-9/11 Veterans under PACT Act WASHINGTON — On October 1, The Department of Veterans Affairs will expand and extend eligibility for VA health care for certain Veterans of the Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era.

Military & Veterans News VA to Extend Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers eligibility for “legacy” Veterans and their family caregivers WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the Department of Veterans Affairs submitted to the Federal Register an 

Military & Veterans News VA extends temporary hardship suspension for benefit debts WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs is extending its financial hardship suspension on benefit debts through Dec. 31.

Military & Veterans News Statement from VA Secretary Denis McDonough on the signing of the PACT Act “The PACT Act is a historic new law that will help VA deliver for millions of Veterans — and their survivors — by empowering us to presumptively provide care and benefits to Vets suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions. It will also bring generations of Veterans into VA health care, which will improve Veteran health outcomes across the board.

Military & Veterans News VA awards $431 million in grants to help at-risk Veterans and their families WASHINGTON — On Aug.  1, the Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $431 million in grants to 258 non-profit organizations across the nation to help homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families.

Military & Veterans News VA expands grant program for community organizations helping homeless Veterans WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs published a Proposed Rule, July 29, allowing Grant and Per Diem program grantees to receive reimbursements for costs associated with serving the minor dependents of homeless Veterans.

Military & Veterans News VA summer sports clinic for disabled Veterans returns to San Diego WASHINGTON — Veterans will participate during the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, Aug. 7-12 in San Diego.