Senator Phillips-Hill E-Newsletter

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If you know a Veteran, please forward this issue to him or her as it provides important updates, resources, and information.

In this Update:

  • Supporting PA Veterans and Their Families
  • New Military License Plates to Honor PA Veterans
  • VA Lowers Certain Life Insurance Premiums
  • Combating Loneliness, Social Isolation as a Caregiver
  • Veterans Job Listing
  • What are Vet Centers?
  • Who is Eligible to Receive Services at Vet Centers?
  • Contacting Your Local Vet Center

Supporting PA Veterans and Their Families

Pennsylvania owes a debt of gratitude to all the brave men and women who have defended our freedom, as well as the citizens who continue to protect our nation and its interests across the globe. Senate Republicans passed bills this legislative session to support our Veterans and their families that were all signed into law.

One new law expands access to benefits for disabled Veterans. Another provides additional community outreach services to help ensure that all Veterans are aware of the resources available to them. Because mental health often impacts Veterans, we also passed a law that would allow them to fish for free in therapeutic recreation events and programs.

The relocation associated with being a military family can present a challenge for children in school. To help with that, we passed laws to provide educational support for children of National Guard and Reserves members and ensure students receive in-state tuition when their military parent is re-assigned out-of-state. Read more about legislation to honor our Veterans.

New Military License Plates to Honor PA Veterans

Pennsylvania now offers six new license plates to honor military Veterans.

Three of the plates recognize service members who received medals or honors for individual achievements or deployments. They include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Registration Plate, the Operation Inherent Resolve Veterans Plate and the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Registration Plate. For $26, the plates – which bear a graphic of the medal awarded – can be used on cars or trucks.

The other three new plate designs recognize female Veterans. Two are available for motorcycles and the third is for cars and trucks. They include the Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate and the Women Veteran Registration Plate both for $26 and the Honoring Our Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate for $41.

VA Lowers Certain Life Insurance Premiums

Starting in the spring of 2025, premiums will be decreased for those insured under by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), as well as those who enroll in those programs in the future.

Approximately 450,000 VGLI members will see their premium rates discounted between 2% to 17%, depending on the Veteran’s age, with an average discount of 11%. Life insurance premiums for approximately 870,000 spouses covered under FSGLI will decrease between 11% and 22%, depending on the spouse’s age, with an average discount of 13%. Approximately two million active duty, Reserve and National Guard members insured under SGLI will see their premium rates discounted one cent from $0.06 to $0.05 per $1,000 of coverage, lowering the cost for the maximum $500,000 in life insurance coverage from $30 to $25 per month.

All those eligible for this update will automatically receive the discounted rates without any action on their parts. The VA encourages all eligible Veterans to sign up for life insurance today by visiting the websites for SGLI, FSGLI, VGLI and the VA’s other life insurance options.

Combating Loneliness, Social Isolation as a Caregiver

Caregivers for Veterans can find themselves so focused on the needs of the Veteran that they end up feeling alone, overwhelmed or disconnected from others. According to the VA, this is a common experience. However, the VA notes there are many ways to connect and thrive in the role of caregiver.

The VA advises caregivers to:

Every VA facility has a CSP team that provides valuable information about resources to help caregivers stay informed and supported as they support Veterans. More information can be found on CSP’s website and by contacting local CSP teams.

Veterans Job Listing

Every week, the Pennsylvania Nation Guard Associations updates its free job board with good openings for National Guard members, Veterans and their families across Pennsylvania and in nearby states. The board features nearly 10,000 employment and internship postings.

What are Vet Centers?

VA Vet centers provide free and confidential readjustment counseling for war-zone Veterans and their families, from World War II to the current Global War on Terror.

Vet centers are small, non-medical, counseling centers conveniently located in our region. They’re staffed by highly trained counselors and team members dedicated to seeing you through the challenges that come with managing life during and after the military.

Whether you come in for one-on-one counseling or to participate in a group session, at Vet centers you can form social connections, try new things and build a support system with people who understand you and want to help you succeed.

Who is Eligible to Receive Services at Vet Centers?

Vet center services are available to Veterans at no cost, regardless of discharge character, and without the need to be enrolled in VA health care or having a service-connected disability. If you are a Veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, you can access Vet center services if you:

  • Served on active military duty in any combat theater or area of hostility.
  • Experienced military sexual trauma (regardless of gender or service era).
  • Provided mortuary services or direct emergent medical care to treat the casualties of war while serving on active military duty.
  • Performed as a member of an unmanned aerial vehicle crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat theater or area of hostility.
  • Accessed care at a Vet Center prior to Jan. 2, 2013 as a Vietnam-era Veteran.
  • Served on active military duty in response to a national emergency or major disaster declared by the president, or under orders of the governor or chief executive of a state in response to a disaster or civil disorder in that state.
  • Are a current or former member of the Coast Guard who participated in a drug interdiction operation, regardless of the location.

Contacting Your Local Vet Center

Even if you are unsure if you meet the criteria to receive services from a Vet center, please contact a center.

Center services are also available to family members when their participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or active-duty service member. If you consider them family, so does your local center. Bereavement services are also available to family members of Veterans who were receiving Vet center services at the time of the Veteran’s death, and to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty.

Vet center locations in Pennsylvania are:

  • Bucks County Vet Center, 2 Canals End Road, Suite 201B, Bristol, PA 19007, 215-823-4590
  • DuBois Vet Center, 100 Meadow Lane, Suite 8, DuBois, PA 15801, 814-372-2095
  • Erie Vet Center, 240 West 11th Street, Suite 105, Erie, PA 16501, 814-453-7955
  • Harrisburg Vet Center, 1500 N. Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, 717-782-3954
  • Lancaster Vet Center, 1817 Olde Homestead Lane, Suite 207, Lancaster, PA 17601, 717283-0735
  • Norristown Vet Center, 320 East Johnson Highway, Suite 201, Norristown, PA 19401, 215-823-5245
  • City Center Philadelphia Vet Center, 801 Arch Street, Suite 502, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-627-0238
  • Northeast Philadelphia Vet Center, 101 East Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19120, 215-924-4670
  • Pittsburgh Vet Center, 2500 Baldwick Road, Suite 15, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, 412-920-1765
  • Scranton Vet Center, 1002 Pittston Avenue, Scranton, PA 18505, 570-344-2676
  • White Oak Vet Center, 2001 Lincoln Way, Suite 280, White Oak, PA 15131, 412-678-7704
  • Williamsport Vet Center, 49 East Fourth Street, Suite 104, Williamsport, PA 17701, 570-327-5281

For more information, please visit www.Vetcenter.va.gov.

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