Veterans bulletin [Feb. 2009]

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Georgia Department of Veterans Service

Pete Wheeler

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Georgia Veterans ... guardians of liberty February 2009

IN this issue: Secretary of veterans affairs eric shinseki visits atlanta

Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Veterans Bulletin February 2009
Cover Story
Get A Georgia Veteran's Driver's License Page 3
VA Spends Over $2.6 Billion In Georgia in 2008 Page 4
Shinseki Visits Atlanta Page 4
Top VA Headlines Page 5
SDVS News Page 5

Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800 (404) 656-2300 gavetsvc@vs.state.ga.us www.sdvs.georgia.gov

Georgia Veterans Bulletin
The Georgia Veterans Bulletin is published quarterly by the Georgia
Department of Veterans Service, Public Information Division, Floyd
Veterans Memorial Building, Room E-970, Atlanta, GA 30334-4800.

Pat Phillips

Chairman, Veterans Service Board

Pete Wheeler

Commissioner

Tom Cook

Assistant Commissioner, Claims and Field Operations

Len Glass

Assistant Commissioner, Administrative Service

Heldon (Bill) Jung

Director, Education & Training

Brian Zeringue

Public Information Manager

Jon Suggs

Editor, Veterans Bulletin

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty

A Note To Our Readers:
Welcome to the digital edition of the Georgia Veterans Bulletin. If you are already familiar with our publication, you will find the same valuable information that has always been in these pages, accompanied by a few additions and enhancements.
By bringing the Bulletin to you online, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is saving valuable budget dollars, a necessary choice given our state's current fiscal status.
But this is more than a mere cost-saving change. There are many advantages to digital publication, and we aim to make use of much this medium has to offer.
Most notably, this marks a move from a quarterly to monthly publication schedule. We intend to bring you more news, more often.
Remember, every hypertext link in this document is clickable. Wherever you see a website address, such as www.va.gov, you can click on the link and be taken to that site.
We would like to encourage you to subscribe to our news feed via RSS. You may do so here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/rss/sdvs_ press_releases.xml. Whenever a new Bulletin is published, whenever the Department issues any news release, you will be among the first to know.
As always, thank you for your service to our country and do not hesitate to call upon us.


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receive a free Georgia driver's license.

"More than 85 percent of the some 766,000 veterans

living in Georgia served during wartime and the vast

majority of them are eligible to receive a free driver's

license," says Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs

Pete Wheeler.

A driver's license or state ID card is issued free to

veterans who were Georgia residents when they entered

active duty status and are Georgia residents at the time

of application or who have been residents of Georgia

for at least two years immediately preceding the date of

application for the license. "You did not have to be assigned to a unit that



directly participated in the war or conflict to be eligible
for the free license, but you must have been discharged

"To obtain the license, the individual needs

GeoRGiA DepARtment of VeteRAnS SeRV
or separated under honorable conditions," Commissioner
Wheeler points out. "A veteran could have served during

only to provide a copy of a certificate, orders, 20-year retirement letter or other official documents establishing

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Desert Storm in a stateside assignment and still be eligible their eligibility to personnel at the local driver services

for the free license."

office," Commissioner Wheeler comments. "The required

A veteran must first present a copy of his or her DD documents can be obtained from the State National Guard

214 (Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty) Office or from the custodian of personnel records of the

to personnel at one of the Department of Veterans Service reserve forces."

field offices for review. Personnel in the office will review

"An unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran may

the DD 214 and issue a Certificate of Eligibility (DPS516) also qualify for an honorary license if the veteran had

to qualified veterans.

qualified and was in receipt of the fee exempted drivers

The veteran then must take the DD 214 and the

license at the time of death," notes Commissioner Wheeler.

certificate of eligibility to any of the state's Department of

The honorary license may also be issued to a

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resident of Georgia who is the spouse of a veteran who would be qualified to receive a veteran's license but who is

Commissioner Wheeler reminds veterans who

disabled to the extent that he or she cannot operate a motor

qualify that Georgia law now makes a veteran's free

vehicle.

drivers license good until age 65. State law requires all

Commissioner Wheeler encourages veterans and

drivers age 64 and older to pass an eye exam at a licensing surviving spouses who believe they might be eligible for

facility every five years.

a free driver's license to visit one of the Department's

Any member or former member of the National

veteran service offices. Office locations and phone

Guard or reserve forces who has 20 or more years of

numbers are listed in local telephone directories under

creditable service is also eligible for a free license.

state government and online at www.sdvs.georgia.gov.

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



VA Spends Over $2.6 Billion in Georgia

SDVS News Release February 27, 2009
According to fiscal year figures recently obtained from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Georgia veterans who qualified under federal law benefited in over $2.67 billion that the VA spent in Georgia during 2008.
"It represents an increase of some $420 million in VA funds over the previous year (2007)," pointed out Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler.
The total spent included some $1.39 billion in pension and compensation payments made

to disabled veterans and/or their dependents.
"This is especially good news for those veterans living on fixed incomes because these payments are tax exempt," said Commissioner Wheeler."
VA also spent about $955 million in support of health care for Georgia veterans and about $196 million in education assistance.
During 2008, about 200,000 Georgia veterans received health care through the VA's Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics located in the state. Currently, more than 175,000 veterans, surviving spouses and dependents receive tax free monetary

benefits from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
As of September 2008, VA estimates Georgia's veteran population at 769,567.
Commissioner Wheeler reminds Georgia veterans, "No VA benefit is paid automatically. They all must be applied for and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is available to assist with that application process."
Locations of Department of Veterans Service offices may be found under state government in the local telephone directory or on the department's website, www.sdvs. georgia.gov.

Secretary Shinseki Visits Atlanta, Meets Commissioner Wheeler

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki visited Atlanta February 25, 2009. During his stop at the Atlanta VA Regional Office, Secretary Shinseki met with Commissioner Wheeler.
(SDVS Photos/Brian Zeringue)

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty



VA News Of Interest To GA Veterans
President's 2010 Budget Request Strongly Supports VA Programs President Barack Obama's first proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs expands
eligibility for health care to an additional 500,000 veterans over the next five years, meets the need for continued growth in programs for the combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and provides the resources to deliver quality health care for the nation's 5.5 million veteran patients. (2/26/09)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1655
VA Identifies Problem with a Transcription Services Contract During a routine internal inspection, the Department of Veterans Affairs discovered a
contractor providing medical transcription services who was not following the department's rules for protecting medical information. Although there is no evidence that any patient information was disclosed as a result of the violation, VA has suspended the contractor from receiving any sensitive information from the department until the contractor guarantees compliance. (2/12/09)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1653
VA Implementing National Safety "Step-Up" The Department of Veterans Affairs is calling for a special training campaign on safety
called a "Step-Up" from March 8 to 14 at all medical centers and outpatient clinics to ensure VA staff follow the highest standards for patient safety. (2/9/09)
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1652
Secretary Shinseki Announces Choice for Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki praised President Barack Obama's intent to
nominate W. Scott Gould as next Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (1/30/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1649

Highlights of ...

SDVS At Work For Georgia Veterans

The VFW Department of Georgia sponsored Training, Responsibility, Involvement, and Preparation of Claims (TRIP) Training January 2730, 2009 at the Atlanta VA Regional Office. Graduates from our department include Ms. Carol Crawford (Waynesboro), Mr. Hugh Downey (Canton), Mr. Roy Holton (Albany), Mr. Bob Pollard (Augusta), Mr. Bob Smith (Augusta), Ms. Roderica Stewart (Claims), and Mr. Jon Suggs (Central Office).
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) held approximately 80 hearings during the week of February 10-14, 2009 at the Atlanta VA

Regional Office. SDVS represented 57 claimants.
Mr. Roger Freeman, Manager, SDVS Macon, represented SDVS at a Veterans Benefits Program conducted at Bentley-Montford

Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty

Mortuary on Thursday, February 12, 2009.
Ms. Beverly Lloyd, Manager, SDVS Augusta, represented SDVS at the "Homes for Our Troops" information dinner February 18, 2009 in Augusta.
For the month of January, SDVS Valdosta conducted their monthly Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) Briefing at Moody AFB involving 23 airmen in joint and one on one counseling.
For the month of January, SDVS Glennville conducted weekly briefings at Ft. Stewart involving 197 soldiers in joint and one-on-one counseling.