-
Veteran's Voice — Dec. 7, 2023
As of Oct. 4, an additional 125,000 Americans have been approved for $9 billion in debt relief due to the U.S. Department of Education changing income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). They have also started granting. This announcement does not impact GI Bill benefits, however, for many Veterans, Service members, caregivers, and survivors, this new plan may mean relief from the burden of student loans. For more information on student loan repayment, visit the Department of Education Federal Student Aid online at https://bit.ly/46GY6cW
Leashes of Valor
It is truly rare, and wonderful when two great causes are able to come together and create a benefit greater than their two halves. In this case, it is veterans in need of bona fide service dogs, and shelter dogs that have “the right stuff ” to become service dogs. These two groups have come together in Leashes of Valor. Starting small, their goal is to provide four to eight quality trained service dogs every fiscal year to wounded and disabled Veterans. They have been able to meet the high end of their goal by providing eight dogs in the last three years, 2020-2022. It is my understanding that there is a multi-year wait for service dogs, and while the VA will pay some costs for these dogs for eligible veterans, they do not provide the dogs, so this is another resource. For more information, see https:// bit.ly/3uyYP2x
Digital Veteran Legacy Memorial
The Veteran Legacy Memorial (VLM) is an online memorial that honors nearly 10 million Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries, VA grant-funded cemeteries, DoD-managed cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery); U.S. Park Service National Cemeteries, and thousands of private cemeteries where Veterans have received a VA-provided gravesite marker since 1996. These pages are being created as time and volunteer partnerships allow, so, unfortunately, there are no current methods for families to “initiate” a page if their veteran is not currently listed. See more information at https://bit.ly/49Ynpdd
Legislative Proposal to Allow Veteran Spouses into State Veterans Long-Term Facilities
A bill is making its way through the Florida Senate to allow veterans’ spouses to qualify to live in state-run long-term care facilities for veterans. The measure (SB 174) also would allow parents of military members who died in service to be eligible. An analysis of the proposed legislation reads: “A qualifying nonveteran resident will have to pay the full cost to reside in a state veterans’ home. However, the resident would otherwise have to pay at another home, or for a private residence. For the spouse of a resident veteran, cost savings may be realized through the spouses sharing a room or assisted living arrangement.”
The current cost for a veteran is close to $400 daily. For more information and tracking on the bill, go to https:// bit.ly/47ZeJBT
As always, I am looking for your input on veterans’ issues, events, and other information for Osceola County and the cities, at www.osceolavets@gmail.com.
