Helpful Telephone Numbers
| Organization | Telephone Number |
| VA Clinic, Ft Worth | 800 443-9672 |
| VA Hospital, Dallas | 800 849-3597 |
| VA Regional Office, Waco | 800 827-1000 |
| VA Nat'l Cemetery, Dallas | 214 467-3374 |
| VA Home Loan Office | 888 244-6711 |
| VA Education Office | 888 442-4551 |
| VA Vocational Rehab Office | 817 534-3563 |
| VA Insurance Benefits | 800 699-8477 or 800 699-8477 |
| VA Direct Deposit Questions | 877 838-2778 |
| VA Burial Benefits | 800 827-1000 |
| VA Social Worker, Ft Worth | 817 882-6012 |
| Defense Finance & Accounting Service | 800 321-1080 |
| Survivor Benefit Plan | 800 321-1080 |
| Tricare | 800 874-2273 |
| Nat'l Personnel Record Ctr | 314 801-0800 |
| Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) | 800 538-9552 |
| CHAMPVA | 800 733-8387 |
| NAS JRB, Ft Worth | 817 782- 5000 |
| ID Card Office, NAS Ft Worth | 817 782-5244 |
| Tarrant County Clerk's Office | 817 884-1195 |
| Tarrant Appraisal District | 817 284-0024 |
| Tarrant Co Human Services | 817 531-5640 |
| Dallas Co Veteran Services | 214 819-1885 |
| Denton Co Veteran Services | 940 349-2950 |
| Johnson Co Veteran Services | 817 566-6351 |
| Parker Co Veteran Services | 817 598-6152 |
| Collin Co Veteran Services | 972 881-3060 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2009
VA Assisting Veterans with Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON
For veterans struggling financially due to a job loss or decreased income, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an assortment of programs that can relieve the costs of health care or provide care at no cost.
“With the downturn in the economy, VA recognizes that many veterans will feel the effects,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “Therefore, it is important that eligible veterans learn of the many ways VA has to help them afford the health care they have earned.”
Veterans whose previous income was ruled too high for VA health care may be able to enter the VA system based upon a hardship if their current year’s income is projected to fall below federal income thresholds due to a job loss, separation from service or some other financial setback.
Veterans determined eligible due to hardship can avoid copays applied to higher-income veterans.
Qualifying veterans may be eligible for enrollment and receive health care at no cost.
Also eligible for no-cost VA care are most veterans who recently returned from a combat zone. They are entitled to five years of free VA care. The five-year “clock” begins with their discharge from the military, not their departure from the combat zone.
Each VA medical center across the country has an enrollment coordinator available to provide veterans information about these programs.
Veterans may also contact VA’s Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or visit the VA health eligibility website at HYPERLINK "http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility" www.va.gov/healtheligibility .
Dan Fallon Post 379 Adjutant
WASHINGTON (Oct. 30, 2008) -- Veterans and active-duty military not in
uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing
of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took
effect this month.
"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who
have served in our nation's armed forces," said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "This provision allows the application of
that honor in all events involving our nation's flag."
The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law
last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand
salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did
not address salutes during the national anthem. Last year's provision
also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform.
Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations
have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events
involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official
head-gear.
The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national
anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored
by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran. It was included in the
Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14.
The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and
out-of-uniform military personnel during the raising, lowering or
passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008.
