Veteran Benefits Improvement Act of 2008
The Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 2008 was enacted in the second session of the 100th Congress, and was primarily designed, according to the text of the bill, to improve "compensation and pension, housing, labor and education, and insurance benefits for veterans."
Other People Are Reading
-
Compensation and Pension
-
Several directives were enacted relating to the compensation and pension program. The act commissioned a report addressing the variances in compensation for veterans with service-related disabilities, and added osteoporosis to the list of disabilities considered to be service-related.
Labor and Education
-
The act increased the frequency of studies specific to the unemployment of veterans from post-Sept. 11 theaters from once every two years to once per year. Further, it amended the eligibility period for educational benefits for the spouses of veterans who have incurred permanent service-related disabilities.
-
Insurance
-
The provisions of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance plan were expanded so full-time members of the Individual Ready Reserve will receive family coverage and so stillborn infants are covered under the plan.
Housing
-
Three significant changes were made to housing programs. VA Adjustable Rate Mortgage programs were extended through September 2012, participants may now receive a cash-out refinance totaling 100 percent of their home's value and the maximum guarantee for refinance was increased to $36,000 and extended through December 2011.
Court Matters
-
The act authorized a temporary increase in the number of authorized appeals-court judges available for veterans' claims, and enacted tighter measures regarding the privacy and security of veterans' court records.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit veterano de gerra image by Norberto Lauria from Fotolia.com
