SBP/DIC Offset Will Continue
9/29/08 - Congress passed the FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which did not include the earlier Senate-passed provision ending SBP/DIC offset (see below). NAUS will continue to push to end the SBP/DIC offset.

Senate Votes to End SBP/DIC Offset
9/18/08 - The Senate passed its version of the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (read more). On 9/11, the Senate voted 94-2 in favor of an amendment to the NDAA introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) that would end the reduction of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities paid to surviving spouses who also draw VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). DIC, which is tax free, may be paid to a surviving spouse whose servicemember dies on active duty or as a result of a service-connected injury or disease. SBP is an insurance annuity that may be purchased by any military retiree. About 57,000 military widows and widowers are affected by this offset.

Currently, if a spouse draws DIC, the SBP payments are reduced by the amount of DIC. A similar move by the Senate last year did not survive the House-Senate conference committee. But the 2008 NDAA does provide some small relief from this offset, due to go in effect October 1st, by allowing a $50 Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) paid to those survivors affected by the SBP/DIC offset. This amount will increase $10 each year until 2014.

The amendment eliminating the SBP/DIC offset was co-sponsored by Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), but neither he nor Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) voted on it. See the vote roll call here. The House version of the 2009 NDAA, passed in May, did not contain a similar provision repealing the SBP/DIC offset.

Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance
The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), included a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) of $50 a month beginning Oct. 2008, increasing by $10 each year until 2014, providing some relief for those affected by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) and the Department of Defense (Survivor Benefit Plan) offset.

Update on Bills to Eliminate the “Widow’s Tax” (SBP/DIC Offset)
9/8/08 - To date, 51 Senators and 130 represent-atives have cosponsored their chamber's respective bills to eliminate the SBP/DIC offset. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) introduced HR 1927, a companion bill to S 935, introduced by Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) in March. This legislation would allow qualifying surviving spouses of military servicemembers to receive survivor annuities — without being offset — from both the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) and the Department of Defense (Survivor Benefit Plan). Read more here.

Vet Center Bereavement Counseling
Bereavement Counseling is offered to parents, spouses and children of servicemembers who die while in the service, including Reserve and National Guard personnel who die on active duty. Read or download the Bereavement Services brochure here. 

Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Settlement
Information on where and how to file for Service-member's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) proceeds may be found at VA's Insurance Center Web site. You may also contact the Office of SGLI by phone at 1-800-419-1473, or by email at osgli.claims@prudential.com.

Financial Counseling services are also available at no cost to SGLI beneficiaries. This service provides a one-on-one counseling session, a detailed step-by-step financial plan, and access to financial counselors for one year. For additional information, call 1-888-243-7351.

SMW President's Corner
We receive many emails from our website asking for information. Some of the topics are: contacts for monetary help; addresses of widows’ homes, both for enlisted and officer widows; contacts for veterans benefits; eligibility requirements; and many other problem situations. Marilyn and I do our best to answer them, but we many times have to turn to the best source we have – NAUS – and refer them to the great team of Mike Plumer, Steve Hein, and Hal Grant, NAUS staff members who have always come through with answers. We are so grateful for their help, they are a valuable resource.

-- Patricia D. Shecter
President, Society of Military Widows
SMWPresident06.08@earthlink.net

SMW National Convention Schedule
October, 2008 - Tucson, AZ
This year's convention is being held in Tucson, AZ, 6-11 October. Register now, or find out more online here.

Future SMW Convention sites:
2009 - Albuquerque, NM

SMW is considering Florida for 2010, and Kansas for 2011. SMW chapters are encouraged to get their bids in for future conventions or suggest possible locations.

Toll-free Number for Headstone/Marker Inquiries
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a toll-free number for inquiries about headstones for veterans, including status of applications, headstones or marker delivery and general information about memorial programs. The line is open M-F from 8am to 4:30pm ET. Call 1-800-697-6947.

VA Survivor Website
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a website for surviving spouses and dependents of military personnel who died while on active duty and for the survivors of veterans who died after leaving military service. The site provides visitors with information about benefits for the surviving spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents of deceased veterans and active duty personnel, along with links to other federal agencies and organizations that offer benefits and services to survivors. The site is found at www.vba.va.gov/survivors.

SMW Legislative Report
Greetings to SMW Members and any military widows reading this who would like to join us. Remember that by speaking both individually and as part of a nationally recognized group, we have the opportunity to inform and draw support on issues that concern us.

Please contact your people in Congress to remind them that we need to hold the line on health care costs for military personnel and widows including, but not limited to not raising fees on TRICARE For Life. What is your position on Social Security benefits for aliens, and should military widows lose all military insurance if they remarry? Consider the issues and contact me with any suggestions you would like to pass on.

-- Patricia L. Walker
Legislative Chair, Society of Military Widows
Kara7072@bellsouth.net