Covid-19 Government Need to Know Archives

Congress Overrides President's Veto, Defense Bill Becomes Law: Both Houses of Congress overwhelmingly approved the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was sent to the President on December 11, 2020. The President vetoed the bill on December 23. The House voted on December 28 and the Senate voted on January 1, 2021 to override the President's veto. The bill became law on January 1, 2021.

TAPS was instrumental in including key provisions within this year's must pass defense bill for survivors and veterans exposed to toxins:

• Ensures that Casualty Assistance Officers are assigned to dependent children in the case a surviving spouse subsequently passes. The provision is named in memory of Cheryl Lankford, a true champion for military widows benefits.
• Access to Veterans Individual Longitudinal Exposure Records (ILER).
• Requires study on the incidence of cancer diagnosis and mortality among military aviators and aviation support personnel.
• Adds three new Agent Orange diseases to the VA list of presumptive service-connection.
• Ensures health assessments of veterans diagnosed with pandemic diseases to determine exposure to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals.
• Mandates study on exposure to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan
• Includes information on exposure to open burn pits in post deployment health reassessments.

Congress Passes COVID-19 Economic Relief Package: On Monday, December 21, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the second-largest stimulus package. The President signed the bill into law on December 27, 2020.

The $900 billion relief package also includes financial support for most Americans to include survivors, help for unemployed workers and renters facing eviction, food assistance, much-needed relief for small businesses and healthcare providers, aid for schools and childcare providers, and funding for testing and vaccine distribution. Key provisions are:

• $300 per week in supplemental unemployment compensation, limited to 11 weeks
• $600 direct stimulus payments, subject to same income limits as first stimulus payment
• $600 per child for eligible families
• $13 billion in food assistance
• $25 billion in rental assistance and a one-month extension of the eviction moratorium
• $284 billion more in loans for businesses struggling to pay rent and workers
• $12 billion for minority-owned and very small businesses
• $69 billion for testing, and vaccine aid and distribution
• $82 billion for K-12 schools and colleges
• $10 billion to support child care providers

TAPS Submits Testimony for Congressional Hearing on Toxic Exposure: TAPS submitted a Statement for the Record this week (December 9) on Toxic Exposure to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs. TAPS continues to urge Congress to: 1) Legislate critical funding for toxic exposure research and education; 2) Expand healthcare and benefits for veterans, caregivers and survivors; 3) Make the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) available to service members, veterans, their families and survivors; 4) Improve training for medical providers to ensure early detection, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments; and 5) Build a public awareness campaign so we can save lives.

To learn more, you can read TAPS Statement for the Record and listen to the Congressional hearing.

TAPS Testifies Before Congress on Survivor Education Priorities: TAPS testified this week (December 8) before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on our education related legislative priorities for 2021. TAPS focused on 3 key issues affect surviving families: 1) Allowing surviving spouses to maintain education benefits upon remarriage; 2) Guaranteeing in-state tuition for Chapter 35 recipients; and 3) Expanding eligibility for Marine Gunnery John Fry Scholarship to non-active-duty death.

To learn more, you can read TAPS Statement for the Record and listen to the Congressional hearing.

TRICARE Open Season Ends Next Week: If you haven't enrolled in a TRICARE health plan—or made changes to your current plan—your last chance to do so is Monday, December 14. Any enrollmentchanges you make during open season will go into effect on January 1, 2021. TRICARE Open Season is the annual period when you can enroll in or change your health care coverage for the next year. Open season applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select. If you’re eligible to participate in TRICARE Open Season, you have three options: 1) Stay in your plan. You don’t have to re-enroll. You’ll continue in your current health plan through 2021 or as long as you’re eligible. 2) Enroll in a plan. If you’re eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select but not enrolled, you can enroll in a plan now. 3) Change plans. If you’re already enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans and switch between individual and family enrollment.

To learn more, visit the TRICARE website.

VA Announces Initial Plans for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a preliminary plan for distributing COVID-19 vaccinations it will implement once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues an emergency use authorization for a vaccine. VA has worked in close coordination with the Centers and Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Operation Warp Speed to plan for COVID-19 vaccination of VA staff and Veterans. VA will first provide vaccinations to front-line VA health care workers and Veterans residing in long-term care units in 37 of its medical centers across the country. To learn more, read the full VA press release.

SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination News: TAPS was instrumental in the fight to finally eliminate the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) / Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset or "Widow's Tax." For more than four decades, as many as 65,000 surviving military spouses nationwide were denied their service members' earned benefits, amounting to an average loss of $925 a month or $11,000 annually. The Widow's Tax was signed into law on December 20, 2019, and will be phased out over 3 years beginning in January 2021. Future generations of surviving spouses will receive their full survivor benefits without offset, amounting to millions of dollars in benefit payments.

VA Launches “Find a Veteran, Post a Tribute” Campaign: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration will launch a "Find A Veteran, Post A Tribute" campaign throughout November 2020 to increase awareness of the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM). VLM is the nation's first digital platform dedicated entirely to memorializing nearly 4 million Veterans interred in VA's national cemeteries, honoring their service and sacrifice. Launched in 2019 with Veteran service and cemetery information, VLM now allows family, friends, and others to post tributes to a Veteran's page and to share Veteran pages using email, Facebook, and Twitter. TAPS encourages you to visit the Veterans Legacy Memorial.

President Signs Sweeping Veterans Suicide Prevention Bill into Law:   The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act was signed into law by the President on Saturday. The measure passed out of both chambers unanimously less than a month ago. The law improves mental health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and includes grants to groups outside of the VA that are focused on helping veterans. TAPS was instrumental in helping to move this important legislation forward.

President Signs National Suicide Prevention Designation Act into Law:  The President recently signed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act into law. The 988 new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Lifeline will be completed by July 2022 but in the meantime, please continue to share 1-800-273-TALK (8255) with anyone wishing to connect to the Lifeline. TAPS helped champion this important legislation and remains committed to advancing suicide prevention and postvention.

CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes of COVID-19 Exposure Needed to be a ‘Close Contact’:  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention has broadened the definition of a "close contact" with a person with COVID-19 as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Previous CDC language defined a "close contact" as someone who spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of a person with a confirmed case. This may increase the number of people considered "close contacts" who are supposed to quarantine and get tested for COVID-19.

Survey Shows Widening Cracks in Military Mental Health and Benefits Issues During COVID: A new survey paints a bleak picture of military life during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting impacts of the coronavirus on needs and benefits coverage for service members. TAPS is a member of the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative and has worked for seven months to support this important effort.

VA Shares Customer Experience Tips: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is set to share some of its customer experience tips for success with other agencies. As a partner organization, TAPS supported the recent State of Veteran Customer Experience Facebook Live event with Dr. Lynda C. Davis, Chief Veterans Experience Officer for the VA.

TAPS In Action: TAPS is committed to supporting and advancing policy and legislation to strengthen the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Our Policy Team listens to the concerns of our surviving military families and advocates on their behalf. We work to educate military and veteran organizations, Members of Congress, and policymakers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), and other government agencies to ensure our surviving families receive the care and benefits their loved ones have earned through their service and sacrifice.

TAPS Policy Team has been extremely busy this past year! Our leadership and hard work has produced long lasting results for surviving families. TAPS has also been at the forefront of four key pieces of legislation in 2020. To learn more, read the TAPS In Action blog post.

TAPS and Community Partners Support Veterans Customer Experience: VA continues to adopt and implement the best customer experience practices from industry leaders and innovators. These innovators come from both inside and outside VA, including delivery of care, benefits, appeals, and memorial services for all Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors. Taking a collaborative approach, VA works with partners to share lessons learned from top issues for our collective customers. TAPS is proud to partner with the VA to strengthen and support our Veteran families, caregivers, and survivors. To learn more, view our TAPS video.

FEDVIP Open Enrollment Season Begins November 9: The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is available to eligible Federal employees, annuitants, survivor annuitants, and compensationers. FEDVIP eligibility has also expanded to include certain retired uniformed service members, active duty family members, and survivors. While the FEDVIP 2021 plans and rates have been made public, open enrollment season will run from November 9 through December 14, 2020.

Open enrollment is the time each year when you can make changes to your FEDVIP coverage for the following year. The rest of the year, you can make changes only if you have a Qualifying Life Event such as moving to a new area or changing your number of dependents. If you're currently enrolled in a FEDVIP plan and don't want to make any changes to your coverage, there is nothing you need to do to remain in your current plan. Your coverage will remain the same in the upcoming year.

The Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act: After years of TAPS advocacy - Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) represented the members of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to announce that the Committee took action to unanimously pass The Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act. As Senator Tillis said today, this isn't a full victory but it is one touchdown on our way to winning the game. When it becomes law, this bill will ensure our service members and veterans receive the healthcare and benefits they have been denied. It will be a first step of many to prevent this from ever happening again.

Payroll tax deferral will kick in for military, civilian federal workers next week: Effective this month and through the end of calendar 2020, the federal government will defer the withholding of payroll tax in order to provide relief during COVID-19. According to the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS), for active-duty service members the payroll tax deferral is effective for their September 15 mid-month paycheck. For most civilian workers, pay day falls on or around September 18. Both civilian employees and military members are not eligible to opt out of the president’s payroll tax deferral.

Service members whose monthly basic pay is less than $8,666.66 will have their Social Security tax deferred. Civilian employees whose gross wages are less than $4,000 a pay period are also subject to the payroll tax deferral. It is important for military members and civilian employees to understand that they will need to pay back the deferred taxes starting next January. The DFAS FAQs suggest employees will pay those taxes back evenly from January through April 30, 2021, as opposed to repaying them through one lump sum. If a service member or civilian employee separates or retires in 2020 before the Social Security tax can be collected in 2021, they are still responsible for repaying the deferred taxes.

9 Million American Have Until October 15 to Claim Their Stimulus Checks: If you’re among the 9 million Americans who have not yet claimed the first federal stimulus checks from the CARES Act, you’ll have until October 15 to do so. Those that typically don’t file federal tax returns should expect a letter from the Internal Revenue Service alerting you about the upcoming deadline. For those that don’t meet the deadline, they’ll still have a chance to claim it as credit on their 2020 tax return by filing in 2021.

Stimulus check money: You and your family could get $1,200 or more with another payment: With the Senate returning to work this week, prepared to present a "skinny bill" that would address a narrow set of economic issues, Congressional and White House leaders have an opening to resume talks on a second stimulus check. Part of that discussion is over eligibility rules, which could determine whether you and your family get $1,200 or more money with another stimulus payment. We will keep you posted as we learn more!

TAPS Joins Non-Partisan Military Vote Coalition: A new non-partisan coalition of 15 organizations representing thousands of military members and their family members has sent letters to all state election officials urging them to send absentee ballots to uniformed and overseas voters by September 19 — as required by law.

Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), as amended by the Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment (MOVE) Act, states must send absentee ballots at least 45 days before a federal election to these voters who have requested ballots. TAPS and Coalition members are urging more accountability for state election officials to get those absentee ballots out 45 days in advance in order to give military families and overseas voters enough time to return their ballots.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program can help military families register to vote and request absentee or mail-in ballots. For additional information on how to register to vote, find your polling place, and local ballot information, visit the Secure Families Initiative.

It’s Time to Get Your Flu Shot: Getting a flu vaccine this fall is more important than ever to protect yourself, your family, friends, and coworkers. We are facing a tough 2020 flu season as we prepare to battle COVID-19 at the same time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months or older should get a yearly flu shot. Flu can be serious among young children, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes.

If you are enrolled in VA health care, you can receive the seasonal flu vaccination at more than 60,000 locations through the Community Care Network in-network retail pharmacies and urgent care partners. VA will pay for standard-dose and high-dose flu shots. Visit VA Community Care to learn more or to find locations to get a no-cost flu shot.

VA Partners with OnStar to Provide Veterans Suicide Prevention Services: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced this week it is partnering with OnStar’s emergency services to improve access to suicide prevention resources for Veterans. This partnership will offer Veterans in crisis the opportunity to be transferred to around-the-clock, confidential support via VA’s Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) when they use the emergency services button in an OnStar-equipped vehicle or OnStar Guardian smartphone app.

Support for Veterans Facing Homelessness: As part of its commitment to improve Veterans’ mental health and relieve housing instability, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has developed a guidebook to provide Veterans facing homelessness with information about local resources and options. The guidebook isn’t your typical informational resource. It’s a “graphic medicine” booklet, with information presented in graphic novel style, using stories and illustrations to convey important messages that makes the guidance easy to follow.

Certain Users of IRS Non-Filers Tool to be Issued $500 per Qualifying Child: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will issue $500 per qualifying child to eligible individuals who used the Non-Filers tool before May 17, 2020 and claimed at least one qualifying child. These users did not receive the qualifying child portion of the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) because of an error that was corrected on May 17, 2020. The IRS will automatically issue the $500 EIP per qualifying child to affected individuals in early August. You can use Get My Payment to check your status.

How to Tell a Real COVID-19 Contact Tracer’s Call from a Scammer’s: State officials and federal agencies warn there's a new phone scam circulating. Callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers are trying to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) there are five things to know: 1) Real contract tracers won’t ask for money; 2) Contact tracing doesn’t require your bank account or credit card number; 3) Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Social Security number; 4) Your immigration status doesn’t matter for contact tracing, so real tracers won’t ask; 5) Do not click on a link in a text or email. Use the FTC Complaint Assistant to report fake contact tracers.

Can Adults be Reinfected with COVID-19?: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are no confirmed reports of a person being reinfected with COVID-19 within 3 months of initial infection. However, additional research is ongoing. If someone has recovered from COVID-19 but shows new symptoms of the virus they may need an evaluation for reinfection, especially if the person has had close contact with someone infected with COVID-19. The CDC recommends that they isolate and contact a healthcare provider to be evaluated for other causes of their symptoms, and possibly retested.

Senators Demand Immediate Action to Stop Prescription Delays for Veterans: Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, along with 29 other Senators. The Senators are urging USPS to "correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to life-saving prescriptions."

Senators Urge Full Funding of National Guard: Thirty-four Senators sent a letter to the President asking to restore full federal funding for National Guard forces tasked with responding to COVID-19. Governors also called on the President to “uniformly adjust the cost share for all state and territories to 100 percent through the end of the year.”

Why Some Veterans Are Getting a $500 Stimulus Check This Week: Due to a programming error in the IRS system, many people who used the non-filer tool on or before May 17 didn't receive the additional $500 child stimulus credit. For those who used the non-filer tool on or before May 17 to provide information for a dependent child and didn't receive the $500 credits, the IRS says additional $500 child credits were sent out via direct deposit on August 5 and paper checks and debit cards were mailed on August 7. You can track the payment using the Get My Payment feature at IRS.gov.

CDC Releases New Data on Mental Health: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have compiled new data to illuminate the quantitative toll the pandemic has on Americans’ mental health, with a total of 40.9 percent of U.S. adults reporting at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition stemming from the pandemic. Unpaid caregivers for adults who are at an elevated risk for coronavirus infections are also at a particularly high risk for adverse behavioral health symptoms.

Coping with Separation from Family and Friends during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Numerous stressors are associated with the COVID-19 pandemic including health, employment, financial, and caregiving issues. A significant issue for many people is the physical separation they are experiencing from loved ones. Separation from family and friends can lead to increased worry, feelings of uncertainty and isolation, and an increase in mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression. It’s important that we prioritize positive coping strategies during this time to improve and preserve good mental health. To learn more, visit the Psychological Health Center of Excellence.

Cheryl Lankford Memorial to Improve Assistance for Gold Star Spouses and Other Dependents: TAPS is grateful to Representatives Dean Phillips (D-MN-3rd) and Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN-1^st) for introducing the Cheryl Lankford Memorial Act as an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The proposed legislation would ensure that Casualty Assistance Officers are assigned to dependent children in the case a surviving spouse subsequently passes. The amendment is named in memory of Cheryl Lankford, a TAPS family member and military survivor who died of cancer in May 2020. Naming this important bill in Cheryl's honor is a wonderful tribute to her years of advocacy on behalf of our nation's surviving families.

COVID-19 Benefits for Active Duty Servicemembers, the Reserve Components, and their Survivors Act of 2020:TAPS greatly appreciates Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jon Tester (D-MT), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), and Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA-41st) and Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN-1st), chairman and ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), for introducing the COVID-19 Benefits for Active Duty Servicemembers, the Reserve Components, and their Survivors Act of 2020. This important legislationwould expand survivor benefits for members of the National Guard who are activated under federal orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also creates an avenue for guard members and reservists to apply for disability compensation if they develop a disability or illness as a result of exposure to COVID-19.

Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2020: TAPS is thankful that Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have introduced critical and timely legislation to ensure the Department of Veterans’ Affairs grants benefits to survivors of veterans who die of COVID-19 with an underlying, service-connected, health issue that may have contributed to their death by coronavirus.Currently, veterans who pass away from coronavirus may have their cause of death labeled as “COVID-19” without accounting for service-related disabilities that further complicate their coronavirus diagnosis. The Ensuring Survivors Benefits during COVID-19 Act of 2020 ensures those disabilities are taken into account, so family members have access to the survivor benefits they have earned.

Governors Seek Additional Funds for Guard Response to COVID-19: Governors of 31 states and territories are asking the Department of Defense (DoD) for additional funding to keep National Guard members on COVID-19 response missions through late fall and possibly the end of the year. Currently, 29,700 Guard members are deployed in support of coronavirus relief efforts. Keeping Guard members on Title 32 orders ensures they will continue receiving federal pay and benefits.

VA Expands Funding for at Risk Veterans During COVID-19: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is allocating an additional $400 million of its coronavirus relief funding to enhance the department’s emergency relief response for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic.

Federal Agency on the Front Lines of COVID Response: During times of crisis – whether medical emergency or natural disaster – officers from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) are deployed to the hardest-hit zones to provide medical and scientific assistance. The corps is composed of approximately 6,100 public health officers, of which 4,800 have been deployed.

COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Collection Program: If you were diagnosed with COVID-19, tested positive for antibodies, AND you've been symptom-free for two weeks, consider donating your plasma at one of the military's blood donation centers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of convalescent plasma as an investigational treatment for patients with moderate or severe COVID-19 infections. To support this effort, DoD will collect over 10,000 COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) units by September 30, 2020. Find out how YOU can support this program

VA to Expand Telehealth Service at Walmart: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will expand their telehealth services at Walmarts in parts of the country with limited access to VA hospitals. The plan is set to begin after COVID-19 winds down.

TAPS provides critical support and resources to help Americans cope with isolation, fear and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic: As the nation continues to feel the devastating impact of COVID-19 and several states across the country are facing an increase in positive cases, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has made available nearly 30 years of resources, information and hopeful healing to the American people. Tips, resources, news and information are available on the TAPS We're All in this Together web page and updated daily for all those affected by the coronavirus. Now more than ever, the American people understand loss, fear, and uncertainty. We are truly in this together and TAPS wants to help.

America is Reopening. But have we flattened the curve?: As states throughout the U.S. lift stay-at-home orders, reopen businesses, and relax social distancing measures, a graph developed by the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, shows whether cases of COVID-19 are increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant within each state. Federal guidelines advise that states wait until they experience a downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period before proceeding to a phased opening. Lifting social distancing measures prematurely, while cases continue to increase or remain at high levels, could result in a resurgence of new cases.

How severe is the pandemic where you live?: The Harvard Global Health Institute, leading a collaboration of top scientists at institutions around the country, launched a new, online risk-assessment map that allows people to check the state or the county where they live and see a COVID-19 risk rating of green, yellow, orange or red. The risk levels are based upon the number of new daily cases per 100,000 people.

Pentagon lifts travel restrictions to all states but three: The Secretary of Defense recently signed a memo, moving to a conditions-based, phased approach to personnel movement and travel. California, Florida, and Michigan are the only states where service members aren’t allowed to travel for permanent change-of-station (PCS) moves, temporary duty and other non-essential purposes.

FCC to vote in July on final rules designating ‘988’ as National Suicide Prevention Hotline: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote at its July 16^th Open Meeting to establish 988 as the new, nationwide, 3-digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. The rules, if adopted by the Commission, would require all phone service providers to begin directing all 988 calls to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022. Establishing the 988 number will also highlight the urgency of addressing rising suicide rates in America and reduce the stigma too often associated with seeking assistance from suicide prevention and mental health services.

TAPS Participates in Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Toxic Exposure Roundtable: TAPS applauds Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) for hosting a virtual roundtable discussion last week on the damaging effects of toxic exposure on service members, veterans, and their families.

Coleen Bowman, TAPS Senior Advisor for Illness Loss and the wife of Sergeant Major Rob Bowman who died from a rare cancer that was caused from exposure to toxins while deployed, participated in this important roundtable. TAPS will continue to work with the committee to ensure service members, veterans, and their survivors receive the care and benefits they have earned.

Secretary of Defense Briefs MSO/VSO Leaders on DoD Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper spoke with 30 military and veteran service organization leaders today, including TAPS President and Founder Bonnie Carroll, on the Department’s actions to improve diversity and inclusion. Sec. Esper outlined his three initiatives to build a better U.S. military that pursues equal opportunity and inclusiveness.

The three initiatives are: 1) Directed the civilian and uniformed leadership of the Pentagon to immediately present actionable ideas that the department can begin implementing now. 2) Standing up an internal “Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion in the Military,” which will develop concrete, actionable recommendations to increase racial diversity and ensure equal opportunity across all ranks - especially in the officer corps. 3) Establishing a “Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in the Armed Services” that will provide long-term and sustainable guidance to the Department’s leadership on these issues.

Disabled Vets Will Receive Lifetime Access to National Parks: The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act (S.327), introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The bill would make all veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for a free, lifetime entry to America’s 419 national parks sites and other federal lands. Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Theodore Roosevelt Sailors Receive COVID-19 Antibody Testing: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt participated in voluntary COVID-19 antibody testing. Thousands of sailors from the aircraft carrier and the embarked staffs signed on to have their blood drawn. It will be analyzed for antibodies indicating whether or not they have been previously exposed to COVID-19.

IRS Operations During COVID-19 Mission-Critical Functions Continue: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers and tax professionals to use electronic options to support social distancing and speed the processing of tax returns, refunds, and payments. To protect the public and employees, and in compliance with orders of local health authorities around the country, certain IRS services such as live assistance on telephones, processing paper tax returns and responding to correspondence are extremely limited or suspended until further notice.

All Taxpayer Assistance Centers remain temporarily closed as are many volunteer tax preparation sites until further notice. Although the tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15, 2020, from April 15, the IRS continues to process electronic tax returns, issue direct deposit refunds, and accept electronic payments. Taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider, or IRS Free File.

CDC Suggestions for Youth and Summer Camps: As some communities in the United States begin to convene youth camps, CDC offers suggestions for ways in which camp administrators can help protect campers, staff, and communities, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Camp administrators can determine, in collaboration with state and local health officials, whether and how to implement these considerations, making adjustments to meet the unique needs and circumstances of the local community.

The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) was launched today. PREVENTS is the culmination of a year-long collaboration with over 150 public and private stakeholders focused on developing and implementing a national plan for the prevention of suicide at the national and community levels. A critical message of PREVENTS is that we need to change the culture surrounding mental health and suicide, encouraging Veterans – as well as our whole Nation – to be open to talking about and addressing mental health in general and suicide in particular. 

TAPS is an integral part of the PREVENTS task force and is honored to be represented at today’s event. TAPS Suicide Loss Support provides special resources and programming to all survivors of military suicide loss.

IRS Warns Against COVID-19 Fraud: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today reminded taxpayers to guard against tax fraud and other related financial scams related to COVID-19. In the last few months, the IRS Criminal Investigation division (CI) has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment (EIP) scams and other financial schemes looking to take advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers. CI continues to work with law enforcement agencies domestically and abroad to educate taxpayers about these scams and investigate the criminals perpetrating them during this challenging time.

Army Targets COVID-19 Vaccine by End of Year: The global race to field a lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine may be nearing its last lap, as the Army aims for a vaccine by the end of this year to prevent the deadly virus, said the force’s top medical research officer.

VA National Cemeteries Resume Committal and Memorial Services Halted by COVID-19: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries will resume committal services starting June 9 in all but two VA national cemeteries. VA national cemeteries will contact families who were unable to hold a committal service due to the COVID-19 pandemic to arrange memorial services for their loved ones beginning in July.

VA Releases Safe Firearm Storage Toolkit in Suicide Prevention Effort: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released a Safe Firearm Storage Toolkit developed in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry. The toolkit guides communities through the process of building coalitions to raise awareness about safe storage and its connection to suicide prevention.

DoD Updates Guidance on Personnel Movement and Travel Restrictions: The Secretary of Defense recently signed a memo, moving to a conditions-based, phased approach to personnel movement and travel. Locations must meet three conditions to lift travel restrictions. These criteria are: 1) Removal of shelter-in-place orders or other travel restrictions, 2) 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms, and 3) 14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases or positive tests.

DoD Increases Money for Do-It-Yourself Moves: A revision to the Defense Department’s Joint Travel Regulations has increased the monetary payment to service members who choose to move their household goods. From May 26 through December 31, 2020, service members using the Personally Procured Move (PPM) program can receive a payment equal to 100 percent of the estimated cost the government would pay to move their items.

Economic Impact Payments Being Sent by Prepaid Debit Cards: Nearly 4 million people are being sent their Economic Impact Payment by prepaid debit card, instead of paper check. The debit cards arrive in a plain envelope from "Money Network Cardholder Services." Unfortunately, we are hearing that some people are confusing them with unsolicited credit card offers and are accidentally throwing them out or shredding them.

Get the details on what the prepaid debit card looks like and how to access or recover your payment.

President Trump Extends Guard Coronavirus Mission Until Mid-August: President Donald Trump announced Thursday he will extend National Guard orders authorizing domestic coronavirus response missions through mid-August, according to the Military Times. In a twitter post Thursday afternoon, Trump praised the Guardsmen for “doing a great job fighting the coronavirus” and said their orders would be extended an additional two months “so they can continue to help states succeed in their response and recovery efforts.”

Representatives Introduces Bill to Ensure Cost-Of-Living Adjustment for Veterans: In order to ensure our nation’s veterans receive the benefits they have earned, House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Chairwoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) introduced a bipartisan bill to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans. The legislation is cosponsored by DAMA Ranking Member Representative Mike Bost (IL-12).

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Releases Resources to Assist States to Open: Across America, states and localities are experiencing different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have chosen to begin moving gradually and strategically toward resuming civic life. To help states, tribes, localities, and territories, as well as businesses and community organizations operate as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC released two new resources to aide in reopening.

Department of Defense Changing of Health Protection Condition Levels During COVID-19: Secretary Esper updated guidance to commanders on changing local Force Health Protection Condition (HPCON) levels to allow bases to begin planning to return to normal operations in the COVID environment. This guidance sets the considerations and processes for commanders who are seeking to adjust their local HPCON levels in a manner that will continue to protect our personnel from further spread of COVID-19 and preserve the operational readiness of our global force.

VA has Security Tools to Help Veterans Guard Online Privacy During COVID-19: During the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have turned to accessing critical health care and financial services online and on their mobile devices. VA’s Office of Information and Technology (OIT) has security tools to protect Veterans’ personal information online. To help Veterans be proactive in guarding their privacy, health, and financial information online, VA is offering step-by-step video instructional guides. These video instructional guides are called "Privacy Best Practices for Veterans" and "Authentication Methods for Mobile Applications and VA.gov."

National Memorial Day Observance: The 152nd National Memorial Day Observance to honor America’s fallen military service members at Arlington National Cemetery will be live-streamed beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25, 2020.

The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will conduct a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ceremony hosted by Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Mark T. Esper, will be modified from the standard ceremony to practice physical distancing to ensure the safety of all participants. Attendance of the National Memorial Day Observance is limited to official ceremony participants. The public is encouraged to live-stream the ceremony.

TAPS Supports Bill to Expand Veterans Survivor Benefits: TAPS is honored to join with Representative TJ Cox (D-CA-21) along with Representatives Gil Cisneros (D-CA-39), Ted Yoho (R-FL-3), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-2) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5) to support their bipartisan legislation, the Caring for Survivors Act of 2020.

This important legislation would improve Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors who lost their loved ones to a service-related injury or illness by:

• Reducing the age allowed for a surviving spouse to remarry and maintain their benefits from 57 to 55, consistent with other Federal survivor programs.
• Increasing the DIC base rate to 55% of the rate of compensation paid to a totally disabled veteran.
• Easing the 10-year rule for eligibility and replace it with a graduated scale of benefits that begins after five years and increases by percentage until reaching full amount at the 10-year mark.

TAPS has long advocated for increasing and improving DIC, and we remain committed to ending the remarriage penalty for all surviving spouses.

Memorial Day Commemorations at NCA Cemeteries: The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will be observing Memorial Day 2020 in a manner that honors those who sacrificed for our Nation while protecting the health and safety of visitors and team members during COVID-19.

All 142 VA national cemeteries will be open for visitation throughout the Memorial Day weekend. Families and friends are welcome to place flowers or individual flags at Veterans' gravesites. Cemetery visitors are asked to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local health and safety guidelines, and local travel restrictions. Families are being asked to spread out their visits over the weekend leading up to Memorial Day on May 25, 2020.

NCA will not host public events for Memorial Day, including the mass placement and retrieval of gravesite flags by any groups. Cemetery staff will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony to officially commemorate Memorial Day and will share pictures of the event on Facebook and other social media. Please view and share the NCA Memorial Day Message.

Boy Scouts of America & NCA Join Together to Ensure Every Fallen Hero is Remembered on Memorial Day: Scouts across the country will build on the tradition of honoring our nation's fallen heroes this Memorial Day by posting public tributes to our veterans in partnership with the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

This effort will take place through the Veterans Legacy Memorial – a digital memorial that houses a profile for each of the 3.7 million veterans interred in one of more than 140 national cemeteries.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in this collective tribute for our fallen heroes by leaving a message for at least one veteran by Memorial Day on the Veterans Legacy Memorial webpage and by joining Scouts and the country in the National Moment of Remembrance.

VA Launches New Roll of Honor Web Page: The site provides an opportunity to remember those Veterans interred during the COVID-19 crisis and reflects interments in our cemeteries starting on April 13, 2020. While the VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will work with families to schedule committal services once the crisis passes, they want to honor and remember these Veterans now.

Each day, the NCA will add the names, branch of service and location of burial for each Veteran interred in a national cemetery on the previous day. Those interred during this crisis will also be memorialized with individual profile pages in the Veterans Legacy Memorial, after the cemetery updates the Veteran's interment record.

TRICARE Revises Telehealth Policy to Respond to COVID-19: To improve virtual access to health care during COVID-19, TRICARE recently revised its policy on telehealth services. This temporarily allows you access to care more easily during the constraints of the pandemic. These changes will remain for the duration of the stateside public health emergency. They may be in place overseas beyond the U.S. national emergency end date, based on local conditions.

Why the Economic Impact Payment Amount Could be Different than Anticipated: The IRS and Treasury have successfully delivered nearly 130 million Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to Americans in less than a month, and more are on the way. Some Americans may have received a payment amount different than what they expected. Payment amounts vary based on income, filing status and family size.

In many instances, eligible taxpayers who received a smaller-than-expected EIP may qualify to receive an additional amount early next year when they file their 2020 federal income tax return. EIPs are technically an advance payment of a new temporary tax credit that eligible taxpayers can claim on their 2020 return. Everyone should keep for their records the letter they receive by mail within a few weeks after their payment is issued. For answers to some of the most common scenarios, please read the IRS news release.

Senators Work to Increase Telehealth Options for Military Families During COVID-19: Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a bipartisan call for the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to cover the full scope of telehealth services under TRICARE amid the coronavirus crisis, particularly mental health care.

On May 12, 2020, TRICARE announced that it now covers telehealth visits by telephone and has eliminated the patient co-pays and cost shares for telehealth options during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made during a virtual town hall meeting convened by the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative, which TAPS is an active member.

House and Senate Introduce Legislation to Provide Financial Protection for Military Families Amid COVID-19: The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), and Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to provide additional legal protections for servicemembers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

The legislation expands SCRA protections to servicemembers and their families who were previously issued orders to change duty stations but, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, received a stop movement order and may have a housing or car lease in two different locations. The legislation would be retroactive to March 1, providing much needed relief to military families.

DoD Streamlines Process for Student Military Survivor Benefits: The Department of Defense has streamlined the process for the child beneficiaries of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to certify that they are full-time students. The SBP annuity paid to the children of fallen Service members and deceased military retirees typically ends when a recipient turns 18 but may continue to age 22 as long as the child is attending school full-time: high school or an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, college or university. The law requires that when a child turns 18, he or she certify their attendance in a full-time course of study, a process that can often be frustrating for busy college students.  

This has been particularly challenging during the current COVID-19 crisis when school campuses are closed while school continues remotely. The DD Form 2788, “Child Annuitant’s School Certification,” is now a self-certification form allowing children to quickly confirm current or past school attendance without the need to obtain signatures from school officials or provide transcripts to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). The self-certification will now be required once a year, relieving students from having to submit a new form each semester.  Access the new DD Form 2788.

DeCA Begins Daily Health Screenings for Everyone Who Works in Commissaries: On May 8, the Defense Commissary Agency will begin daily health screenings of anyone who works in commissaries – including employees, baggers and affiliated contractors – before they start their shifts.The employee health screenings are the latest in a series of safety measures commissaries have implemented as a result of COVID-19.

VA Expands Support Services for At-Risk Veterans: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it has expanded support services enabled by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to make available immediate relief for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness during COVID-19.

CDC Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes: This guidance is intended for all Americans, whether you own a business, run a school, or want to ensure the cleanliness and safety of your home. Reopening America requires all of us to move forward together by practicing social distancing and other daily habits to reduce our risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Reopening the country also strongly relies on public health strategies, including increased testing of people for the virus, social distancing, isolation, and keeping track of how someone infected might have infected other people. This plan is part of the larger United States Government plan and focuses on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and can also be applied to your home.

Congress Passes and President Signs Fourth Economic Stimulus Bill: On April 21 and 23 respectively, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act and the President signed it into law on April 24, 2020.  This was the fourth economic stimulus bill to provide critical financial and health care support during COVID-19. The bill provides $484 billion in additional funding. It replenishes and enhances key programs covered under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was the third stimulus bill signed into law on March 27, 2020.

Learn the key take-aways about the fourth stimulus bill »

Military Hospital and Clinic Operations, COVID-19 Myths vs. Facts: You may be wondering how the Military Health System response to the health care demands of COVID-19 impacts the care you may get at military hospitals and clinics. TRICARE resources, FAQs, and these “myths vs. facts” help you separate rumors from truth.

April 24, 2020: 
Congress Extends VA Work Study to Coronavirus Impacted Students: This week, the Senate passed the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. The bill authorizes continued VA Work-Study payments during COVID-19 pandemic, among other important fixes and protections. Without this new law, the VA would not have been able to continue to pay this benefit if a school is closed or has no way to support the VA Work-Study position remotely. 

April 21, 2020: 
SPECIAL ALERT: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a special alert for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients with qualifying dependents under age 17, who DID NOT OR WERE NOT REQUIRED to file 2018 or 2019 taxes.

You must provide the IRS information on your dependents by MAY 5 in order to quickly receive the full amount of your stimulus payment.

You can access the special non-filer tool on the IRS’ webpage.

By providing this information on the portal, you will receive $500 per qualifying dependent in addition to your $1,200 stimulus payment. Failure to provide this information may result in a Social Security or SSI recipient waiting longer to receive their $500 per qualifying dependent.

Please note that if you are a Social Security or SSI recipient and do not have any qualifying dependents, you do not need to take any further action.

Following extensive work by the IRS and other government agencies, $1,200 automatic payments will be starting soon for those receiving Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who didn't file a tax return in the last two years. No action is needed by these groups; they will automatically receive their $1,200 payment. 

April 14, 2020: 
Stimulus Payments Have Begun: The first economic stimulus payments have started to go out for eligible taxpayers, beginning with people who have set up direct deposit with the IRS. You will be able to track your payment through the IRS website. Get My Payment will show the projected date when a deposit has been scheduled and allows people a chance to provide their bank information. People who did not use direct deposit on their last tax return will be able to input information to receive the payment by direct deposit into their bank account, expediting receipt. Your most recent tax return in 2018 or 2019 will be used to determine if you receive a payment and how much it will be.

Learn the key take-a-aways of the Cares Act »

April 14, 2020: 
IRS Get My Payment Tool: The IRS has created an online tool, called Get My Payment, that can be used to check on the status of your stimulus payment, confirm your payment type, or enter your direct deposit information.  If you don’t file taxes, use the Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here application to provide simple information so you can get your payment. 

April 14, 2020: 
All VA National Cemeteries Remain Open: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemeteries remain open and continue to provide interment for Veterans and eligible individuals during this health crisis. Effective, Wednesday, April 15, 2020, to ensure social distancing at the cemetery, witnessing family members will now be asked to view the interment from their cars or the road very near their cars. Families may visit the gravesite in the days following the interment consistent with CDC guidelines and local travel restrictions.

April 14, 2020: 
Department of Education Suspending Federal Student Loan Collection: To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency, federal student loan borrowers are automatically being placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payment. This suspension of payments will last until September 30, 2020, but you can still make payments if you choose.

April 14, 2020:
Commissaries Now Requiring Face Covering for Store Employees and Customers: Commissaries are now requiring some form of face covering for store employees and customers to enter a commissary.The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) guidance applies to all agency stores and other facilities worldwide where no local directive has yet been issued.This guidance does not supersede the existing installation policies.

April 8, 2020: 
TAPS Leads the Way on National Guard Activations: Currently, there are over 27,000 members of the National Guard activated to combat coronavirus in all 50 states, but only 21 of those states are on federal orders. Only those who die while on federal orders are eligible for benefits from the VA and Defense Department. TAPS is working with Congress and DoD to move all members of the National Guard onto federal orders to ensure families of Guard members who die from COVID-19 will be eligible for benefits.

April 8, 2020: 
TAPS Working to Waive Pharmacy Co-Pays: Do you use a military pharmacy? If so, you may need to switch your prescription to Mail Order, Home Delivery or to a TRICARE retail network if your pharmacy closes or decreases service. TAPS is concerned with the additional burden of pharmacy co-pays on survivors, military families and retirees, and is working with Congress to temporarily waive them during the COVID-19 crisis.

April 8, 2020: 
Congress Ensuring VA Education Benefits: Last week, Congress passed legislation to ensure students continue to receive VA education benefits, even though universities have gone online. Students should see no impact on their benefits for spring, summer and fall 2020 terms. If your BAH was lower than normal or another error occurred in your VA education benefits, please contact TAPS Education Services at education@taps.org.

April 8, 2020: 
Suspension of VA Debt Collections: VA announces that anyone with a debt through the Department of Veterans Affairs would have the ability to suspend collections and payments on those debts. If you would like to suspend your payment for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, please contact VA Debt Management at 800-827-0648. There will be no penalty or interest imposed during this time.

April 8, 2020: 
Federal and State Tax Deadline Extended: Most of you know that the deadlines to file and pay federal income taxes have been extended to July 15, 2020. Although many states have extended their filing and payment dates to mirror the federal government, not all have followed suit. Find out your state tax filing date information.