Veterans Day Celebrated in the City of Houston In November

For veterans, November 11th is a day of celebration in the Houston area and throughout the United States. Because Lone Star State has more than 250,000 veterans, it’s the second-largest population of veterans in the US. The City of Houston’s Veterans Day Ceremony happens on Friday, November 11, 2022, at 10:00 am. Acknowledgments and local keynote speakers will be on hand to honor local heroes. Included is a moment of silence at 11:00 am to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that brought WWI to an end.

veteran days

The American Heroes Parade will begin at 11:30 A.M. The parade starts at Dallas and Bagby and will end at Lamar at Bagby. The route takes the parade from the starting point east on Dallas, north on Louisiana, west on Walker, south on Smith, and west on Lamar to the endpoint.

Also included are local veterans’ organizations, ROTC and Junior ROTCs, bands, and other supporters who will march in support of Texas veterans. These activities are also open to the public along the entire parade route.

Other Houston-area scheduled Veterans Day events to include:

• The Woodlands Township, 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands, TX, 77380
Downtown Houston Aquarium, 10 am to 10 pm, 410 Bagby (call for details)
Kemah Boardwalk Aquarium, 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, #11 Kemah Boardwalk Kemah, TX, 77565

The Bay Area Chorus also has two scheduled performances in honor of Veterans Day.

What Is Veterans Day?

It’s a day to honor everyone who has served in the US military in any capacity, including:
• Army
• Navy
• Marines
• Air Force
• Coast Guard

First known as “Armistice Day,” it was a worldwide holiday to mark the end of WWI when the Allies formed an armistice to stop fighting on “The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.”

Then in 1947, the term “Veterans Day” was used in Birmingham, AL for National Veterans Day. WWI Veteran Raymond Weeks held the first Veterans Day to honor the living veterans along with their deceased colleagues. This began a tradition of honoring veterans from all branches, whether they served in war or peacetime. Civilians also honor veterans on this day alongside current and retired military personnel.

If you can not attend Veteran Day activities, you may want to take a moment in your day to reflect on the significance of the contributions of the service of out veterans.

Herren Law Helps Houston Veterans

Getting veteran’s disability benefits is can be a frustrating process that takes patience as well as understanding the law. William Herren is a disability attorney who has helped more than 4,000 Houstonians get the benefits they deserve, including veterans. Call The Herren Law Firm today at 713-682-8194 (or use our online contact form) to schedule your free consultation. There’s no obligation, and we’ll take your case on a contingency fee basis, with no up-front charges. We help Veterans applying for benefits or with appeals.

Can You Receive Both CRDP And VA Disability In Houston, TX?

Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay, or CRDP, is a specific type of payment for military retirees with a 50% or greater rating from the VA. It concurrently supplements the VA disability payments that a veteran may receive. Generally, veterans can’t receive benefits from both the VA and from the DoD in the form of military retirement pay. However, the CRDP changes that.

Can You Receive Both CRDP And VA Disability In Houston, TX?

The good news is that yes, you can receive both if you’re qualified. But there are a few things you need to know before you ask about receiving CRDP.

What It Is

This law was passed in 2004 to give military veterans both their VA disability benefits and their military disability through the DoD.

CRDP is a benefit that allows veterans who qualify to receive monthly benefit payments from both the DoD and the VA. It is a “phase-in” of benefits that gradually restores a retiree’s disability offset from the VA.

CRDP became fully implemented in January of 2014,

Are You Qualified For CRDP?

Veterans who are rated 50% or higher disabled qualify, if they are eligible for retirement pay. If you would be eligible for retirement if you were not disabled and receiving disability pay, you may be eligible. However, you must also meet one of these additional qualifications:

  • Be a reserve retiree with 30 years of qualifying service, have a disability rating of 50% or higher, and at retirement age.
    • The retirement age for reservists is generally 60 years of age, but some reserve retirees may reach eligibility prior to 60. Members of the Ready Reserve can have their retirement ages lowered below age 60 by 3 months for every 90 days of service during a fiscal year.
  • Retired under the Temporary Early Retirement Act (TERA) along with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher.
  • Be a disability retiree who earned your entitlement to the retired pay under another provision of law aside from only disability with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher. Your CRDP eligibility may occur at the time you would have otherwise become eligible for retirement pay.

If you are qualified, you should automatically receive monthly payments. The Defense And Finance Accounting Service conducts regular audits of accounts to ensure correct payments. If you were not previously being paid at your correct rate, it is possible that you could receive a retroactive payment from the DoD, based on:

  • Your date of retirement
  • The date at which you first became disabled at 50%

You are also eligible to receive both your VA disability compensation and your retired pay if you are a military retiree who meets all of the above requirements in addition to:

  • Rated by the VA as unemployable, also known as Individual Unemployability (IU)
  • Receiving VA disability compensation as a result of IU

The DFAS also forwards its audit findings to the VA so that they may conduct their own assessments.

Additional information is available on the DFAS website.

CRDP Caveat

Getting CRDP means you are compensated for retirement pay that you didn’t receive before. This means that it can also be subjected to a collection for things such as:

  • Any government debt
  • Alimony
  • Community property
  • Child support

Unlike the VA disability, you will be required to pay taxes on anything you receive as CRDP. These payments stop when a retiree passes away.

Get Help From A Houston VA Disability Attorney

Whether you’re ready to start your application, need help with an appeal, or want to investigate a case review, we’re ready to assist. You do have the right to legal representation whether you’re starting your application, facing a hearing or dealing with an appeal.

Call The Herren Law Firm in Houston at 713-682-8194 (or use our online contact form) to schedule your free consultation for VA disability and other benefits. Our contingency fee basis means you won’t owe a fee until we win your case, and there’s no obligation.

 

 

In Houston, TX, Does My Wife Get My Veterans Disability Income If I Die?

As a disabled veteran, one of the things that may you may be concerned about is the fate and welfare of your spouse and family after your passing. It’s a difficult subject, but one you may need to give thought to in respect to your will and other estate planning matters.

If your Veterans disability income is an important part of your monthly budget, it is possible that your spouse can receive it after your death, but it isn’t automatic.

Woman with a pen completing a life insurance policy and Veterans Disability Income paperwork.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

A spouse, child or parent of a veteran who died in the line of duty, a survivor of a Vietnam veteran who died from a service-related illness or injury may be eligible for DIC. This is a monthly payment to surviving spouses, children, and occasionally parents, and it is tax-free.

However, there are eligibility requirements to apply for and begin receiving DIC. A surviving spouse must fill out an application to request these monthly benefits, as well as notify the VA that the veteran is deceased.

Criteria For DIC

The VA uses the following criteria to define a surviving spouse, if he or she:

  • Were married to the veteran in excess of one year
  • Were married for any time period and the spouse died
    • On active duty
    • During training while on active duty or inactive duty
  • Were married to the veteran within 15 years of his discharge, and the veteran’s death was caused by or exacerbated by a service-connected injury or illness
  • If the marriage date was prior to January 1, 1957
  • Had a child with the veteran, and was:
    • Living with the veteran until his/her death, or
    • Separated from the veteran and was not the survivor’s fault

A spouse may be eligible if the veteran died:

  • On active duty
  • From a service-connected injury or illness
  • While doing training on active duty or inactive duty
  • Was receiving disability compensation from the VA:
    • For at least 10 years before passing
    • From his or her discharge date, for at least five years before passing away
    • For at least 1 year if he or she were a prisoner of war

Remarriage

If a spouse remarries and before reaching age 57 or before December 16, 2003, the VA won’t consider them a “surviving spouse.”  But they would be considered “surviving” if the remarriage happened after the age of 57 and after that date.

Survivor’s Pension

For low-income, unremarried surviving spouses, the Survivor’s Pension may also be available if your spouse is a deceased wartime veteran.

The veteran must have:

  • Served for at least 90 days of active duty and at least one day during a period of wartime if he or she joined on or before September 1, 1980.
  • Served for at least 24 months or for the full period of enlistment with at least one day during a period of wartime if he or she joined after September 1, 1980.
  • Been discharged from the service under other than honorable conditions

Your family’s income must be less than the annual pension limit set by Congress, and the VA will use your “countable income” against the set limit. Some unreimbursed medical expenses may be deducted from the “countable income” and lower the income for the year.

Other Survivor’s Benefits

In addition to DIC and the Survivor’s Pension, spouses and children may also be eligible for:

  • Survivor’s & Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program, available for spouses and children of disabled and deceased veterans who are interested in educational and vocational training, including college-level and university-level courses. There are time limits involved, particularly for children.
  • Home Loans for service members, veterans, and spouses to buy a home, as well as repairs, refurbishing, remodeling and modifications to accommodate specific needs (such as a wheelchair ramp.)
  • Fiduciary services for veterans and beneficiaries who are unable to handle their own financial affairs.
  • Will planning and benefit training, with a free online will service. Financial services professionals are available 24/7.

An Advocate For Disabled Veterans And Spouses

If you’re a disabled veteran, or the spouse of one, don’t let the application and appeals process for Veterans disability income confuse you—get help from someone who can guide you through it.  Call The Herren Law Firm today at 713-682-8194 (or use our online contact form) to schedule your free consultation. Our contingency fee basis means you won’t owe a fee until we win your case, and there’s no obligation.

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