A few years ago the Department of Veterans Affairs gave selective VA Regional Offices the responsibility of managing certain VA benefit programs for a geographic region. With that initiative, educational benefit management was transferred from the North Carolina VA Regional Office at Winston-Salem to the Atlanta VA Regional Office which caused significant communication problems for the N.C. educational benefit recipients. This standing problem has been solved with the Department of Veterans Affairs on February 8, 1999 announcing that it had established a nationwide education information help line, a new toll-free telephone number for veterans and dependents to get the latest information on VA educational benefits running the gamut from the Montgomery GI Bill to Vocational Rehabilitation to Dependency Educational Assistance. (DEA)

By dialing 1-888-GI BILL (1-888-442-4551), veterans, dependents, school officials, veterans service officers and others can receive education benefits information, including detailed eligibility criteria and general background on VA programs, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

VA Under Secretary for Benefits Joe Thompson said, "VA is committed to providing the nation’s veterans with the very best in customer service. This automated help line will provide accessible and efficient information about these popular VA services and programs."

Veterans, reservists and National Guard members receiving education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill may also obtain detailed information on their personal benefits account through the new automated system. Callers can get specific questions answered by education case managers during regular business hours which are Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 4:00 P.M..

A reminder, Educational Benefits are "a use it or lose it" benefit with fixed periods of eligibility. In "very" general terms, the most commonly used benefits eligibility periods are:

*Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)...10 years from the date of the veteran’s last discharge or release from active duty.

*Vocational Rehabilitation...The veteran must complete a rehabilitation program within 12 years of receiving a service-connected disability rating.

*Dependent’s Education Assistance (DEA)...Educational payments to a spouse end 10 years from the date the individual is found eligible or from the date of the death of the veteran. VA may grant an extension. Children must be between 18 and 26 to receive educational benefits, though extensions may be granted.

For more information, call County Veterans Services at 252-728-8440 or the VA Educational Help Line at 1-888-GI Bill or (1-888-442-4551).

Proposed VA Health Care Enrollment Opportunity. The Carteret County Veterans Council is planning to sponsor a sixth in-county VA Health Care enrollment . The enrollment is "tentatively" scheduled to be conducted at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, Morehead City on April 6, 1999, from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. With registration a new VA Photo ID Card will be provided. More to follow.

In anticipation of this enrollment opportunity, if any veteran desires a health care enrollment package or would like information concerning Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform and the associated Health Care Benefits that are now available to all veterans, contact Carteret County Veterans Services at 252-728-8440 or at E-Mail address ccvso@coastalnet.com.

A note–if one would like to communicate directly to the VA’s Veterans Health Care Administration, the VA has recently established a toll-free hotline at 877-222-8387 for callers with questions about new eligibility guidelines which expanded medical benefits to millions of veterans. VA counselors are available at this toll free number from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday.

For The New VA Health Care Enrollee. If you would like information or assistance in getting established in the VA Health Care System for treatment and/or for medications, a good resource to assist you is the Carteret County Veterans Services Office which is located at 613 Cedar Street in Beaufort. The office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 A.M., telephone 252-728- 8440 with an E-Mail address of ccvso@coastalnet.com.

Government Retiree Tax Refund Information. A N.C. Supreme Court decision exempted all local, state and federal retirees (military included) who had five years of credible service prior to August 12, 1989, from paying state income tax on retirement pay. As a result of this court decision, monies collected on retirement pay from 1989 to 1997 will be refunded with appropriate amounts of interest. The dollar amount of this settlement is over $790,000,000.00.

The group charged with the distribution of this refund is the Class counsel, Bailey/Emory/Patton Settlement. If you have questions concerning the refund or its applicability to you and your particular situation, the Class counsel has set up a telephone information center which is available to assist class members at 1-877-TAX-CASE (1-877-829-2273) Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. A web site can be found at the mirror sites taxcase.wcsr.com., www.baileypatton.wcsr.com. And baileypatton.wcsr.com, which provides additional information to class members.

Some important dates relating to the settlement follow:

*March 1, 1999...Target date to begin mailing state retiree claim forms.

*March 26, 1999...Next public hearing.

*July 1, 1999...Target date to begin mailing Federal Retiree Claim forms.

*December 31, 1999...Last day to confirm participation in the class action suit.

Educational Assistance Programs. Yearly, the American Legion publishes a 152 page complete scholarship and financial aid reference guide for veterans and their dependent titled "Need a Lift?". This guide contains federal and state veterans benefit information, possible scholarships for veterans and their dependents, "tips" on how to apply for admission to college, offers insights on the financial aid process, and provides a comprehensive listing of colleges and universities which includes a breakdown of associated costs.

To obtain a copy of "Need a Lift?", send a $3.00 check or money order, to cover shipping and handling, to:

Need a Lift?
National Emblem Sales
American Legion HQs
P. O. Box 1050
Indianapolis, In. 46206      

or for Credit Card orders, call 1-888-453-4466.