Illinois Veteran Homes May Not Be Able to Feed Elderly Veterans?

Just another reminder, sometimes it is the fault of your local government.

Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs says some food vendors suspending service at veterans homes
State Journal Register
By Doug Finke, State Capitol Bureau
Posted Sep. 23, 2015

The state's Department of Veterans' Affairs confirmed Wednesday that some food vendors for the agency's veterans homes have said they may have to suspend deliveries because of the state's ongoing budget problems.

The agency said it is working to find alternative suppliers to ensure that food service is not interrupted to the four homes the state operates.

"There are vendors who either have, or may have to suspend deliveries in the future," Veterans' Affairs spokesman Ryan Yantis said in a prepared statement. "For those vendors, alternate solutions have been identified to ensure the homes receive needed supplies and services to continue to provide care to residents."

Yantis said that includes finding other companies willing to supply the homes with food products. However, Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, whose district includes the veterans home in Quincy, said that could prove to be difficult.

"I would think that would be a pretty difficult job of finding somebody if one company's not going to do it because they're not going to get paid," Sullivan said. "It's going to be difficult to find somebody else to come in and do the same job and still not get paid."
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Texas does a turn around on veterans funds

You may want to read this first to get caught up on exactly what's been going on here.  Political Shenanigans Target Veterans in Texas and Florida It has been easy for Governors to slash their VA budgets and then turn around, point to Washington and blame them for it. It's been a nice trick because the national media didn't pay attention to it.

This is the biggest reason why all veterans are not treated the same by every state.

VA Regional offices get $1.5 million from state
ABC News
KXXV.com
Posted: Sep 21, 2012
By Danielle Skinner

WACO- The Texas Veterans Commission is giving money and man-power to its VA regional offices.

The state of Texas will give $1.5 million to regional offices in Waco and Houston to hire more people.

McLennan County Veterans service officer Steve Hernandez went to Washington D.C. to speak to Congress's Veterans affairs sub-committee.

He explained to Congress what soldiers today go through when they reach out for help.

Hernandez said the $1.5 million is an emergency fund that will go towards hiring eight counselors for each VA regional office.

These counselors will help soldiers prepare the claims so they can get processed faster.
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All states do not treat this nation's veterans the same

All states do not treat this nation's veterans the same.
by Chaplain Kathie
Wounded Times Blog
July 17, 2012

How well a veteran is cared for after they served this one nation should never be left up to the judgment of the governors year to year. Texas has problems with claims and taking care of their veterans and so does Florida. Too many states are not living up to the debt they owe veterans but the majority of the citizens remain silent on what is being done to them instead of demanding what needs to be done for veterans.

The American public in general should take a dim view on any politician treating veterans like this.

Politicians keep talking about the deficit but never seem able to understand this is a bill the country owes veterans. Some even dare to consider the VA as a "welfare" program.

Backlog of benefits claims for Texas veterans has doubled in two years
By Jeremy Schwartz
July 16, 2012

TEMPLE — Pending benefits claims for Texas veterans have doubled in two years, the most visible indicator of what state officials on Monday described as a mounting crisis at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It's a monumental problem," James Richman, the director of claims representation and counseling for the Texas Veterans Commission, told a Texas Senate committee reviewing the state's massive backlog. "It's an implosion, a perfect storm."

According to the VA, pending claims in Texas have mushroomed from just more than 46,000 in July 2010 to nearly 90,000 this month. More than 76 percent of pending claims in Texas have been sitting for more than 125 days, significantly more than the national average of 66 percent.

State officials painted a picture of a bureaucracy overwhelmed by an influx of aging World War II veterans, Vietnam-era service member claims based on exposure to Agent Orange, and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, who are filing disability claims at rates higher than their predecessors. The hearing Monday, held at the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home in Temple, was a chance for legislators to gather information ahead of next year's legislative session, when officials probably will ask for more money to hire additional claims counselors.
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Every state is different. This is an example of it. A study was done after Chicago Sun Times did an article on the issue in 2004. This is the result of the investigation. Review of State Variances in VA Disability Compensation Payments

Veterans Affairs Regional Office List is where you can find information on your own state.

STEP 3 – Learn about VA Services and Benefits
VA provides health care and other benefits to OEF/OIF veterans returning from the armed services.

Here are some of the benefits VA provides:
Access this Web site for more information on specific VA benefits available: http://www.oefoif. va.gov.

• Five Years of Enhanced Health Care. Your service member/veteran is eligible to receive enhanced VA health care benefits for five years following his or her military separation date. Whether or not your family member chooses to use VA health care after separation, he or she must enroll with VA within five years to get health care benefits later on.

• Dental Benefits. He or she may be eligible for one-time dental care but must apply for a dental exam within 180 days of his or her separation date.

• OEF/OIF Program. Every VA Medical Center has a team standing ready to welcome OIF/OEF service members and help coordinate their care. Check the home page of your local VA Medical Center.

• Primary Health Care for Veterans. VA provides general and specialized health care services to meet the unique needs of veterans returning from combat deployments.

• Non-Health Benefits. Other benefits available from the Veterans Benefits Administration may include: financial benefits, home loans, vocational rehabilitation, education, and more. Access http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA for information on these benefits.

• Benefits for Family Members. VA offers limited medical benefits for family members of eligible veterans. These include the following programs: Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA), caregiver support groups, counseling, and bereavement counseling.

Potential Co-Payments

Some veterans must make small co-payments for medical supplies and VA health care. Combat veterans are exempt from co-payments for the care of any condition potentially related to their service in a theater of combat operations. However, they may be charged co-payments for treatment clearly unrelated to their military experience, as identified by their VA provider.

Conditions not to be considered potentially related to the veteran’s combat service include, but are not limited to:

• care for common colds
• injuries from accidents that happened after discharge from active duty
• disorders that existed before joining the military.

This is a report on the Texas VA budget

Drastic cuts proposed in Texas Veterans Commission budget March 16, 2011
By RICARDO S. SANCHEZ LTG U.S. Army (Retired)

"NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE" is part of the ethos embraced by America’s military. This commitment to our fellow warriors is embraced by every young man and woman in uniform and it exemplifies the commitment we make to defend our democratic values. Texas is on the verge of abandoning scores of Veterans if proposed budget cuts are approved.

The Texas Legislature is considering a 20 percent cut in the near $14 million in state funds which the TVC receives to provide veterans services across the state. This cut is, on average, disproportionate to the reductions other state agencies face. If approved, this will drastically reduce the TVC’s ability to provide services. With the proposed drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next two years, our returning veterans will need considerable assistance to ensure they access the benefits they have earned. Now is not the time for Texas to curtail the funding for veterans services.

Every day, the counselors and staff at the Texas Veterans Commission work tirelessly as advocates on behalf of our state’s true heroes to ensure they are not left behind.

The TVC staff — 84 percent of whom are veterans themselves — has made astounding progress in the last year helping Texas Veterans access their benefits. Note the following direct impact of TVC efforts:

H 170,795 benefit cases filed, resulting in over $2 billion in monetary benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Texas veterans and their families;

H 34,038 jobs found for veterans generating $1.8 billion in wages;

H 67,015 veterans approved for post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits totaling $397 million;

H $9 million in grants, funded mostly from the Veterans Cash lottery ticket, to 38 community and faith-based grantees offering a range of services to Texas veterans and their families.

read more here

Florida Gov. Scott wanted to cut the state VA Budget as well.

Scott Administration Offers Budget Details to House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee
Legislators from both sides of the aisle have questions and concerns about governor's proposals
By: KEVIN DERBY
Posted: February 9, 2011

A day after Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget, the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee met to hear how his proposed budget would impact state health facilities in the next two years.

Chaired by Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, the committee listened Tuesday to a presentation from Jane Johnson, a policy coordinator from the Office of Policy and Budget and, while Republicans remained firmly in control of the committee, they did have more than their share of questions about the proposed budget.

Noting that the health and human services appropriations consumed $18.4 billion in FY 2002-03, Johnson pointed out that they were more than $28.5 billion in FY 2010-11. Under Scott’s budget proposal, the costs would increase to $29.17 billion in FY 2011-12 before lowering to $28.01billion in FY 2012-13.

Of the $29.2 billion planned by the Scott administration for health agencies in FY 2011-12, more than $22 billion would go to the Agency for Health Care Administration, almost 76 percent of the entire amount allocated. Department of Children and Families would take 9.5 percent of the total with almost $2.8 billion, just ahead of the Department of Health which would have more than $2.75 billion. Persons with Disabilities would get almost 3 percent with $842 million while Elder Affairs would have 2.4 percent of the total with $690 million. The state Department of Veterans Affairs would end up with $45.5 million, around 16 percent of the total allocated. read more here

Budget cuts by GOP would hurt veterans

This reminds me of a conversation I had last night after class. A fellow student and I were talking about being our age in Digital Media classes and one thing lead to another. We started talking about what I do when she told me she was Republican for a lot of reasons but one of them was that they supported the troops. I told her what the truth was and she was shocked. The only part of the military the Republican elected support are contractors. When it comes to the troops, just as when it comes to veterans, they seem to have a huge problem with paying them back for their service. When you look up their voting records along with their lack of bills written for the sake of the men and women risking their lives, you see their "support" is not even close to how much the support defense contractors. If you are shocked with what they are doing to veterans instead of for veterans around the country, you just didn't pay enough attention to them.

State VA chief: Budget cuts by GOP would hurt veterans
Article by: RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER , Star Tribune Updated: May 5, 2011 - 11:18 PM
Republican committee chairman in the House called Shellito's analysis "a complete overreaction."


Republican budget cuts could trigger the closure of at least one veterans' home, higher burial fees for veterans' families and elimination of the Bronze Star grave marker program, according to state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Shellito.

Shellito, who led the state National Guard under former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said the budget as it stands would result in layoffs and other cuts, even though Republicans had pledged to protect veterans from spending reductions. "I'm very concerned," Shellito said.

Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, the House State Government Finance chair, said the administration's estimates are a "worse, worse, worse case scenario." He called Shellito's analysis "a complete overreaction."

Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, Lanning's counterpart in the Senate, was not available for comment, despite repeated requests.

Although rhetoric at the Capitol has heated up as the budget process grinds toward a May 23 adjournment, Shellito said his projections are not part of that fight. "I don't play games," said Shellito, a major general in the Guard. "It's really serious."

In a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday, Shellito said the budget proposals for his department would result in layoffs for more than 100 employees.
read more here
Budget cuts by GOP would hurt veterans

Pennsylvania Veteran's Homes Empty Beds with Waiting List?

Senate Committee questions halt in Veterans’ Home Admission
Posted in News on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 11:00 am by Web content assistant editor David Rauch

Harrisburg– In the wake of reports that Pennsylvania has stopped admitting veterans to the six homes across the state, the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee will hold a public hearing to get to the bottom of the problem.


“This is a very unsettling situation for veterans and their families – ailing veterans are not being admitted, workers are not getting paid, and rumors abound of layoffs and closings. I truly hope that the Rendell Administration has not stooped to making veterans who need care pawns in this budget dispute, but we need to find the facts,” according to Lisa Baker, the committee chair.
read more here
Senate Committee questions halt in Veterans Home Admission

Veterans go to war against budget cuts

Veterans go to war against budget cuts

By Carl Orth The Suncoast News

Published: July 17, 2009

Updated:

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County veterans are going into battle against a proposal to cut the budget of the county veterans services office by about 60 percent and lay off four of its six staff members.

Some 54,000 veterans call Pasco home. So the Pasco Veterans Council launched a petition drive to protest drastic cuts at the Division of Veterans Affairs before county officials finalize the fiscal 2010 budget, in September.

"We need to stand up and speak up for what we think is fair," said James Bradley, president of the veterans council.

But property tax revenue has been plunging along with home values, Pasco officials say.

"Something has got to give," said Dan Johnson, assistant county administrator for public services. The preliminary budget numbers represent a "worst-case scenario," he emphasized.
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Veterans go to war against budget cuts


"Something has got to give" did he really say that when he's talking about veterans? Did he really say that when there are two military campaigns going on? Did he really say that when we have veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq needing as much help as they can get? Something has got to give? Well he must have forgotten they already gave and that's why we call them veterans!

States should never target veterans for cut backs

The State American Legion was forced to make layoffs.

by Heather Sawaski
Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.


UPPER PENINSULA -- Changes could soon coming to the way U.P. veterans apply and receive their VA benefits. Last month, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed an Executive Order, slashing $300 million from the current state budget--including a 5% cut from the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs. That's around $2 million.

That works out to be about a 25% cut from the State Veterans Affairs Grant, which funds American Legion programs across Michigan.

"We've been bringing in a lot of money into the state, taking care of a lot of veterans in the state," explained State Legion Adjutant Patrick Lafferty. "And now that the state, in their financial difficulties, reduced our budget and reduced our grant by 25% which has caused us to lay off service officers and cut services."

The most damaging cut, Lafferty says, is the loss of the only U.P. Mobile Services Officer--the person who made home visits to assist elderly veterans in filling out paperwork to receive their VA benefits.

"Without that," said Legion Director of Veteran's Affairs John Nelson. "we have great fears that the older veterans will actually be ignored and his claims will be lost."
go here for more
http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=312378

Aside from the fact veterans in every state are a minority among the vast population, equal to one percent of the nation's population, some may think Veteran's Services is an easy target to hit in budget cut backs. What the hell are they thinking? Are they thinking at all?

There was an event in American history called the Revolutionary War. The Patriots were a minority in the original colonies. Aside from the fact this nation became a nation because of them, the survivors of it became, you guess it, veterans. Throughout the history of this nation a minority group of men and women stepped up and said they would serve the nation in a time of need. After the establishment of Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and National Guards, they again stepped up and said they would fulfill any need the nation had at anytime and any place. Volunteers from every state in this nation filled manpower in times of peace. In times of war, again, more stepped up to serve and some were forced to under the military draft. They all served side by side, just as heroically and just as this nation expected of them.

Budget cuts were not a factor in their deciding to go where they were needed and the nation deemed worthy of them risking their lives. They were not worried about budget cuts when they fought in the nation's wars. They believe in the promise we gave them believing we appreciated the fact most of them were just teenagers out of high school but would live out the rest of their lives as veterans.

While the leaders of the states contributing these men and women had representation voting to authorizing sending them, what were leaders doing in the states these men and women came from? Did they ever think of the responsibility they would have to them after? Were they planing on any services these veterans would need for the rest of their lives as veterans? Were they paying attention at all?

Police officers and firefighters, another target of budget cut backs, at least have the security of disability when they are wounded in service to the cities, towns and states and they at least get pensions that were planned for all along. After all it's only right to take care of the people that take care of the rest of the people screaming loudly they are tax payers. They face the same difficulties in the budget process, but at least someone planned for them.

As bad as the rest of us have it when our services are cut, we whine about having to pay higher taxes forgetting they are paying higher taxes as well, have children in the same schools, drive the same roads and on the same bridges, have the same bills to pay and gas to pump. The difference is, they are the ones also doing the jobs we rely on. While we can vote out the people in charge, we cannot vote out a veteran. Nothing will ever change the fact they risked their lives.

Did anyone ever plan on the veterans coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq? Was funding increased in all the states they came from? Was staffing increased to levels the veterans would increase by? Did anyone paying the taxes ever wonder where the money to take care of them would come from when they were so busy waving their flags sending them to go? Why is it that the aftermath of war we are all so "patriotic" about never seems to enter into anyone's mind?