VETERANS INFORMATION RESERVE INCOME REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (RIRP):
A New Defense Department program should ease the financial hardships of NATIONAL GUARDSMEN and Reservists who suffer income loss when on active duty. The program rules limit eligibility to only those at the very end of the longest mobilizations. RIRP will pay the difference between their total monthly military pay and their 12-month average civilian income up to a maximum of $3,000 per month. RIRP expires in 2008. Studies indicate that from 25% to 50% of Guardsmen and Reservists suffer income loss when on active duty. They now become eligible RIRP for any full month following the date they complete the requisite eligibility service requirements, which include one of the following: Be serving on active duty in an involuntary status and have completed 18 continuous months of involuntary active duty, (or) have completed 24 cumulative months of involuntary active duty within the last 60 months, ( or) be serving on involuntary active duty for a period of 180 days or more that starts within six months of separation from a previous period on involuntary active duty for at least 180 days. [Source: NGAUS NOTES - August 11, 2006]

Spouses of Seriously Injured Service Members May Get Education Benefits Sooner:
Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI), the Chairman and Ranking Member respectively of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, have introduced legislation that could possibly speed up education benefits to spouses of severely injured service members. Similar legislation is introduced in the House. Under current law, when a service member is discharged from the military as a "permanently and totally disabled" veteran, the veteran's spouse is eligible for education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs through a program called Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The change would allow spouses to have immediate eligibility for educational benefits when the service member is hospitalized or receiving treatment and awaiting discharge from the service. The Craig-Akaka legislation is expected to be acted on before the Senate adjourns for their October recess. It is also under fast-track consideration in the House. (Leg Update 22 Sept 06)

Veteran ID Cards and Patient ID Cards to Be Replaced:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that all VA health care facilities are beginning an aggressive campaign to assure that enrolled veterans with old versions of its ID cards are issued the new Veterans Identification Card (VIC). VA decided to initiate the mass replacement to reduce veteran vulnerability to identity theft and to demonstrate VA's commitment to securing the confidential personal information of all enrolled veterans. VA indicates that prior versions of its identification cards display sensitive information such as social security number and date of birth on the front of the card. The new VIC, which was introduced in 2004, removed the sensitive information from the face of the card. Since the new VIC was introduced in March 2004, approximately 2.4 million enrolled veterans have been issued the new VIC. VHA estimates that between 3 and 4 million enrolled veterans have not yet been issued a new VIC. VA hopes to complete the massive replacement program within the next 12 months. For more information about the new VIC card, contact your Medical Center's Eligibility & Enrollment Office or visit the VA's Eligibility Web site at http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility