Benefits

June 22nd, 2009 - WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Friday introduced legislation that would ensure that compensation for the families of sick former nuclear workers won’t be taken away in cases where sick workers or their eligible survivors die before their claims are processed.    » read more »

Report provides companies a framework to effectively build and manage an HSA program

New York, NY -June 8, 2009 - J.P. Morgan today issued a report titled "Best Practices for Implementing a Health Savings Account (HSA) Program" providing a step-by-step guide for employers who want to offer an HSA program to employees.

Many companies are finding that the addition of an HSA option to their healthcare benefits menu presents a practical solution to the health insurance challenges they face. The adoption of HSAs has seen significant growth since they were created in 2004. By year-end 2008, there were an estimated three million HSAs with deposits of over $3 billion - and the number of HSA accounts is expected to quadruple by 2012, according to Celent.    » read more »

New Joint Effort to Reach the Most Vulnerable in Communities Across America

June 1, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released $25 million in grants to help older people, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers apply for special assistance through Medicare, and an additional $5 million for a national resource center to support these important efforts.    » read more »

05/26/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $1 billion in compensation and medical benefits to 9,134 Tennessee residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 51,331 claimants more than $4.8 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide.    » read more »

Payments Made Under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act

05/26/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $500 million in compensation and medical benefits to 4,798 current and former employees of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and their survivors under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

The EEOICPA was created to assist individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, located in Paducah, Ky., produced more than one million tons of uranium during the plant's Cold War history.    » read more »

05/11/2009 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $400 million in compensation and medical benefits to Colorado residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry.

Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 50,574 claimants more than $4.7 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide.    » read more »

Social Security Recipients will Receive One-Time $250 Payment From Recovery Act

May 08, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Wisconsin retirees, disabled veterans, and other Social Security and SSI recipients will benefit from an estimated $267 million in one-time Economic Recovery Payments as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The $250 payments are expected to be issued by late May 2009.

“Citizens on fixed incomes have been hit especially hard by the economic turmoil,” Governor Doyle said. “The Economic Recovery Payments will provide some financial relief this spring for the retirees, disabled veterans and others who have given so much to our state.”    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- DES MOINES – During a ceremony today at the State Capitol, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed legislation extending new health benefits to both firefighters and police officers.

“As Governor, I am deeply concerned that our first responders face higher than normal rates of certain diseases, including cancer,” said Governor Culver. “This bill is one important way that we can ensure that we meet the needs of our fire fighters and police officers. They risk their lives, and they are there for us, every day when we need them. I’m proud to sign this legislation on behalf of the men and women who literally keep our streets safe, and who save lives – our police officers and firefighters.”    » read more »

March 28, 2008, WASHINGTON -- A new edition of the popular handbook Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updates the rates for certain federal payments and outlines a variety of programs and benefits for American veterans.

Most of the nation's 24 million veterans qualify for some VA benefits, which range from health care to burial in a national cemetery. In addition to describing benefits provided by VA, the 2008 edition of the 153-page booklet provides an overview of programs and services for veterans provided by other federal agencies.    » read more »

February 14, 2008 -- In 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid about $3.5 billion in means-tested pension benefits to over 500,000 veterans and survivors. GAO was asked to review the management of VA pension program.    » read more »

February 14, 2008 -- The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, House Veterans' Affairs Committee, asked GAO to present its views on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) disability claims process.    » read more »

Toll-free information, referral and crisis intervention line is first of its kind in the nation

St. Paul, August 1, 2007 – To make it easier to find services and to ensure immediate crisis intervention, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the launch of LinkVet – the Veterans Linkage Line for Minnesota veterans and their family members.    » read more »