Special Extra Earnings for Military Service

If you served on active duty through 2001 and are now planning for retirement, you can qualify for a higher social security payment because of your military service. It can be up to $1,200 per year of earnings credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. Please keep in mind that this benefit is automatic, you must ask for it!

Please see the below excerpt from the Social Security website, which you can go on and find out all the details on how to obtain your extra earnings.

The below paragraph is from http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm

Since 1957, if you had military service earnings for active duty (including active duty for training), you paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. Since 1988, inactive duty service in the Armed Forces reserves (such as weekend drills) has also been covered by Social Security.
Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for your military service from 1957 through 2001 can be credited to your record for Social Security purposes. These extra earnings credits may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit.
Special extra earnings credits are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. Special extra earnings credits are not granted for inactive duty training.
If your active military service occurred from 1957 through 1967, we will add the extra credits to your record when you apply for Social Security benefits.
From 1968 through 2001, you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. The credits were automatically added to your record.
After 2001, there are no special extra earnings credits for military service.

GI Bill Update

On Thursday, May 23, the Senate overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to provide post-9/11 veterans with comprehensive educational benefits. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced this bill seventeen months ago on his first day in office. The measure--cosponsored by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), John Warner (R-VA) and a strong bipartisan majority of their colleagues--won approval in the House last week.

The following is a statement from Senator Webb:"Today, the Senate took a historic step toward a modern and fair educational benefit for the men and women who have served honorably since 9/11. This bill properly responds to the needs of those who answered the call of duty to our country--those who moved toward the sound of the guns--often at great sacrifice."Congress today resolutely asserted that it is time for those of us who have been calling on these brave men and women to serve again and again to assist in providing a meaningful chance for a first-class future. This is a bill that is equal to the first-class service that they have given to this country."I am gratified by the substantial support we received today in the Senate for this new, robust GI Bill. The effort was only made possible by the solid investment and leadership of my chief cosponsors, Senators Hagel, Lautenberg and Warner, in addition to the unwavering support of our nation's leading veterans' organizations. We were able to forge consensus with four veterans at the helm: two from WWII--Senators Warner and Lautenberg?--two from the Vietnam War--myself and Senator Hagel; two Democrats, two Republicans."There are no politics here. This is about taking care of the people who have taken care of us."This measure has been passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress. But, our work is not done here. I call on the President to put politics aside and do what's right for our nation's newest 'greatest generation' by signing this bill into law."

Tricare Moves Drugs to Third Tier

DoD will soon be notifying TRICARE beneficiaries currently taking certain migraine and osteoporosis medications that their medication is being moved to the third tier of the TRICARE formulary and will now require a $22 co-pay. These patients are being notified so they and their doctors can consider alternative medications available at the lower co-pay. (First tier/generic drugs require a $3 co-pay and second tier/brand name drugs require a $9 co-pay.)
Migraine mediations Axert, Frova, and Amerge will be moved to the higher $22 co-pay list. Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Relpax, and Treximet will continue to be available at the normal copays.

The osteoperosis medication Miacalcin will move to the third tier, with Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, Evista, Forteo, and Fortical remaining available at the lower co-pay.
The newer hypertension drugs Bystolic and Azor also will move to the third tier, along with Xyzal, an antihistamine, and Zyflo CR, used to treat Asthma.

Information on substitute medications can be found at TRICARE's Formulary Search Tool at www.tricareformularysearch.org. ; A doctor who believes it is important for a patient to take the third-tier medication can provide "medical necessity" justification to TRICARE. If approved, the patient will continue receiving the medication at the lower co-pay.

Are or were you in the military as a Navy, Marine or Coast Guard reservist? Do you have any family in the reserves? We want to hear your experiences both active and retired.

2008 NERA Scholarship Receipients

NERA President Joanne M. Elliott announces the 2008/2009 USAA and NERA Scholarship recipients.
On behalf of the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, I extend my thanks and deep appreciation to the scholarship committee for taking on the surprisingly daunting task of reading, judging, and selecting the winners. The commitment and expertise of the scholarship committee has made this another successful year. Many thanks also to USAA. Without their generous funding and support the scholarships would not be possible.
The NERA scholarship program recognizes the service to the United States and sacrifices by Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve component members, retirees and their families. This program is sponsored though substantial grant funding from USAA Insurance (www.usaa.com) and additional donations from NERA and its members.
The Scholarship applicants were required to submit a scholarship application, high school or college transcripts, and an essay. The essay portion of the application required the applicants to either discuss their career goals or to describe the importance of reservists to America. The committee received many strong applications, and the competition proved to be quite stiff this year. However, the selected scholarship recipients named below distinguished themselves from a very strong field.
Congratulations to the $3000.00 NERA Member Scholarship Recipient:
Chief Carol Donald
Congratulations to the $2500.00 Scholarship Recipients:
Ashley Perez
Nicholas Green
Peter Cangelosi
Katherine Rawlings
Dequan Carreker
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU!!