COASTAL LIVING
        Friday, October 2, 1998

  Department of Defense Gulf War Team is scheduled to be in eastern North Carolina Oct 19 - 21 to meet with Gulf War veterans and their families.  The purpose of this visit is to heighten awareness of Gulf War illnesses, to provide information about ongoing research and investigation efforts, to continue the search for definitive answers on the possible causes of Gulf War illnesses, to educate Gulf War veterans and their families about a wide array of informational programs that are available to them and in turn to solicit input from veterans to aid the team in its investigation.

The Briefing schedule is extensive with presentations scheduled onboard Camp Lejeune, MCAS New River, MCAS Cherry Point, and in Jacksonville.  For particulars on these briefs contact Veterans Services at 728-8440. [schedule below]

VETERANS BENEFITS ACT OF 1998

-- Increases the basic full time Montgomery GI Educational Bill (Chapter 30 ) payments by 20 percent, from $440 to $528 per month for three years of service enrollees.  For a full 36 months, the total benefit goes form $15,840 to $19,008.

-- Repealed a 1990 law and now allows the surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service connected disability to resume receiving assistance under the VA's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (D(IC) program if their subsequent remarriage ends.

--  For eligible spouses of veterans who died after Jan 1, 1993, the monthly DIC Payment for 1998 is $850.   Spouses receiving DIC are also eligible to receive $215 a monthly for each of their children under the age of 18.

--  Increased the one-time special adaptive housing grants for severely disabled veterans to $43,000 from $38,000 so that they may purchase a home especially adapted to their needs or so that they may modify / adapt their current residence.

--  Increased one-time special adaptive automobile equipment (modified controls or wheelchair lifts) allowance for severely disabled veterans to $8,000 from $5,000 to compensate for rising automotive costs.

--  Increased the monthly special pension benefit by $50 per month for disabled veterans in need of the full time aid and attendance of another person to assist the increasing number of low income veterans who need alternatives to nursing home care.

SURVIVORS' BENEFITS FOR
FORGOTTEN WINDOWS

   The DOD Survivor Benefit Program went into effect in March 1974 to provide a monthly annuity to the surviving spouses of military retirees.  Prior to the date, the surviving spouse of a deceased military retiree was not entitled to any portion of the member's retired pay which often created severe financial hardship for the remaining spouse.

   To correct for this, the FY98 Defense Authorization Act provides the authority and the implementing procedures to pay annuities to certain surviving spouses based on the criteria.

--  The member died before March 21, 1974 and was entitled to retired/veterans pay at the time of his/her death

or

--  The member was a reserve member between Sept. 21, 1972 and Oct 1, 1978 and at the time of his/her death would have been entitled to retired pay except for not having attained 60 years of age.

(Note:  Authority for annuity payments under this Act terminates on Sept. 30, 2001.)

   For additional information, call Veterans Services at 728-8440.

GULF WAR, AGENT ORANGE, AND RADIATION MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

   Veterans who may have been exposed to a toxic substance or an environmental hazard during the Gulf War or served in Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange or were exposed to atomic radiation in connection with nuclear tests or the occupation of Japan, are afforded the opportunity for free comprehensive medical examinations and for treatment of any ailment associated with this exposure.  Contact Veterans Services for further information or for examination scheduling.

VA HEALTH CARE   ENROLLMENT

   The Carteret County Veterans Council anticipates conducting a fourth in-country VA Health Care enrollment next month.  The tentative date of this event is Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Moorhead City.  In anticipation of this enrollment opportunity, if any veteran desires a health care enrollment package or would like to be notified of the particulars of the event once finalized, please contact the Veterans Services Office at 728-8440.

   To better serve the veteran, the Carteret County Veterans Services is up on the Internet.   the office's e-mail is ccvso@coastalnet.com, and the Web Site is www.carteretvets.org.

VETERANS DAY PARADE