IN THIS ISSUE
Childcare
Don't Go To The VA
An Outstanding VA Tool FOR YOU
Help Someone You Care About
You are Not Alone
Much more to come
|
|
Researched and Written by
Andrea Bowling
and Natalie Schroeder
|
|
|
I grab my husband's hand and he helps me, and our belly, out of the car. I readjust my maternity pants, trying to get comfortable, and waddle into to yet another daycare center that we have been considering. After a tour of the center, we follow the Director to her office and situate ourselves into faux leather chairs.
Without looking up from her desk, the Director hands us a brochure saying, “Our brochure goes over our basic information and on the back, it shows the cost table. Currently we only have one opening for an infant so if you are interested in that spot, I would suggest you get your deposit into us today.”
“What would that deposit be?” my husband asks.
“We would need two months plus the application deposit so if we will be caring for your little one full time it would be $3,150.00,” the Director states without batting an eye.
I squeeze my husband’s hand and he knows, this is another daycare that does not come close to what we have budgeted. I continue to listen, feeling guilty that we are wasting her time knowing there is no way we can afford this.
We stand up and I struggle to fight back the tears, we cannot afford for me to stay home but we also cannot afford daycare. I see that the director notices that I am trying to hold it together. As we thank her and make our way to the door, she slips a pamphlet into my hands.
My husband and I walk across the parking lot and I open the pamphlet. It contains information on how to apply for childcare grants. My tears break loose with relief, there is a chance that we can do this!
|
|
Don't go to the VA!
Go to your Free Advocate at the VSO!
|
|
Researched and Written by
Andrea Bowling
and Natalie Schroeder
|
|
|
The chair lets out a loud squeak, and I see the receptionist glare over her glasses at me, as I try to get comfortable, while balancing the clipboard on my lap. I complete the first section and the anxiety starts to lift, but quickly returns when I scan down and see the income section.
I take a breath and re-read the instructions. I still do not understand what I need to include as income. Defeated I fold the application, slide it in my front pocket, and return the clipboard to the receptionist.
Sitting in my car, I feel hopeless. I do not know when I will be able to make it back to the VA. I flip down my visor and see the well-worn picture of my wife in her dress blues and cannot believe this year will mark the third year without her. I promise her I will be back soon to figure this out.
The VA system can be complicated and difficult to understand when you are trying to navigate it by yourself.
Many people know veteran benefits cover someone who has seen combat, but don’t know that they can also cover non-combat vets, even ones who have never left the USA, as well as their spouse, children, families, and caregivers.
The best way to gain assistance and access to benefits, resources and services is NOT to go to the VA! Visit the VSO for your county, instead. It’s FREE and Confidential. The counselors who work there are specifically trained (most are Certified by the VA) to navigate the VA system and walk you through what medical, financial and other types of assistance are available to you. They will even help fill out and file the forms for you. Some VSO systems link directly to the VA system so they can provide you with up-to-date information.
|
|
|
|
There is a VSO in every County in the USA.
They are all FREE, personal, Confidential and get much better results than you can by yourself.
To find yours go to www.KnowAVet.org and put in only your zip code, at thee bottom of the page.
|
|
|
|
THE MOST VALUABLE
VA HELP IN YEARS
|
It shows all of the exposures and presumptive issues by date, area and more, INCLUDING all the things you were working and living around that you didn't even know about.
If you know of a Surviving Spouse, please pass this along. They may be entitled to ongoing compensation and/or treatment for their loss.
|
|
|
Please Help Someone You Care About |
|
Two Ways to Help A Friend |
I f you think any of these topics will be of help, please pass on this newsletter and encourage others to get their own free subscription.
We are here for you so don't hesitate to suggest topics or tell us your preferences by emailing Andrea@KnowAVet.org
|
|
|
Know A Vet LIFE-letter topics coming up
KAV has changed from giving you news you can get in lots of places to researching and creating articles on topics that effect your daily life. We put together three teams of Volunteer researchers and writers starting several months ago to first talk with vets, care givers and others to determine the top 100 topics that we deal with daily.
They covered all of us, our families and caregivers and range from interests of Post 911 vets to vets and Surviving Spouses of World War II.
We will be publishing at least three articles per issue each week. Feel free to suggest one to andrea@KnowAVet.org
With about 2,000,000 Senior Veterans and Surviving Spouses living below the poverty line, we show them how to get an average extra $10,800 per year, Plus many other benefits
Anxiety and other trauma-related disorders, including treatment options and available resources. What to expect if taking medication, and what loved ones can do to help.
Isolation /Withdrawal is one of the most insidious threats to the health of Vets of ALL ages. Learn how you or your loved ones can be helped to face and overcome issues that restrict them from their best possible life.
FREE Education and Training, at many levels, whether to help transition to a civilian job, or to reenter the workforce in middle age or a part time or full time Senior. We are covering it all, from resumes to discrimination.
How to Help A Vet WANT to get help. Yes there are really are ways to get a vet who doesn't want to face his issues to willingly get that help, before it's too late. Professionals have been dealing with it for years and we will show you what they said. Hint: Some are already on our website at https://www.knowavet.org/helping-a-vet/
And 100s More!
|
|
You're Not Really Stuck At Home When
|
|
|
|
Shop AmazonSmile
select Friends of the Vet Center, Inc.
as the charitable organization you would like to support.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
