VA Benefits

Below is interesting information that has been posted about VA Benefits.  While I can't confirm the details presented below, I blog about this information to assist those seeking information.  There appears to be a lot of red tape preventing people from getting a direct, sensible answer.  I pray that what I've shared below will illuminate some sketchy details to help many get the benefit that they so deserve.  I will continue to do financial research about this and as always, wish you the best.  Thank you for your service to our country.   ~Alfa Sugar, aka Stephanie Arredondo

Disability Pay
This blogger writes: unless you hit 20 Years you cant have both. Personally I would go with the VA $ since its tax free, well, that and I have a wife and 5 kids and will probably get 70%...Much better than 30% of E-6 Pay..But I have not been able to actually find that written anywhere in an instruction...so if anyone knows...

One blogger writes:  If you receive Military retirement at say at 30% or greater you will receive a medical retirement at 50% base pay.  If the VA rates you at 90% that means your 50% military retirement is non-taxable and you will receive compensation from the VA @40%.  

Another blogger writes the following:
If you are medically retired from the Army, you will only receive one check from the two departments, the check with the higher amount. You do not have the option of choosing which one. However, if at any point your condition worsens and your pay from one authority or the other is raised to a higher level than whichever is paying you at that time, the higher paying authority will take over your payments. Bottom-line, you will only get one check and while you have no say, it will always be the higher amount.

One of the differences between the VA and the Army, outside of the payment, is that the VA will pay 100% of your medical expenses for at-home equipment (home adaptive equipment, sleep apnea machines) whereas TriCare will usually pay for 90%, so a rating from both authorities is a good thing.

Disability Compensation
Chris Attik wrote this article that may be of interest  VA Benefit

Property Tax for Residents of Virginia
Sherri Abrams wrote this article for those disabled veterans living in the state of Virginia.
Disabled Veterans Real Property Tax ReliefJuly 9th, 2011

Effective January 1, 2011 a new law was imposed by the Commonwealth of Virginia allowing a 100% real estate tax exemption for qualifying disabled armed forces veterans and their spouses.
Pursuant to Article X, Section 6-A of the Constitution of Virginia, the General Assembly exempted from taxation the real property, including the joint real property of husband and wife, of any Veteran who has been approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability, and who occupies the real property as his/her primary place of residence.

The surviving spouse of a Veteran eligible for the exemption shall also qualify for the exemption, so long as the death of the Veteran occurred on or after January 1, 2011, the surviving spouse does not remarry and the surviving spouse continues to occupy the real property as his/her primary place of residence.

In order to receive this benefit the veteran is required to have a letter of disability from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (1-800-827-1000). The letter will have specific wording that is required by the Commonwealth of Virginia for this exemption. The letter will NOT be automatically provided to the veteran, he or she must request this letter. Virginia Form 21-4138 may be filled out and signed in the Commissioner of Revenue’s office and faxed to the Veterans Affairs office to request the letter on your behalf.

The regional U. S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs office is located at 210 Franklin Road SW, Roanoke, Va. 24011.

When applying with the Commissioner of the Revenue for this exemption the veteran must bring:
1. An original letter of disability issued by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2. Photo Identification
3. Proof of residence of occupancy – Voter Registration Card

Surviving spouse should bring:
1. Approved and original letter of disability issued by the U. S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (in the event the veteran was not previously exempted from local real estate taxes)
2. Death certificate to confirm the date is subsequent to December 31, 2010
3. A certificate of marriage from the appropriate State office of records
4. Proof of residence occupancy – Voter Registration Card

The above real estate information may shed light on your current state's residence property tax for veterans. 

All information presented is strictly for information purposes.  You are encouraged to conduct your research, contact a professional or seek guidance. 

Learn about Democracy and the legal system via iCivics

http://www.icivics.org/
Former Supreme Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is the Chairman of this nonprofit group promoting education about civics so that future generations can appreciate our democracy.  In an interview about her nonprofit project, she stated that this startup project came out of a need she saw for educating children in America about our judicial system.  There is a handy teacher section as well. 

Handy Budgeting section as well for future public service!

Trick or Treat! Let's not miss a beat!

'Tis the season for lots of things....Fall Harvest Parties, Halloween, Haunted Houses or Weirdness....the main thing is to be safe and have a good time at the festivities. 

Our local police department sends out an advisory for having a safe time, and I can't help but share some tips. 

• Feast on some healthy food prior to trick or treating.  It will keep everyone's energy level up as you make the rounds.  Drink water and perhaps carry a small water bottle.
• Take a picture of your child/ren in their costume.  It's a bonus for their scrapbook AND an immediate photo in case you have an emergency.
• All costumes should be comfortable and made of flame-resistant fabric.  Wearing comfortable walking shoes and dressing in layers for the cool evening is a plus.   Props are for play ONLY.
• Walking with a buddy and/or a group on well-lit streets is important because you are walking in the dark.  Cars driving through neighborhoods cannot react as fast as during the daytime so please use caution when out in the road.  Have a flashlight or other cool lights on your body.  Most pedestrian injuries occur on Halloween night.
• Have cell phone for immediate communication on the adult walking the children through the neighborhood.  If you can, it is wise to register your cell phone with a SMART911 registry. 
• Older children should have instructions on which route is acceptable and a time to be back at the house or meeting place. 
• Homes with outside lights ON and some festive decor are ones to knock on.  Do NOT accept candy from someone's car nor enter a home to get candy.
• Check the trick or treat bag for suspicious looking items. While everyone is handing out candy for fun, there are few who will alter the candy so just be cautious. It helps to know the source of the candy albeit either a neighbor or friend. 

If your loved one is deployed this season, don't let his deployment spoil you having fun.  Besides your stories will enhance his day overseas.  Do attend a Fall Harvest Party and/or throw one with other military spouses.  Take lots of pictures.  There is something magical about creating your costume and then telling a story.  Getting into the fun of the season can take the distance apart factor out of one day of the deployment. 

Carve a pumpkin, create a costume, buy your favorite candy, put up some decorations, and get ready for some fun mixing and mingling with neighbors and the community!  Be safe and that's a great financial perspective to keep in mind.  So don't miss a beat and have a great time trick or treating!

Social Security to pay 3.6% Increase while increasing tax on workers

Inflation is on the rise as is confirmed with the COLA computation that the Social Security Administration utilizes for assessing cost of living measures.  A 3.6 % increase will commence in January 2012.  For the 55 million benefiting from these payments, it will help but not as much as many hope.  The monthly payments will now average $1,221. 

This is the first increase in a few years since 2010 and 2011 saw little to no inflation. 

The average worker is seeing an increase in wages earned.  Over 10 million workers will pay higher taxes as a direct result.  Higher wages and higher taxes means few are getting ahead.  Regarding the the limit as to who pays the Social Security Tax, it is being raised from up $106,800 earned to $110,100 next year (2012) at a 6.2% rate (reduced to 4.2% only for 2011 tax year). 

"Social Security payments increased by 5.8 percent in 2009, the largest increase in 27 years, after energy prices spiked in 2008. But energy prices quickly dropped and home prices became soft in markets across the country, contributing to lower inflation in the past two years." Source

Unfortunately, unemployment numbers remain high so the potential for more social security tax revenue would be higher if the economy picks back up. The question remains if it will, and with the United States entering an election year, it will be a rocky road.  The REAL question is can Americans sustain themselves given the grim economic environment?

Shoppers Beware

With slim sales and a difficult economic environment lingering, retailers are trying many tricks and marketing gimmicks to get you into their store or web site page just to get that sale.  Coupons, promotions and markdowns are among the many tricks of the trade to lure shoppers.  The bulk of shoppers represents the female shopper, who remains the primary buyer for the family.  Interestingly, the average female shopper spends an astounding eight years in a retail store (or the equivalent of 25,184 hours and 53 minutes over a period of 63 years walking with a shopping cart or basket).  Source  That's not how many would like to spend their precious time on Earth or perhaps so since the number one recreation activity is shopping. 

With fewer Americans able to afford certain basics such as medical care or health insurance, it's a wonder that shoppers are tempted when entering stores.  Food, fuel and medical treatment are at a high.  With the world population at 7 billion and greater demand for food coming from developing countries such as China, prices for American basics are going up and will likely continue to rise in addition to inflation. 

What shoppers need to beware of is their personal money managment and that goes back to budgeting basics.  Know what you are going to buy from the store and stick to your list and/or budget the entire time you are there.  Markdowns are tempting, and impulse consumer spending is one way that retailers are hoping to spike their sales short term. 

Omit frivolous spending.  What I mean is for you to rethink your spending behavior.  Reductions in spending can include many things, and below are some suggestions to consider the next time you are in the store or online.

• Take a list of what you plan to buy and stick to it.
• Bring coupons and search for the better deal while in the store.  Yes, get out your calculator and stand there to compute the better deal.
• Ask yourself....Do you REALLY need this item? 
• Walk out of the store and leave the item there.  Sleep on it.  If you realize you need to make the purchase, then return to the store the next day only if this is okay with your budget.
• FREE is not necessarily free...there is a catch to it and sometimes it's more expensive to get out of it than it truly being free.
• If it's too good of a deal and you need to do more research, then walk away. 
• Do NOT let pushy salespeople convince you to make the purchase.  Walk away from them if it is too much harassment.  These people are desperate for sales and are being paid to be this way to you the customer.

The best advice for shoppers is to stay out of stores.  Research shows that the longer you stay in the store, the more likely you will spend money.  To protect yourself and your wallet, it is best to beware of yourself and your surroundings the next time you shop.  If you are tired, hungry or hard-pressed for time, it is probably not a good time to go shopping.  Buying the item with the intent to return it is not the best option because you must make a return trip, the refund may not be what you need financially, or you lose the receipt thus no proof of purchase. 

Beware of how your items are rung up at the cash register.  I was charged $70 for 7 heads of lettuce when I only purchased one.  Had I not caught the mistake, the cashier would have rung me out.  Paying attention to how your purchases are rung up is important.  One tip is to add up your items in the shopping cart and watch them being rung up.  Most of the time, there are no surprises this way.

Being vigilent when it comes to your money and how you spend it at the store will benefit you in the long run.  Beware and be safe in your shopping.  And as I always encourage folks, please buy Made In the USA.

Job Creation

The government seeks to pass a bill that will create 1.9 million jobs when the unemployment number exceeds 14 million.  At what cost is this to the taxpayer?  Will this form of legislation help or hinder capitalism? 

The best way to create jobs is for government to not intervene and for the free markets to solve the problem.  Today, we have more followers than leaders.  Taking a risk is scary.  It is easier to rely on someone else to supply a job or money so folks don't have to develop character and work too hard.  No wonder folks in other countries are winning because people in this country can't fend for themselves.  Socialism doesn't create jobs.  Governments do not create jobs.  Capitalism does!

America needs less government intervention and more people willing to work.  Less drugs and more accountability.  Less wimpy and more hefty!

The film Courageous is perhaps a film overdue for men in this country to watch.  Perhaps it will help many understand the importance of doing what is right especially for your family, community and ultimately your country.

Layaway, A Popular Option as eLayaway Enters Household Names

Military families as well as federal employees have a new opportunity this season to pay cash (not debt) for Christmas.

eLayaway is an online layaway financial services company that has partnered with Centralized Strategic Placement (CSP) to make this possible.  CSP's Exchange Shopping Program (CSPEX) include active and retired U.S. military and other Federal employees authorized to shop at AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Services) and other U.S. Department of Defense online stores. Additionally, eLayaway will be offered to CSP's retailers, distributors and manufacturers.  (See Article)

Walmart is joining other retailers in offering layaway. 

A surgence in traffic is increasing because of the economy when it comes to layaway.  Perhaps more people are being smarter about their spending behavior or have lost much and are financially strapped to make ends meet this season.  Whatever the case, it is a great financial alternative to the credit card.
As those who have taken Dave Ramsey's Military FPU will say, it is best to stay out of debt, and this online elayaway option fits the bill for those seeking creative financial ways to accomplish financial budget goals.

eLayaway is a publicly traded company. It's FREE to join.  A few of their affiliates include the Apple Store where you can make payments on a new Ipad2 for as low as $72.50 per month.  Others include Best Buy, Joanns (for those crafty people!), Bass Pro Shops, The Disney Store, and many more. 

A neat idea is to pay from $2.19 to $9.91 a month for a gift card good for retailers such as Walmart, Target, Talbot's, Best Buy, Marriott, Budget or even Applebee's.  Gift cards are a popular present to give, and by making montly payments, it doesn't blow your budget. 

Giving the gift becomes two times better since you are giving you and your family the gift of staying debt free while affording a nice gift.  Of course, giving the gift of your time and yourself is priceless.

Third Quarter Results for Alfa Sugar

As of September 30th, Alfa Sugar has had 1,491 hits since inception.  This little blog has seen an increase in activity, and for the month of September, we experienced 401 pageviews.  While a slim number compared to other great blogs, Alfa Sugar hasn't posted as much this past quarter as hoped.  Our traffic continues internationally from US, UK, Canada, Germany, Romania, Singapore, India, Russia, Hungary, Australia and other countries.  Our top three articles are 1) No Pay if Fed Shutdown Occurs  2) What is Alfa Sugar? and 3) Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay for our Veterans. 

Emphasis continues on military money matters.  I am a firm believer that women need to develop more confidence when it comes to money matters, especially military wives who endure the challenges of maintaining the homefront while their spouse serves. 

Also, I have a soft heart for veterans and intend to get caught up on conducting research on military financial matters.  Future article(s) are in the queue. 

Alfa Sugar is conducting investment research and analysis for future publication.  It's an exciting time in the financial markets where supply meets demand.   Many struggle to find employment and make ends meet while others get by with what limitations they've got.  I pray that you may find peace and contentment with whatever you have for there are things that money cannot buy.  I've been blessed with finding this gift of blogging and aspire for achieving the next level.  If you make an attempt to contact me, please leave a voicemail message as I am difficult to get via phone.  E-mail is another great way to get a question or comment through to Alfa Sugar.  Thank you for stopping by my blog.