The Veterans Committee provides up-to-date information on the Committee’s activities and on legislation it has considered. It also includes links to many other sources of information concerning veterans’ benefits

Online Resourses: Click Here

News:
Statement of CSEA President Danny Donohue on signing of Veterans Equality Act
ALBANY — “CSEA achieved a major legislative goal late last night when Governor Cuomo signed the Veterans Equality Act (S. 7160 – Larkin / A. 9531 – Paulin) into law.
This action addresses a long-standing inequity among military veterans serving in the public service and recognizes the importance of respecting all. I am proud that CSEA veterans were in forefront of efforts to ensure this fairness. The unwavering efforts of Senate Majority Leader John
Flanagan, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senator William Larkin and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin were essential to this tremendous benefit for our veterans becoming law.”

Congress discusses compromise for veterans bill

Links:

‘Thank You for Making Me a Better Person’

Wounded warrior Rick Yarosh speaks at state convention

Rick Yarosh’s life changed forever when a roadside bomb in Iraq left him battered and engulfed in flames.He lost a leg and the use of his hands. Badly burned, he would never again look in a mirror and see the face of the man he was. But he had hope, the former Army sergeant told the Annual Department Convention held in Binghamton July 14-16. (Convention photo gallery.)read more »

The following tables show the 2016 VA compensation rates for veterans with a disability rating 10 percent or higher. (Effective Dec. 1, 2014)

Dependents Allowance:

In addition veterans entitled to compensation whose disability is rated as 30 percent or more, shall be entitled to additional compensation for dependents as follows (monthly amounts):

Without Children:

Disability Rating: 30% - 60%
Disability Rating: 70% - 100%

With Children:

Disability Rating: 30% - 60%
Disability Rating: 70% - 100%

10% - 20% (With or Without Dependents)

Percentage	Rate
10%	$133.17
20%	$263.23

30% - 60% Without Children

Dependent Status	30	40	50	60
Veteran Alone	$407.75	$587.36	$836.13	$1,059.09
Veteran with Spouse Only	$455.75	$651.36	$917.13	$1,156.09
Veteran with Spouse & One Parent	$494.75	$703.36	$982.13	$1,234.09
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents	$533.74	$755.36	$1,047.13	$1,312.09
Veteran with One Parent	$446.75	$639.36	$901.13	$1,137.09
Veteran with Two Parents	$485.75	$691.36	$966.13	$1,215.09
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b)	$44.00	$59.00*	$74.00	$89.00

70% - 100% Without Children

Dependent Status	70	80	90	100
Veteran Alone	$1,334.71	$1,551.48	$1,743.48	$2,906.83
Veteran with Spouse Only	$1,447.71	$1,680.48	$1,888.48	$3,068.90
Veteran with Spouse and One Parent	$1,538.71	$1,784.48	$2,005.48	$3,198.96
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents	$1,629.71	$1,888.48	$2,122.48	$3,329.02
Veteran with One Parent	$1,425.71	$1,655.48	$1,860.48	$3,036.89
Veteran with Two Parents	$1,516.71	$1,759.48	$1,977.48	$3,166.95
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b)	$104.00	$118.00	$133.00	$148.64

30% - 60% With Children

Dependent Status	30%	40%	50%	60%
Veteran with Spouse and Child	$491.75	$699.36	$976.13	$1,227.09
Veteran with Child Only	$439.75	$630.36	$890.13	$1,124.09
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child	$530.75	$751.36	$1,041.13	$1,305.09
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child	$569.75	$803.36	$1,106.13	$1,383.09
Veteran with One Parent and Child	$478.75	$682.36	$955.13	$,1202.09
Veteran with Two Parents and Child	$517.75	$734.36	$1,020.13	$1,280.09
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18	$24.00	$32.00	$40.00	$48.00
Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a)	$78.00	$104.00	$130.00	$156.00
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b)	$44.00	$59.00	$74.00	$89.00

70% - 100% With Children

Dependent Status	70%	80%	90%	100%
Veteran with Spouse and Child	$1,530.71	$1,775.48	$1,995.48	$3,187.60
Veteran with Child Only	$1409.71	$1,637.48	$1,840.48	$3,015.22
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child	$1,621.71	$1,879.48	$2,112.48	$3,317.66
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child	$1,712.71	$1,983.48	$2,229.48	$3,447.72
Veteran with One Parent and Child	$1,500.71	$1,741.48	$1,957.48	$3145.28
Veteran with Two Parents and Child	$1,591.71	$1,845.48	$2,074.48	$3,275.34
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18	$56.00	$64.00	$72.00	$80.52
Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a)	$182.00	$208.00	$234.00	$260.13
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b)	$104.00	$118.00	$133.00	$148.64

FOOTNOTES:

A. Rates for each school child are shown separately. They are not included with any other compensation rates. All other entries on this chart reflecting a rate for children show the rate payable for children under 18 or helpless. To find the amount payable to a 70% disabled Veteran with a spouse and four children, one of whom is over 18 and attending school, take the 70% rate for a veteran with a spouse and 3 children, $ 1,642.71, and add the rate for one school child, $182.00. The total amount payable is $1,824.71.
B. Where the veteran has a spouse who is determined to require A/A, add the figure shown as "additional for A/A spouse" to the amount shown for the proper dependency code. For example, veteran has A/A spouse and 2 minor children and is 70% disabled. Add $104.00, additional for A/A spouse, to the rate for a 70% veteran with dependency code 12, $1,586.71. The total amount payable is $1,690.71.

These rates were provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The original copies can be found on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

VA Travel Reimbursement

Reimbursement for mileage or public transportation may be paid to the following:

Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 30% or more;
Veterans traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition;
Veterans receiving a VA pension;
Veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension examinations;
Veterans whose income does not exceed the maximum VA pension rate;

Mileage Reimbursement is at the rate of 41.5 cents per mile. These milieage subject to a deductible of $3 for a one way trip, $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $18 per or the amount after six one-way trips (whichever occurs first) per calendar month. However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.

The deductible is also waived for veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension examinations.

The White House and Senate FY 2016 budget proposals include a 1.3 percent increase in military pay for 2016. But,the U.S. House of Representatives has proposed a 2.3 percent increase in their FY 2016 defense budget. One of the two proposed increase in military monthly pay, once agreed to by Congress and signed into law by the President, would go into effect on January 1, 2016.

To see the two proposed 2016 pay rates, visit the Military.com Pay Chart page, which also includes current pay rates for 2015.

To calculate your military pay for this year, visit the Military.com Pay Calculator page.

Download Military.com's Pay App for Andorid or iOS.

Veterans Now Eligible for Resident Tuition Nationwide

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Nov 13, 2015 | by Jim Absher

Veterans who have been discharged in the last 3 years are now eligible for in-state tuition rates at public schools in all 50 states.

On Veterans Day the Whitehouse announced that all 50 states are compliant with the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act that the President signed into law last August. The law mandates that all veterans and their eligible dependents must be charged the in-state tuition at public schools or the schools will lose GI Bill funding. This law applies to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, and the GySgt John D. Fry Scholarship.

The law was originally slated to take effect on July 1 of this year, but due to slow action by some state legislatures VA Secretary Bob McDonald issued a waiver in May giving states until December 31 of this year to comply with the law. As of Veterans Day, the VA says that all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories are compliant with the law. Only the Northern Marianas Islands have been granted a waiver from the VA and intend to comply with the law at a later date.

This means that a veteran using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, their dependent using transferred benefits, or the orphan or a veteran who died on active duty will have their full tuition and fees paid at any public school in the United States or territories. There are no longer any residency requirements, or higher non-resident tuition charges for veterans or their dependents using the covered GI Bill programs.

Of course, as with any government program there are lots of exceptions to the rule:

This only applies to veterans who enroll in school within 3 years of discharge, or their dependents.
For Fry Scholarship recipients, they must enroll in school within 3 years of their parent's date of death.
Some totally online programs at public schools may charge the higher non-resident rate if the GI Bill recipient doesn't live in-state.
GI Bill recipients who originally enroll in school within 3 years of discharge, then stop using their GI Bill for at least a semester (not a summer semester), or transfer schools and lose more than 12 credit hours in the transfer will lose eligibility if their second or subsequent enrollment is more than 3 year from the date of discharge
GI Bill recipients who were originally within the 3 year time period when they started school before July 2, 2015 but are now past their 3 year eligibility are not covered or "grandfathered" with this program, they will still have to pay the higher non-resident rate at their school, unless their school makes an exception
This also doesn't apply to active duty servicemember or their dependents, the law only applies to veterans or their dependents

Prior to this law, the Post-9/11 GI Bill only covered in-state tuition at public schools. Out-of-state, or non-resident, tuition can be more than $10,000 per year higher than in-state tuition.

American Legion Debuts Newsletter

Week of February 16, 2015

The American Legion recently debuted its new Honor and Remembrance electronic newsletter, dedicated to honoring and remembering those who served. The free, monthly e-newsletter features news stories, personal memories, videos and photo galleries that pay tribute to servicemembers who protected our freedoms from World War I through the current war era. Stories are taken from staff members and voluntary submissions from readers. To subscribe to the Honor and Remembrance e-newsletter, visit the American Legion website atwww.legion.org/newsletters. To share a story about your family's military legacy, your service, a post or community memorial, or other item related to honor and remembrance, visit the Legiontown website at www.legiontown.org.

Veteran's Benefits Explained

In addition to the pensions and benefits to which you may be entitled because of both public and private employment, you may also be eligible for certain benefits based on your military service. Click for more Information

Same Sex Marriage Benefits Info

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides guidance to same-sex married couples on the benefits and services to which they are entitled under current laws and regulations. For more information, visit VA's Important Information About Marriage webpage at http://www.va.gov/opa/marriage.

For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the Military Advantage blog.

Bill Aims to Reform Vocational Rehab and Training

A new bipartisan bill focused on giving wounded warriors improved rehabilitation and employment training was announced this week by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK-02). The Wounded Warrior Employment Improvement Act (H.R. 5032), with support by the Wounded Warrior Project, DAV and VetsFirst, would reform the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program, and require VA to reduce caseloads, increase education program enrollment, and create a new training program for staff working with wounded warriors.

"The sacrifices of our nation's disabled service members are simply unmatched. These sacrifices come at an extremely hard price to these individuals, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure the best access to our Veterans' assistance services. I'm proud to have helped introduce legislation that would make positive reforms to these programs, and help our Wounded Warriors get back into the workforce," said Mullin.

"After our brave men and women have dedicated their lives in service to our country, far too many of our wounded warriors face challenges in finding meaningful careers, added Maloney. "We can make commonsense reforms to VA's key employment program to help our heroes and ensure our highly skilled veterans secure employment upon their return to civilian life."

According to a recent GAO report, it often takes six years or more for veterans to achieve success in the VR&E program. A Wounded Warrior Project survey found that the unemployment rate among wounded service members is 17.8%. In New York, the average veterans unemployment rate was at 8.2% throughout 2013.

"Our disabled veterans deserve our utmost support when returning from combat. The changes to the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program proposed in this legislation will allow for a streamlined approach to training and educating our wounded warriors which will assist them in securing viable employment and allow them to successfully transition back to civilian life," said New York State Senator Bill Larkin.

In the current VR&E program, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRCs) and Employment Coordinators (ECs) help veterans who have service-connected disabilities find sustainable careers. VRCs provide job counseling, direct veterans to VA services specific to their needs, and connect veterans with training or other opportunities to help them reach employment goals.

For more on current vocational rehabilitation programs, visit the Military.com Vocational Rehabilitation page. For more on legislation that affects service members and veterans, and to connect with your local representatives, visit the Military.com Legislative Center.

Crisis Management

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

Help for Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Problem Gambling 1-877-8-HOPENY

Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, press 1

Federal Veterans Legislation - Monthly Report PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder can occur following a life-threatening event like military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people have stress reactions that don't go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD.

People who suffer from PTSD often suffer from nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and feeling emotionally numb. These symptoms can significantly impair a person's daily life.

PTSD is marked by clear physical and psychological symptoms. It often has symptoms like depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other physical and mental health problems. The disorder is also associated with difficulties in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems, family discord, and difficulties in parenting.

If you are suffering from PTSD, or know someone who is, the following list of resources and information will help you find help in dealing with PTSD and related conditions.

Each VA medical center has PTSD specialists who provide treatment for Veterans with PTSD. Plus, the VA provides nearly 200 specialized PTSD treatment programs. A referral is usually needed to access the specialty programs. You can use this VA PTSD Program Locator to see if there is a specialized program near you.

NOTE: If you are in crisis dial 911 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

PTSD Treatment Options

As a new generation of service members returns from deployment, the Department of Defense (DoD) is faced with the challenge of identifying the most effective methods of treatment to address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prevalence estimates of PTSD symptoms based on self-report surveys among warriors in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan vary, but it has clearly been shown to be a significant problem, especially for those exposed to sustained ground combat.

There are several treatment options that health professionals and clinicians can use to effectively treat service members with PTSD. Since there are a number of factors to consider in treating PTSD (e.g., access to services, availability, safety, patient preferences, etc.), it is important to understand the different types of treatments available to service members.

Prevention

As with all disorders successful prevention of PTSD may be more desirable than even the most effective treatment. To the extent that traumatic experiences themselves may be avoided, PTSD may also be prevented. In the immediate aftermath of traumatic exposures preventive interventions are available, including psychoeducation, brief counseling and prophylactic medication. Although some of these are promising, none have yet been proven to prevent PTSD. A number of early interventions have been utilized for the prevention of PTSD. The most promising of these are public health or population-based interventions informed by the evidence supporting cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD. Psychological First Aid (ncptsd.org) is one example of a promising early intervention. Similarly, a growing number of well controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy of early CBT and Exposure-based treatments as an early intervention. Interventions such as these may decrease the likelihood of persons developing PTSD after traumatic exposures; however, additional research is needed to demonstrate this. Conversely, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) administered in compulsory groups has been shown to be ineffective for the prevention of PTSD following trauma exposure and is not recommended in the current VA/DoD CPG.

Treatment Options for PTSD

The main treatments for people with PTSD are counseling (known as "talk" therapy or psychotherapy), medications, or both. Although there are a number of treatment options for PTSD, and patient response to treatment varies, some treatments have been shown to have more benefit in general.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of counseling. With CBT, a therapist helps the service member dealing with PTSD understand and change how thoughts and beliefs about the trauma, and about the world, cause stress and maintain current symptoms. The table below describes several types of CBT:

Type of CBT	Overview / Components	Goal
Prolonged Exposure Therapy	Imaginal exposure: Repeated and prolonged recounting of the traumatic experience In vivo exposure: Systematic confrontation of trauma-related situations that are feared and avoided, despite being safe	Increase emotional processing of the traumatic event, so that memories or situations no longer result in: Anxious arousal to trauma Escape and avoidance behaviors
Cognitive Therapy	Modify the relationships between thoughts and feelings Identify and challenge inaccurate or extreme automatic negative thoughts Develop alternative, more logical or helpful thoughts	Help the individual recognize and adjust trauma-related thoughts and beliefs Help the individual modify his/her appraisals of self and the world
Cognitive Processing Therapy	Includes elements of Cognitive Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy, including: Identifying and challenging problematic thoughts and beliefs (as noted above) Particular attention is paid to "Stuck Points": feelings, beliefs, and thoughts that stem from the traumatic events or are hard to accept Writing and reading aloud a detailed account of the traumatic event	Help the individual modify beliefs about safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy Help the individual identify and modify "stuck points"
Stress Inoculation Training	Provide a variety of coping skills that are useful in managing anxiety, including muscle relaxation, breathing retraining, and role playing, as well as cognitive techniques, such as guided self-talk May also include graduated in vivo exposure	Decrease avoidance and anxious responding related to the trauma-related memories, thoughts, and feelings
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)	Intensive two-day workshop provides detailed education about sleep and sleep disturbances which includes: Training on in-depth assessment of sleep disorders and empirically supported treatments for common sleep disorders seen in service members CBT-I Imagery rehearsal therapy for nightmares Treatment for sleep disordered breathing Pharmacotherapy for insomnia and nightmares.	Increase knowledge about the prevalence and kinds of sleep problems experienced by service members Review clinical strategies and interventions to assist service members with sleep problems Provide research to support specific sleep interventions

CBT has been shown to be successful in treating PTSD in a number of well controlled studies.5 However, there are a handful of service members for whom certain interventions may be inappropriate or for whom other treatment problems (e.g., co-occurring conditions) may also need to be addressed. Visit this fact sheet from the VA National Center for PTSD for more information on cautions regarding cognitive behavioral interventions within the first month of trauma.

In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another type of therapy for PTSD. EMDR uses a combination of talk therapy with specific eye movements. Like the CBTs listed above, EMDR has also been shown to be effective in treating PTSD. In general, it appears that the talk therapy component is helpful, but most evidence suggests that the eye movement component does not add much, if any, benefit. Like other kinds of psychotherapy, the talk therapy component of EMDR can help change the reactions to memories service members experience as a result of their trauma(s).

Additional Types of Counseling

In addition to the treatments described above, other types of counseling may be helpful in treating PTSD.

Through group therapy, service members can talk about their trauma or learn skills to manage symptoms of PTSD (depending on the focus of the group). Many groups are effective and popular among those who have had similar traumatic experiences. Group therapy can help those with PTSD by giving them a chance to share their stories with others, feel more comfortable talking about their own trauma, and by connecting with others who have experienced similar problems or feelings. Some types of cognitive behavioral therapy can also be provided in a group setting.

Family and couples therapy are methods of counseling that include the service member's family members. A therapist helps all of those involved communicate, maintain good relationships, and cope with tough emotions. PTSD can sometimes have a significant negative impact on relationships, making this mode of therapy particularly helpful in some cases.

Pharmacological Approaches

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant medication. SSRIs include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and sertraline (Zoloft). Many, if not most, patients with PTSD will achieve some symptom relief with an SSRI, although the evidence of effectiveness is less convincing in combat PTSD compared to PTSD due to other traumas. Additional medications have been used for specific symptoms with some success (see VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) link below for additional information). Prazosin may be promising for trauma-related nightmares. In addition, short-term use of a medication for sleep can be helpful for those who have significant difficulty sleeping immediately after a traumatic event. Longer-term use of sedative/hypnotic medications, such as benzodiazepines, however, has not been shown to be of benefit, and there is some evidence that long-term use of benzodiazepines in PTSD may interfere with psychotherapy.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) approaches to the treatment of many medical and mental health diagnoses, including PTSD, are in use; the research base to support their effectiveness is improving, but not complete. Acupuncture, a component of traditional Chinese medicine, has been examined for PTSD in a limited number of small Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Although early results are promising, replication of these results in larger studies is needed. Yoga Nidra, a relaxation and meditative form of yoga, has also been used as an adjunctive treatment for PTSD. Formal studies demonstrating its effectiveness for PTSD are currently being conducted, and further research is needed on Yoga Nidra for PTSD before its effectiveness can be commented on. Herbal or dietary supplements have also been used for the treatment of PTSD. Although there have been some studies of their effectiveness, the results of these small RCTs provide insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about their effectiveness for PTSD. In addition, the quality and purity of herbals and dietary supplements available in the United States varies widely, further complicating their use. Revisions of the VA/DoD CPGs are currently underway to include a comprehensive review of the evidence for all treatments, including CAM.

Guidelines and Resources

The DoD collaborated with the VA to develop an evidence-based guideline to assist health professionals with the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress. The guideline is available here.

PTSD 101, made available by the VA's National Center for PTSD, is a Web-based educational resource that is designed for practitioners who provide services to military men and women and their families as they recover from combat stress or other traumatic events.

Sources

1. Tyler C. Smith: New onset and persistent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder self reported after deployment and combat exposures: prospective population based US military cohort study. British Medical Journal 2007.

2. Hoge CW, Castro CA, Messer SC, McGurk D, Cotting DI, Koffman RL: Combat Duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mental Health Problems, and Barriers to Care. New England Journal of Medicine 2004.

3. Hoge CW, Terhakopian A, Castro CA, Messer SC, Engel CC: Association of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Somatic Symptoms, Health Care Visits, and Absenteeism Among Iraq War Veterans. American Journal of Psychiatry 2007.

4. Sundin J, Fear NT, Iversen A, Rona RJ, Wessly S: PTSD after deployment to Iraq: conflicting rates, conflicting claims. Psychological Medicine 2010, 40, 367–382.

5. National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Treatment of PTSD.

Veterans’ Employment Act Signed Into Law

The Veterans’ Employment Act has been signed into law. The law will give military veterans preference for temporary state jobs that the state normally fills with employees from for-profit temporary service companies. The bill was written and introduced by CSEA and sponsored by Senator Greg Ball (R-Putnam County) and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx).

New York is home to more than 900,000 veterans, including 90,000 that served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Upon returning home, these heroes are facing unemployment rates that far surpass that of the general public. This legislation will help alleviate some of the unemployment problems facing our military veterans and may help to usher in the next generation of the state’s workforce.

Traditional PTSD Therapies Favored

Week of June 23, 2014

Native American veterans battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) find relief and healing through an alternative treatment called the Sweat Lodge ceremony offered at the Spokane Veterans Administration Hospital. In the Arizona desert, wounded warriors from the Hopi Nation can join in a ceremony called Wiping Away the Tears. The traditional cleansing ritual helps dispel a chronic "ghost sickness" that can haunt survivors of battle. These and other traditional healing therapies are the treatment of choice for many Native American veterans according to a recent survey being conducted at Washington State University. The findings will be presented at the American Psychological Association conference in Washington D.C. This August. The survey questions for Native American veterans are available online.

For more on PTSD, visit the PTSD section.

CSEA Albany County Local 801