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Report: VA wrongfully denied $53 million in veterans' emergency care claims
Stripes.com
The Department of Veterans Affairs wrongfully rejected thousands of emergency-care claims during a five-month period, sticking an “undue financial burden” worth millions of dollars on some veterans.
More Vets Will be Headed to Nursing Homes, and VA May Not Be Ready: Report
Military.com
Although the number of veterans in nursing homes is expected to rise 16% between 2017 and 2022 as veterans who served in Vietnam continue to age, the VA may not be prepared to handle the increase, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
Veterans Urge Changes Before Expansion of VA Caregivers Program
NPR.org
The Department of Veterans Affairs' caregiver program provides support and a stipend to caregivers for post-9/11 veterans. The program was prepared for only a small number of applications and was overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of veterans who applied. NPR has reported on hundreds of caregivers being arbitrarily cut from the program; so has the Government Accountability Office and the VA's inspector general. Twice in two years, the VA has frozen the process of discharging people from the caregiver program, most recently last December 20th.
Veterans unemployment rose slightly in July, still sits below national estimates
MilitaryTimes.com
The unemployment rate among American veterans rose for the second consecutive month in July, but it remains significantly below the national rate, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Study shows U.S. veterans earn more money in the workplace than non-veterans
Phys.org
Military veterans are faring better in the workplace than their non-veteran counterparts. In fact, between 2005 and 2015, veterans' average hourly wages were nearly $5 higher—at almost $26 an hour—compared to $21 an hour for non-veterans.
3 Million Disabled Veterans, Caregivers & More to Gain Military Shopping Benefits
Americanmilitarynews.com
A change to the national defense budget will allow more people to qualify for military shopping benefits, increasing the number of beneficiaries by 3 million — or 50 percent. The increase, made possible by 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, will allow all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and primary veteran caregivers access to fully stocked commissaries and exchanges beginning January 1, 2020.
Five Years After Phoenix Scandal, VA Still Doesn’t Keep Reliable Wait-Time Data
Stripes.com
The Department of Veterans Affairs still fails to reliably track wait times for veterans seeking health care in the wake of a national scandal that five years ago found more than 200 veterans died while waiting for appointments, a federal watchdog agency reported.
Why Leaving the Military is Harder for Female Veterans
Militarytimes.com
Female troops transitioning from active duty to civilian life face unique challenges. Lack of a community of fellow female vets, lack of childcare assistance for single mothers and financial instability due to lack of financial literacy are all issues women veterans face, experts say.
VFW snaps 27-year membership decline and adds nearly 25,000 new members
Military Times
The Veterans of Foreign Wars said it has added almost 25,000 new members during the past year, ending a long period of steady decline.
Why the V.A. Won’t Pay for Service Dogs to Treat PTSD
New York Times
V.A. officials are opposing the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act, a piece of bipartisan legislation first introduced in 2016 that would establish a grant program pairing veterans with psychiatric service dogs, which are rigorously trained to help their owners cope with stress, anxiety or fear.
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