Federal Daily - November 19, 2008

VA Raises Vets’ Mileage Reimbursement Rates by 46%

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Nov. 17 that it was raising by 46 percent the mileage reimbursement rate veterans receive for health care-related travel to VA facilities. The hike, effective immediately, raises the mileage reimbursement from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile for all eligible veterans—including service-connected veterans, vets receiving VA pensions and veterans with low incomes. The reimbursement rate had been 11 cents per mile for about 30 years until Congress recently intervened and hiked the rate to 28.5 cents per mile, pointed out Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. This second, more recent increase is important especially for “those who live in rural and frontier America,” Tester said. The current deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements will remain frozen at $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, and capped at a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month, VA said. “The increase will once again provide assistance to our veterans, especially in these difficult economic times,” said VA Secretary James Peake. To see more, go to:  http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1617 or http://tester.senate.gov/Newsroom/pr_111708_mileage.cfm.   

:: Back to Top ::

Web Site Posts All Jobs Listed in Plum Book

A private human resource service provider announced on Nov. 17 it had launched a Web site to feature an electronic version of the 2008 Plum Book, listing all of the new Obama administration job openings. Avue Technologies, headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., designed the site specifically to encourage and assist those seeking appointments to the jobs. The Web site lets users search through the approximately 7,000 positions by geographic area and by professional interest, the company said. The company noted that this administration will fill 11 percent fewer jobs in the major departments and agencies in the executive branch, 13 percent fewer in the executive branch independent agencies, and about 3 percent fewer in the legislative branch. Additionally, the site also will track the “fill rate” of administration jobs—providing an overview of filled and unfilled positions and allowing applicants to easily monitor the administration’s progress, the company said. To see more, go to: www.transitionjobs.us.

:: Back to Top ::

New Online Resource Launched for Injured Troops, Vets

The Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs on Nov. 17 announced the launch of a new Web-based listing of health care coordinators, providers and support partners, along with a range of online resources for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. The National Resource Directory (www.nationalresourcedirectory.org) provides listings for more than 10,000 medical and non-medical services and resources to help servicemembers and veterans recover, rehabilitate and reintegrate into the community, the departments said in a joint press release. The directory is organized into six major categories: Benefits and Compensation; Education, Training and Employment; Family and Caregiver Support; Health; Housing and Transportation; and Services and Resources. The site also provides checklists and connections to peer support groups, as well as a search tool for those who want to locate resources in their own state. Charles Ciccolella, assistant secretary of labor for veterans employment and training, predicted the Web site “will prove to be a valuable tool for wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families as they wind their way through the maze of benefits and services available to them.” To see more, go to: www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12357. 

:: Back to Top ::