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In this Update:
Celebrating Women Veterans Day
Women who served in the armed forces are encouraged to register by May 8 for a state Capitol ceremony honoring their service. The 4th annual Women Veterans Day Commemoration will be held Wednesday, June 10. Women Veterans across the commonwealth are invited to submit entries for a display featuring each participant’s likeness alongside a personal reflection on “What Service Means to Me.” In advance of the in-person ceremony, a virtual display will be accessible online beginning June 8 at the website of the event’s host, SenatorPennycuick.com. To submit a biography and be featured in the display, click here. For additional information or assistance with registration, call 215-541-2388. Measure Protecting Veterans’ Benefits Advances
The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved legislation to protect veterans from individuals and organizations who charge excessive fees and engage in predatory practices on those applying for and receiving benefits. Senate Bill 1209 would require certain people to annually register with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs if they are paid to assist a veteran, service member or eligible dependent with the preparation, presentation or prosecution of a veterans’ benefits claim. Before these individuals may provide a veteran any services, they will also be required to provide written disclosure of fees and services, as well as notice that free assistance is available from county directors of veterans affairs, congressionally chartered veterans’ service organizations and accredited representatives, paid assistance is not required to file a veterans’ benefits claim and filing a claim through a paid provider does not guarantee a favorable outcome or a specific disability rating. Senate Bill 1209 will also prohibit those paid to assist with veterans’ benefits claims from directly soliciting veterans by phone, text, social media or in-person. It sets limits on compensation for those individuals and prohibits them from receiving any compensation for assisting with a veterans’ benefits matter filed within 365 days of a veteran’s release from active-duty service. VA Moves to Better Ensure the Second Amendment Rights of Veterans
Veterans receiving assistance through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Fiduciary Program will no longer be deprived of their Second Amendment rights by being reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) as “prohibited persons” based solely on their participation in the program. The VA, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice, is ending its practice of reporting veterans in the program to NICS without a judicial or quasi-judicial body decision because it is prohibited under federal law and the U.S. Constitution. It is also having all past VA reporting of veterans in the Fiduciary Program removed from NICS. Ultimately, no veteran will be stripped of their Second Amendment rights just because they participate in the Fiduciary Program. Improving Access to Education and Training Benefits
Claims for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make an official review of entitlements will no longer be needed by any veteran seeking more information regarding education and training benefits granted under the 2024 Supreme Court Rudisill decision. While the VA had previously notified 380,000 veterans of the need for them to submit a claim, a claim for an official decision on entitlement will not be required of them or any other veteran to learn more about their benefits. Eligibility for two different education programs has also been extended due to another federal court decision for certain veterans who served for a single obligated period of sufficient length. More information can be found here. Pennsylvania Veterans Homes
The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offers eligible veterans or surviving spouses’ residency in one of the six extended-care facilities throughout the state. The varying levels of care provided include personal, domiciliary, skilled nursing and memory care. To be eligible, the veteran must have an honorable discharge, served in the U.S. or PA Armed Forces and be resident at time of entry or current resident of Pennsylvania. Click here for detailed instructions on how to apply or call the home you are interested in directly. April Showers Bring May Flowers
Are you looking to plant some fruits, vegetables and flowers to get spring started? There are plenty of discounts for veterans to get their gardens started, and flowerbeds and lawns looking refreshed!
Veterans Job Listing
Every week, the Pennsylvania Nation Guard Association 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:
Contacting Your Local Vet CenterEven 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:
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