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Just Released:
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM GUIDANCE

Dear Friends,

Amidst this public health crisis, we still have a commitment to our veterans, who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom.

Many veterans have been wondering how the current COVID-19 outbreak impacts their care at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) and their benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Here are some of the questions I have heard most often from our central Arkansas Veterans:

Is the VA open?

The VA is open, however, visitation to facilities is by exception only – for example, end-of-life and emergent situations.

How can I get in touch with my doctor or pick up my prescriptions?

If you urgently need a prescription filled, the CAVHS is offering curb-side prescription pickup services.

To pick up an urgent prescription, call 501-257-2900 to arrange the curbside service. Pickup hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Little Rock and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in North Little Rock.

However, mail-out prescription service remains the best option.

The best way to contact your doctor or to order mail-out prescriptions is via MyHealtheVet HERE or by calling 1-888-492-7845 or 501-257-1549.

For help registering for MyHealtheVet click HERE.

How can I best get veteran-specific COVID-19 information?

Veterans looking for information on COVID-19 can call the CAVHS’s Info Hotline at 1-888-357-1978, or can find it at the VA’s COVID-19 information page HERE.

If you have flu-like symptoms, especially persistent coughing and fever, if you have been to areas known to have COVID-19 cases, or if you have have been in contact with a person with COVID-19, you should call ahead to your clinic, or call the after-hours nurse triage line at 501-257-2006.

There is a VA COVID-19 veteran drive-through test collection site in the parking area of John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock. Veterans showing symptoms who have been recommended for testing by their provider will be able to enter the main parking lot via West 7th Street, to be directed to a quick and easy covered drive-through where they will be tested for COVID-19.

I am a disabled veteran. Can I get both VA disability benefits and Social Security at the same time?

You can receive both social security and your VA disability.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance):

SSDI benefits are not affected by unearned income through VA benefits. In the following
example, Jane receives partial VA benefits of $400 per month. Because she worked and paid into the Social Security system, she now receives $850 per month in SSDI. Her VA and SSDI monthly benefit amounts will be added together:

VA Monthly Disability Benefit Amount $400
SSDI Monthly Benefit Amount + $850
Total Monthly Income = $1250

SSI (Supplemental Security Income):

Since SSI is a needs-based program, additional income from VA benefits will affect the cash benefit amount. SSA classifies VA benefits as “unearned income,” since it does not come from paid employment. As such, it will be deducted dollar for dollar from the SSI federal payment amount, after a general exclusion of $20. All SSI recipients are eligible for this exclusion, where the first $20 of earned or unearned income is not counted against their SSI payment. For example, Paul receives partial VA benefits of $400 per month and has been approved for SSI. This is how the VA benefits will affect his SSI cash benefit:

VA Monthly Disability Benefit Amount $400
General Exclusion - $20
Counted Income = $380
Maximum Monthly SSI Benefit Amount (2016 rates) $733
Counted Income - $380
Monthly SSI Amount = $353
Total Monthly Income (VA + SSI benefit amounts) $753

Do I still receive my GI Bill benefits?

Yes. I was pleased to hear that the president signed S. 3503 into law on March 21, 2020, which will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue providing the same level of education benefits to students who have to take courses online due to the coronavirus outbreak.

How is my VA home loan affected?

The VA is encouraging all holders of guaranteed loans to extend forbearance to borrowers in distress as a result of COVID-19. They should also work with impacted borrowers who are unable to make their mortgage payments during these uncertain times.

The VA believes that many lenders plan to waive late charges on affected loans and has encouraged all lenders to adopt such a policy for any loans that may be affected. Lastly, in order to avoid damaging the credit records of Veteran borrowers, lenders have been encouraged by the VA to suspend credit bureau reporting on affected loans. For more information, please click HERE.

How can I file a claim since the Regional Office is closed?

If you have a specific question regarding your benefits or how to file a claim, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit www.ebenefits.va.gov to be walked through the e-benefits process.

Many in-person services are already available via the phone or online through virtual options like VA Video Connect, which you can access HERE.

The VA has discontinued VA benefit briefings and services on military installations for transitioning service members and their families through the interagency Transition Assistance Program (TAP) until further notice. However, the VA is providing virtual briefings and individualized counseling for transitioning service members where possible. Service members who have not received these briefings, as required by TAP, may access the Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) platform HERE and register for “TGPS-US006: VA Benefits and Services”

As always, my team stands at the ready to help their central Arkansas veterans with the VA or any other government agency. If you or someone you know needs assistance, visit my website at Hill.House.gov or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.

We have been working to help central Arkansas veterans through this process. Here are my team's veterans wins for March.

BREAKING NEWS: NEw ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Released this Afternoon

Paycheck Protection Program Loans

The United States Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program authorizes up to $349 billion toward job retention and other expenses for the millions of Americans employed by small businesses

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. Treasury issued the following information today:

For a top-line overview of the program click HERE

If you’re a lender, more information can be found HERE

If you’re a borrower, more information can be found HERE

The application for borrowers can be found HERE

Direct Payments to Americans

Helping You Through the COVID-19 Public Health and Economic Crisis

Since the CARES Act was signed into law with a provision that provides most Americans with direct payments to help them through the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis, many people have reached out for more information regarding how and when they will receive their payment.

Most Arkansans will not have to take any action to receive these payments and the amount will be directly deposited to their accounts, or a check will arrive in the mail. These payments will be a one-time tax rebate check of $1,200 per individual, and $500 per child for those with a valid Social Security Number. There are no earned income or tax liability requirements to receive these rebate checks. The full rebate amount is available for those with incomes at or below $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for a head of household (a single parent for example), and $150,000 for married couples.

Individuals making more than these thresholds will receive $5 less for every $100 more in income higher than these thresholds. This income threshold will be calculated by using your 2018 or 2019 taxes, whichever you have most recently filed.

Arkansans that haven’t filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 but who have a valid Social Security Number are still eligible, but will not be issued a check automatically. For updates regarding these payments, please check the IRS’s website HERE.

Protecting Yourself against scams

COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging

Beware: The IRS will NOT call, email, or text you to ask for your social security number or other personal information for the direct payments to Americans authorized by the CARES Act. If you receive a call like this, it is a scam. The IRS will provide updated information regarding the direct payments on their website https://www.irs.gov/.

You should also be vigilant for possible scams related to COVID-19 such as cures or people posing as fake government agencies to steal your money or personal information. For example, the CDC is NOT going door to door and offering COVID-19 testing in exchange for money and personal information.

Andrew Saul, the Commissioner of Social Security, reminds the public that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency also reminds everyone to be aware of scammers who try to take advantage of the pandemic to trick people into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain Social Security benefit payments or receive economic impact payments from the Department of the Treasury.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and our state government have been working to prevent price gouging and to crack down on scam artists who are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis.

When Governor Hutchinson declared a state of emergency on March 11th, Arkansas's price gouging laws automatically went into effect.

This state law prevents individuals or businesses from increasing product prices by more than ten percent of what the product would have cost prior to the state of emergency declaration. Violators can face criminal charges and fines as well as civil penalties of up to $10,000 per incident. Click HERE or on the image below to watch Arkansas AG Leslie Rutledge discuss the penalties for price gouging.

Report any incidents such as these to the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office at ArkansasAG.gov or (800) 482-8982.

To report fraud related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, you can also call the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or email the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov

Mortgage and Rental Help for Arkansans

Relief Available for Federally Backed Loans

To assist homeowners who have been impacted by the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis, there are options available to reduce or suspend your monthly mortgage payments through Fannie Mae. If you need help, you should first contact your loan servicer (the company that sends the monthly mortgage payment statement) to review and access these options. You can determine if your loan is invested by Fannie Mae using the loan lookup tool, available HERE.

The CARES Act also provides a reprieve from eviction for renters who reside in properties with federally-backed mortgage loans until July 25, 2020. Renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and are living in multifamily properties financed by Fannie Mae are also eligible for relief from eviction if their landlord receives loan forbearance. If you are not sure how to get help or if the residence you are renting has a federally-backed mortgage, free housing counseling assistance is available from Fannie Mae’s Disaster Response Network at 1-877-542-9723.

Preparing America's HEalthcare Manufacturers

Ensuring Future Availability of Medical Equipment

Today, I introduced H.R. 6399, the Securing America’s Vaccines for Emergencies (SAVE) Act. This bill amends the Defense Production Act (DPA) to use its authority to ensure the availability of medical equipment by diversifying America’s medical supply chain, making the United States less dependent on foreign manufacturers, like China.

The SAVE Act is critical because it will decrease our nation’s reliance on other countries for medical supplies and ensure that during times of a public health emergency like we are experiencing right now, we will have the supplies we need to keep Arkansans and Americans safe. It complements the actions the president has already taken to ensure that our country will have a reliable and necessary source of medical supplies during times of emergency. To read the entire bill, click HERE.

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill