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In this Update:
July 28: Veteran Service Officer Day
My office hosts monthly Veteran Service Officer Days to help veterans and their loved ones navigate and apply for benefits earned through military service. Our next scheduled date is Tuesday, July 28th, in my Mahanoy City Office. For an appointment, please call (570) 773-0891. Attention Veterans: Shenandoah Valley Sports Locker & Veterans Support Fund is Here to Help!
The mission of the Shenandoah Valley Sports Locker & Veterans Support Fund is to assist Schuylkill County veterans facing immediate hardships, including overdue utility bills, late rent or mortgage payments, unforeseen car expenses, or food insecurity. Veterans seeking assistance or more information about available services are encouraged to contact the Schuylkill County Veterans Affairs Office in Pottsville at 570-628-1400. Thank you all for undertaking this incredibly impactful work on behalf of local heroes. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Provides Comprehensive List of Veteran & Military Discounts
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a comprehensive list of veteran and military year-round discounts. To learn more about the discounts you may be eligible for, click here. Requiring Public Schools to Display the POW/MIA Flag
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed Senate Bill 835 which would require all Pennsylvania public schools already displaying the American flag to also display the POW/MIA flag. The POW/MIA flag is a powerful symbol recognizing and honoring the courageous men and women of the Armed Forces who remain prisoners of war or missing in action. By displaying this flag, schools also demonstrate their commitment to supporting military families and educating students about the importance of service. The bill now awaits a vote of the full Senate. Read more about Senate Bill 835. More Disabled Pennsylvanians Now Eligible for PA ABLE Savings Accounts
More Pennsylvanians – including veterans – are eligible to participate in the PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Savings Program in 2026. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Pennsylvanians with a qualifying disability occurring prior to age 46 are eligible to open a PA ABLE account. Previously, eligibility required the disability to occur before age 26. PA ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save up to $19,000 per year tax-free without impacting important benefits. For veterans, savings and investments in PA ABLE accounts do not impact VA benefits. PA ABLE offers several saving options, including an interest-bearing checking account or investment options. Funds can be used for qualified expenses such as housing, health care, transportation and assistive technology. Contributions are deductible on state income taxes, and qualified withdrawals are exempt from state and federal income taxes. PA ABLE is administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. Treasurer Stacy Garrity, herself a veteran, said, “This significant expansion of eligibility to save with PA ABLE will usher in an era of greater financial independence and security for more of our friends and family members living with disabilities.” Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program
Qualifying veterans can apply through their County Director of Veterans Affairs to receive $150 per month through Pennsylvania’s Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension program. Applicants must have been a Pennsylvania resident upon entering the military; have received Honorable or Under Honorable Conditions discharge; have a service-connected injury or incurred a disease resulting in the loss or loss of use of two or more extremities; and have at least a 40% or higher disability rating compensation rating in each limb as determined and certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs here. |
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