Latest News
Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 12:14pm
IR 2010-87 (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=225959,00.html)
IRS has announced that under a one-time relief program small tax-exempt organizations that failed to file returns for 2007, 2008 and 2009 can avoid losing their tax-exempt status by filing a return by Oct. 15, 2010. Two types of relief are available: (1) a filing extension for the smallest organizations (eligible to file Form 990-N); and (2) a voluntary compliance program for small organizations (eligible to file Form 990-EZ).
Filing requirement for tax-exempts. Under Code Sec. 6033(a), most tax-exempt organizations, other than churches, must file with IRS an annual Form 990, Form 990-EZ (Short Form Return or Organiz...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 10:39am
VA Simplifies Access to Health Care and Benefits for Veterans with PTSD
WASHINGTON (July 12, 2010) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a critical step forward in providing an easier process for Veterans seeking health care and disability compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with the publication of a final regulation in the Federal Register.
"This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have honorably served this country and suffer from the often devastating emotional wounds of war," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "This final regulation goes a long way to ensure that Veterans receive the benefits and services they need."
By publishing a final regulation in...
Thursday, July 8, 2010 - 2:51pm
The Army owes about 120,000 Veterans extra pay and VA is reaching out to find them. The Army is seeking soldiers, Veterans, and survivors of soldiers whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss Authority between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2008. The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act stipulates they are eligible for special pay. Those eligible will receive $500 for each month or partial month served in stop loss status.
To receive this benefit, those who served under Stop Loss must submit a claim by October 21, 2010. Stop Loss Veterans can submit their online at https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil.
The Army encourages all candidates to visit its Web site to check eligibility and submi...
Thursday, July 1, 2010 - 7:55am
The Department Convention Sweepstakes drawing was held on June 27, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Beaumont.
Congratulations’ to the following winners:
Grand Prize - $10,000.00 Harry Ulsrud of Rye - Post 345
Second Prize - $5000.00 Leo Guidry, Jr. of Orange - Post 616
Third Prize - $2500.00 Jim Mills of Memphis - Post 175
Fourth Prize - $1500.00 Billy Davenport of Alpine - Post 79
Fifth Prize - $500.00 Thomas Royal of Caldwell - Post 345
Sixth Prize - $500.00 Lehman Dawson Jr. of Sherman - Post 29
Winners are posted in the next monthly issue of the Legion Times immediately after the drawing and can be found at http://www.txlegion.org/legion_times
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 5:08pm
Simpler Forms and New Program Reduce Paperwork and Speed Process
WASHINGTON (June 15, 2010) – As part of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki’s effort to break the back of the backlog, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reducing the paperwork and expediting the process for Veterans seeking compensation for disabilities related to their military service.
“These reductions in paperwork, along with other improvements to simplify and speed the claims process, symbolize changes underway to make VA more responsive to Veterans and their families,” said Secretary Shinseki.
VA has shortened application forms to reduce paperwork for Veterans. The new forms, which are being made available on VA’s Web site at...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 10:13pm
WASHINGTON (May 12, 2010) – Testifying before a House subcommittee today, The American Legion said that veterans’ preference in the federal job market “is being unlawfully ignored by numerous agencies.
“The reality is that employment opportunities are not being properly publicized,” said Joe Sharpe, the Legion’s economic division director. “Federal agencies, as well as federal government contractors and subcontractors, are required by law to notify the Office of Personnel Management of job opportunities.
“But more often than not, these opportunities are never made available to the public,” he said. Sharpe testified before the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, chaired by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis.
Sharpe said that su...
Monday, May 10, 2010 - 8:47pm
But National Commander urges lawmakers to “not forget” veterans of previous eras
WASHINGTON (May 6, 2010) – With an American Legion official standing behind him Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama signed into law the long-awaited Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. As its name implies, the act calls for the government to provide health benefits, training, respite care and, in some cases, monetary stipends for individuals who provide at-home care for severely ill and disabled veterans.
“This is a big step in the right direction,” said The American Legion’s National Commander Clarence E. Hill. “Finally, the sacrifices made by the families and caregivers of our wounded warriors are being recognized and, more importantly, their needs are begin...
Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 11:13am
Decision Simplifies Application for Disability Pay
WASHINGTON (March 18, 2010) – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to make it easier for Veterans to obtain disability compensation for certain diseases associated with service in the Persian Gulf War or Afghanistan. This will be the beginning of historic change for how VA considers Gulf War Veterans’ illnesses.
Following recommendations made by VA’s Gulf War Veterans Illnesses Task Force, VA is publishing a proposed regulation in the Federal Register that will establish new presumptions of service connection for nine specific infectious diseases associated with military service in Southwest Asia during the Per...
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 9:41pm
By Tom Philpott: Military Update
Tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans with ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s disease or B cell leukemia should file claims now with the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability compensation, not wait until VA publishes a regulation officially linking these diseases to wartime service.
Advocacy groups are urging the swift filing of claims because veterans eventually found eligible for disability pay for these diseases will be able to receive compensation back to the date their claims were filed. Those who wait for a regulation to add these ailments to VA’s list of diseases presumed caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins used in the war could lessen, by several months of compensation, any retroactive pay that they...
Friday, March 5, 2010 - 7:59pm
|
