18 Edition Issue 2

DESERT ORACLE

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Officers

Leonard Smith President

Gordon Moye Vice President

John Tuzzolino IPP

Dianne Brunswick Treasurer

Board of Directors

Joseph Chitty

Vern Dixon

Joseph Hamilton

Edward Ramirez

Sue Wudy

National Director

Hutch Hutchison

Executive Director

Peter Quinn

Administrative Assistant / Membership

Matthew Jansen

PVA National Service Officors

Jacqueline Berkshire, Senior Secretary

Michael Wilson, Sr. National Service Officer

P-602-627-3311 or 1-800-795-3582

PVA National Service Office

3333 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1055

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Phone- 602-627-3311

Fax- 602-627-3315

800-795-3582

The views expressed in the articles of the Desert Oracle are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinion of the APVA. Any article not attributed to an individual / group was compiled with available information by APVA staff/members. The Desert Oracle does encourage our readers to submit their articles, interests and/or rebuttals.

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Arizona Chapter

E-mail - azpva@azpva.org

Board of Directors Pg.2

Dependants Educational Assistance Pg.3

DEA Continued Pg.4

DEA Continued Pg.5

Bladder Health Application Pg.6

Advocacy Trip Pg.7

Advocacy Trip Pg.8

Papago Chapter Rough Riders M.C. Pg.9

Rollex AD Pg.10

Enemeez AD Pg.11

NRA/ Friends of NRA AD Pg.12

United Access AD Pg.13

Streamlining Student Debt Forgiveness Pg.14

Debt Forgiveness Cont. Pg.15

Membership Report Arizona Pg.16

Attention All Readers !!!!

The Arizona Chapter has a Prosthetics Lending

closet. Here you can acquire a power wheelchair, a

manual wheelchair, shower equipment, aluminum

walkers, canes, crutches. We also have Hoyer Lifts

(manual & electric) Do not hesitate to call the

Chapter office if you are in need of any type of

equipment. We may have just what you or your

family members need.

Call us at : 602-244-9168

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Dependent’s Educational Assistance (DEA)

(Chapter 35)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers several educational programs. The Survivor’s

and Dependents Educational Assistance Program offers education and training opportunities to

eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service related

condition or of veterans who died while on active duty as a result of a service related condition.

Eligible dependents include:

The spouse or child of a Service Member or veteran who either died of a service-connected

disability or who has permanent and total service-connected disability, or who died while such a

disability existed.

The spouse or child of a Service Member who is hospitalized or receives outpatient care or

treatment for a disability that is determined to be totally and permanently disabling, incurred or

aggravated due to active duty, and for which the Service Member is likely to be discharged from

military service.

Benefits may be used for associate, bachelor, or graduate degrees at colleges and universities;

independent study; cooperative training; study abroad; certificate or diploma from business,

technical, or vocational schools; apprenticeships; on-the-job training programs; farm cooperative

courses; and preparatory courses for tests required or used for admission to an institution of higher

learning or graduate school; degree and certificate programs, graduate school, institutions of higher

learning, and on the job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course.

Beneficiaries without high-school degrees can pursue secondary schooling, and those with a

deficiency in a subject may receive tutorial assistance if enrolled half-time or more. Remedial,

deficiency, and refreshers courses may be approved.

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Training restrictions are bartending; non-accredited independent study courses; course given by

radio, self-improvement courses; recreational in character; audited courses; courses that do not lead

to an educational, professional or vocational objective; courses successfully completed in the past;

and federal government employee – courses taken under the Government Employees’ Training Act.

Additional restrictions are: while on active duty; convicted of a felony; and fugitive felon, which

includes outstanding warrant for a felony or has violated a condition of probation or parole for

committing a felony. This includes veteran, child or spouse.

Eligible dependents include; spouses, son or daughter (including step-child or adopted child) of a

qualifying veteran or Service Member. In the case of children, eligibility begins on the 18th birthday

and generally ends when the child reaches the age of 26. Dependent children do not lose eligibility

if they marry. Under certain circumstances, eligibility can be extended to the 31st birthday.

Eligibility for a spouse or a surviving spouse is generally 10 years from the effective date of a

veteran’s permanent and total rating or the date the VA notifies the veteran of a permanent and total

disability. The spouse can choose between the two dates to establish the effective date. A spouse

using DEA remains eligible to receive DIC payments from VA.

Generally dependents are awarded entitlement of 45 months under the current programs. However,

HR 3218, the ―Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017‖ proposes to amend

Title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.) to make certain improvements in the law. The proposed

amendments related to Dependent Education (chapter 35) are; Section 202 of the proposed

legislation would decrease the amount of entitlement from the current 45 months to 36 months. The

change would apply for those who make application for Chapter 35 benefits after August 1,

2018.Section 203 of the proposed legislation would increase the amounts of education assistance

payable for pursuit of institutional courses and courses under the Survivor’s and Dependents

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Educational Assistance Programs. Eligible persons would be entitled to monthly payments of

$1,224.00 for full-time work, $967.00 per month for three-quarter time, and $710.00 for half-time

work. Full time is considered 12 credit hours a semester. This increase would become effective

October 1, 2018.

To apply for Chapter 35 benefits, the dependent can submit an application on-line at

www.GIBILL.va.gov and click to apply for benefits. Printed VA form 22-5490 and send it to your

nearest VA Regional Office or PVA Service Office for submission. This form can be obtained from

any PVA Service Office or from the VA website.

Once a determination is made of eligibility, a ―Certificate of Eligibility‖ will be sent to the dependent.

The dependent must take this certificate to the certifying official at the school where dependent is

currently attending for the school official to certify enrollment in an approved program.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Chapter 35 can approve advance payment in some cases. Those in receipt of Chapter 35 benefits

have a responsibility to notify VA of any changes in enrollment, address, marital status to avoid

possible overpayment. The toll free number is 1-888-442-4551 or go to the website

www.GIBILL.va.gov. You may also contact any VA Regional Office, VA Medical Center or Vet

Center, Education Service Officer at military bases or Paralyzed Veterans of America National

Service Officers.

Raymond Pease

Sr. National Service Officer

Muskogee, Oklahoma

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The Arizona Chapter Does not Endorse this Product or by any way recommend any one try it without proper

doctor approval first.

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PVA Advocacy & Legislation Seminar: Priorities for 2018 By Leonard Smith Sr. President The week of March 5 through the 9

th brought PVA members and advocates to

Washington DC for PVA's annual Advocacy & Legislation Seminar. This year 2018 I, Leonard Smith and Joseph Hamilton attended the seminar. As normal the seminar consisted of two-days discussing legislative and advocacy issues and another two days on Capitol Hill to present PVA’s legislative priorities to our state’s Congressional delegates. However, what was not normal is the way National provided PVA members with legislative seminar materials. This year the materials were provided in a digital format. To me made it much easier to read through the materials and follow the agendas. The first two days, we welcomed guest speakers including Congressman James Langevin, Selleh Phillips representing Center for Businesses Acceleration, and Workie Blane US Department of Transportation. Also presenting at the legislative seminar was National PVA staff from various departments including Architecture, Advocacy, Government Relations, and Veterans Benefitsts. Every year, PVA prioritizes current issues that are most important to its members and the disability community as a whole. This year, there are 8 issues on which PVA is focusing its efforts. All eight issues are as equally important however, I will highlight the first three: Protection of Specialized Services Specialized services are part of the core mission and responsibility of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VHA’s specialized services, including spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D), blind rehabilitation, poly- trauma, and mental health, are of paramount importance due to the inability to replicate their comprehensive approach in the private sector. These specialized services must be strengthened and sustained within the VHA through allocation of appropriate resources. Congress must provide sufficient funding for VA to hire additional clinicians, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and rehabilitation therapists, to meet demand for services in the SCI/D system of care.

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Expand Eligibility for the VA Comprehensive Caregiver Program The current VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is only available to a veteran seriously injured due to military service on or after September 11, 2001. Congress must eliminate the unjust date of injury requirement and include ―service-connected illness‖ as a criterion for the program. Doing so will give the majority of veterans’ caregivers access to critically needed support services. Congress must pass the bipartisan S. 2193, the ―Caring for our Veterans Act,‖ passed out of the Senate VA Committee in November 2017. This legislation would incrementally expand the caregiver program to veterans seriously injured during and prior to the Vietnam War. After a two-year period, the program would be open to all eras. Air Carrier Access Amendments Act Over 30 years ago, President Ronald Reagan signed the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The ACAA prohibits discrimination based on disability in air travel. Despite progress, too many travelers with disabilities still encounter significant barriers, such as damaged assistive devices, delayed assistance, and lack of seating accommodatons. Access for people with disabilities must move into the 21st century to ensure that all are able to compete in today’s job market and enjoy opportunities available to other Americans. Congress must pass the ―Air Carrier Access Amendments Act‖ (H.R.5004/S. 1318) which will address these problems by strengthening ACAA enforcement by requiring referral of certain complaints to the U.S. Attorney General, increasing civil penalties for damaged wheelchairs, and establishing a private right of action. The other 5 issues are: ADA Notification Legislation Improve Benefits For Catastrophically Disabled Veterans Automobile Adaptive Equipment Rapid Appeals Modernization program (RAMP) Congress Targets Safety Net Programs If you have any questions or would like to share your personal experiences regarding any of these issues, contact me at leonardphd@aol.com

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Pictures are of Chapter President Leonard Smith (right side) and John Tuzzolino Independent Past President (Left), Also Members of Rough Ryder's M.C.

ARIZONA CHAPTER PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROUGH RYDERS MOTERCYCLE

CLUB

For the second year in a row the Papago Chapter of Rough Riders

Motorcycle Club raised funds for the Arizona Chapter PVA. We would

like to thank them for all their hard work and time. They had their best

year for selling raffle tickets at Sportsman's Warehouse in Glendale and

Mesa. The Arizona Chapter would like to thank Sportsman's Warehouse

for their donations and their space. The Rough Riders M.C. will be

presenting a check to the chapter on 12 may 2018 at 1000 hours. All

that would like to attend are more then welcome to show the Rough

Riders that we appreciate all they do for us and for the veterans at the

Phoenix VA Community Living Center.

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Arizona Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America

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Trump Administration Streamlining Student Debt Forgiveness

for Permanently Disabled Veterans

The Trump administration announced plans Monday to make it easier for permanently disabled military veterans to have their federal student debt wiped away. People with severe disabilities are eligible by law to have the government discharge their federal student loans, but the benefit has not been widely publicized.

Working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Education will begin identifying eligible veterans who will receive an application for loan forgiveness. Disabled veterans must sign and return the application to complete the process. ―Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed much for our country. It is important that, in return, we do all we can to give them the support and care they deserve,‖ Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement Monday. ―Simplifying the loan forgiveness process and proactively identifying veterans . . . is a small but critical way we can show our gratitude.‖ The program builds on an effort started during the Obama administration to help severely disabled Americans. In 2016, the Education Department partnered with the Social Security Administration to identify borrowers receiving disability payments with the designation of ―Medical Improvement Not Expected,‖ an indication they may be eligible to have their loans discharged. The agencies found 387,000 matches in their first review, of whom 179,000 were in default on their loans and at risk of having their Social Security benefits garnished. That process, however, failed to capture permanently disabled veterans who receive benefits through Veterans Affairs, rather than the Social Security Administration.

Although VA signed an agreement in November 2016 that would have extended the program to veterans, Education Department spokeswoman Liz Hill said the information was never exchanged. Monday’s action seeks to rectify the oversight, much to the delight of veterans groups.

BY: DANIEL DOUGLAS-GABRIEL

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Trump Administration Streamlining Student Debt Forgiveness

for Permanently Disabled Veterans Cont.

―The Education Department and VA are to be commended for collaborating to make this happen. Interagency data-sharing can solve so many problems, but the agencies have generally been reluctant to break out of their silos,‖ said Carrie Wofford, president of Veterans Education Success, a nonprofit watchdog and advocacy group. ―This is a terrific first step for disabled veterans.‖ Wofford said she hopes the collaboration between the agencies will soon result in automatic loan discharges for severely disabled people, eliminating the need for borrowers to apply for a benefit they are due. under the law. Advocacy groups have long called on the federal government to automate disability discharges, but policymakers said they were hamstrung by tax law. For years, the federal government treated the amount of money forgiven through a disability discharge as taxable income. That created a roadblock to automation because the Education Department did not want some unsuspecting borrower to end up with a tax bill, said Clare McCann, a former policy adviser at the Education Department under Barack Obama. But the tax overhaul signed into law this year put an end to the government counting as taxable income student debt that is forgiven because of death or disability. ―The excuse that the last administration gave for not automatically discharging the loans — the potential for tax liability — no longer exists. That tax liability was eliminated in tax reform,‖ said Persis Yu, the National Consumer Law Center’s student loan borrower assistance project director. ―Therefore, the Department of Education has no excuse for withholding relief from borrowers it knows to be eligible.‖

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MEMBERSHIP REPORT from The Arizona Chapter

The Arizona Chapter voting membership stands at 460 as of 1, May 2018.

National and AZPVA records show our voting membership at

250- Service Connected 210- Non-Service Connected

The Arizona Chapter encourages each of our members to contact the Chapter and let

us know how you are doing and if you have any ideas or issues we might be able to

help you with.. If you know of any of our members who have passed away, or if you

have an address/phone change, please contact the Chapter as soon as possible. Also, if

you would like to receive the Desert Oracle Newsletter by email, please call or email

the office with your email address.

Do you know a veteran with spinal cord dysfunction who isn’t a member of

the AZPVA?

Each Referral is eligible for a 50 dollar gift card after verification of

Application

Let us know at the Chapter office by calling

602-244-9168 or 1-800-621-9217

email: azpva@azpva.org