Veterans day: The Whitmire Community School Veterans Day program will be Monday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. All veterans and their families are encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public.

Veterans day 2012: Below are listed some of the restaurants and companies that offer Veteran’s Day discounts, deals, and free meals as a thank you to the veterans and active-duty military for their service to our nation. Check out www.lewpblog.com/2012/10/22/veterans-day-appreciation-offer for updates to this list.

Restaurants with Veterans Day Free Meals:

• Applebees is offering a free signature entree on Sunday, Nov. 11 at participating locations.

• Denny’s all you can eat pancakes for all active-duty military and veterans with a valid ID on Nov. 12.

• Golden Corral free meal is offered to any veteran who has served in the U.S. military or is a current active duty service member. All Golden Corral locations will be participating on Nov. 12 from 4-9 p.m. No identification is required to get your free Veterans Day meal.

• Chili’s: Choose from a select menu; beverages and gratuity are not included.

• Olive Garden

• Texas Roadhouse-dine in only.

• Outback Steakhouse: Get a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage (non-alcoholic drinks only).

• Hooters: Get 10 free boneless or traditional style wings. Drink purchase required.

Retail stores with Veterans Day discounts:

• Home Depot Veterans Day discount: A 10 percent discount offered to veterans. Must present a valid military ID. Home Depot also offers this discount to Veterans on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day.

• Lowe’s Veterans Day discount: All Veterans receive a 10 percent discount on Veteran’s Day up to $5,000 on in-stock and special-order purchases. The offer can’t be used online, on previous sales, or on sales of services or gift cards. Must present a valid Veteran Identification Card (VIC); valid Form DD214; or other proof of service. Lowes also offers this Veteran’s discount on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

COLA 2013 Update: Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security administration announced Oct. 16.

NDAA 2013 Update: More than a dozen teams of The Military Coalition representatives visited offices of Senate Armed Services Committee members in late October, seeking senators’ support to change the Senate’s FY2013 Defense Authorization Bill in two key ways:

• Avoid tripling Tricare beneficiaries’ pharmacy copays by adopting the House alternative plan to achieve equivalent savings through requiring a temporary test of refilling TFL maintenance medications through either the mail-order or military pharmacy system.

• Amend a provision to establish a military retirement reform commission by dropping rules that would require Congress to vote “yes or no” on any commission recommendations, without any changes and with only limited debate.

This is an important fight that, if lost, will impact financially on all present and future retirees. You are encouraged to tell your legislators to protect the military families who have sacrificed so much to protect America. One way to do this is to forward them the preformatted email/ letters provided available at www.capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=61574871 (NDAA Amendments) and www.capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=62016531 (Pharmacy Copay). [Source: MOAA Leg Up 26 Oct 2012]

VA Work-study program. If you’re a full-time or three-quarters-time student in a college degree program, or a vocational or professional program, you can “earn while you learn” with a VA work-study allowance. This is available to persons training under the following programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill—(38 U.S.C. Chapter 33)

• Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty (38 U.S.C. Chapter 30)

• REAP Participants

• Montgomery GI Bill—Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. Chapter 1606)

• Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 32)

• Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chapter 35)

• Eligible dependents under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 may use work study only while training in a State.

• National Call to Service Participants

• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program — (38 U.S.C. Chapter 31)

To receive a formal decision from VA on your eligibility you must file a claim for benefits. VA will select students for the work-study program based on different factors such as:

• Disability of the student

• Ability to complete the work-study contract before the end of his or her eligibility to education benefits

• Job availability within normal commuting distance to the student

• Highest priority to a veteran who has a service-connected

• Disability or disabilities rated by VA at 30 percent or more.

• The number of applicants selected will depend on the availability of VA-related work at your school or at VA facilities in your area

Under the program, participating veterans earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or their State minimum wage, whichever is greater.

If in a work-study job at their college or university, the school may pay them the difference between the amount VA pays and the amount the school normally pays other work-study students doing the same job. You may elect to be paid in advance for 40 percent of the number of hours in your work-study agreement, or for 50 hours, whichever is less. After the hours covered by your first payment, VA will pay you each time you complete 50 hours of service. You may work during or between periods of enrollment. You can arrange with VA to work any number of hours you want during your enrollment. But, the total number of hours you work can’t be more than 25 times the number of weeks in your enrollment period.

Services you perform under a VA work-study program must be related to VA work. Examples of acceptable work are:

• Processing VA paperwork at schools or VA offices

• Performing outreach services under the supervision of a VA employee

• Performing services at VA medical facilities or the offices of the National Cemetery Administration

For forms and information, one or more of the following offices or representatives can assist you:

• Any VA regional office.

• Any VA office or Vet Center.

• Local representatives of Veteran’s organizations.

• Reserve Education and Incentives Officers.

• You can download a copy of the application form at www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-8691-ARE.pdf.

Consult a telephone directory under United States Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, for the telephone number of the office nearest you at www.gibill.va.gov/documents/pamphlets/work_study_program.pdf Oct 2012

(Note: Read part two of the veterans column in Friday’s edition.)