Military veterans do get special treatment in the criminal courts. The California Legislature has enacted several sentencing schemes to give special or preferential treatment to veterans in criminal cases who are suffering from specified conditions.
Full Answer
Are ex spouses entitled to military retirement pay?
Former Spouse Eligibility to Retired Pay. The USFSPA does not automatically entitle a former spouse to a portion of the member's retired pay. A former spouse must have been awarded a portion of a member's military retired pay as property in their final divorce order.
Can you serve in the military with anxiety?
Though anxiety issues like panic disorder or social anxiety may disqualify you from serving the military, branches like the Army are beginning to loosen their standards on the problem. Related Article – VA Disability For Anxiety Disorders Guide 2.
Can I join the military with a mental illness?
Whether it is a mild form of anxiety or depression or you struggle with life-altering conditions like bipolar disorder or suicidal tendencies – the first step is to get help. Many types of mental illness are treatable and can reduce serious symptoms. When it comes to military service several mental illnesses are disqualifying.
Does the military care about alcohol and Drug Abuse?
The military carefully scrutinizes alcohol abuse or drug abuse that requires inpatient or outpatient care. Problems with alcohol or drugs can become problematic during military service for several reasons. It can also enhance or worsen symptoms of other, undiagnosed mental health conditions.
Why do war veterans get PTSD?
When you serve in the military, you may be exposed to different types of traumas than civilians. The war you served in may also affect your risk because of the types of trauma that were common. War zone deployment, training accidents and military sexual trauma (or, MST) may lead to PTSD.
Why are veterans so special?
First, they protect us. Without veterans, there would be no protection. Then there would be wars here and there.
What benefits do ex military get?
Other VA benefits to consider as a VeteranDisability compensation. ... Support for Veteran-owned small businesses. ... Veterans Pension program. ... Aid and attendance or housebound allowance. ... Disability housing grants. ... More life insurance options. ... Pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery.
Why do veterans not seek help for PTSD?
Many veterans don't receive treatment at all, because of the stigma around seeking mental health care. More than 63% of returning veterans say they would not seek the help of mental health professionals as they believe it may affect their military or civilian careers.
Why do veterans not like the VA?
Of the veteran and active service members who reported to the annual Wounded Warrior Project Survey that they have never used VA health care services, the most common reasons given included preferring to use other health care coverage and too much trouble or red tape....CharacteristicPercentage of respondents--9 more rows•Jun 20, 2022
What do veterans struggle with the most?
There are many challenges that veterans face after they leave the military.Unemployment. Many veterans struggle to find work after they return home. ... Relationship with Themselves. Veterans do a noble thing by serving their country. ... Homelessness. ... Physical Handicaps. ... Poor Mental Health.
Do veterans get free healthcare for life?
If you are a 50% or greater disabled veteran or a former POW, all your medical care from the VA is free. There are other groups that may get some, or all VA medical care for free, see our VA Copay page for details.
Do veterans get paid for life?
The SSA evaluates military records when claimants apply for benefits, and qualifying veterans can get a lifetime earnings credit for wages during service. Eligibility is based on length of service.
Do you get free healthcare after military?
That's because under TRICARE, the military health insurance for active-duty members and their families, health care is free.
Do all combat veterans get PTSD?
But combat exposure alone was not sufficient to cause the PTSD syndrome. Of the soldiers who experienced any potentially traumatic combat exposures, only 31.6% developed the PTSD syndrome.
What is the success rate of PTSD treatment?
Although SSRIs are associated with an overall response rate of approximately 60% in patients with PTSD, only 20% to 30% of patients achieve complete remission.
Is PTSD a mental illness or disorder?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.
How does family therapy help veterans?
Family therapy programs help parents explain the deployment process to young children, while support programs are in place to help returning veterans and their family members go through the reintegration process with as few issues as possible . At present, the VA has identified six key ways to assist military families:
Why do veterans feel disconnected from their families?
Factors such as poor health (physical and mental), unemployment, and financial difficulties can contribute to negative thoughts and moods. Upon returning home, some veterans report feeling disconnected from family members and friends.
What are the mental health issues veterans face?
These conditions may include posttraumatic stress (PTSD), depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury (TBI ), and substance abuse, among other issues. Due to the traumatic environment in which active military combatants ...
Why are veterans at a higher risk for mental health issues?
Due to the traumatic environment in which active military combatants serve, veterans are at a significantly higher risk for developing these health concerns. These concerns can often be addressed and resolved with the support of a mental health professional. PTSD in Veterans. Sexual Abuse in the Military. Depression and Anxiety in Veterans.
How many Vietnam veterans have PTSD?
The lifetime prevalence of PTSD for Vietnam veterans is 30% .
What is MST in the military?
Military sexual trauma (MST), defined by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) as “sexual harassment that is threatening in character or physical assault of a sexual nature that occurred while the victim was in the military, regardless of geographic location of the trauma, gender of the victim, or the relationship to the perpetrator,” is a significant and pervasive concern in the military.
What is VA therapy?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a wide range of mental health services and treatments to aid military veterans.
What benefits do you get when you leave the military?
These include VA provided medical benefits, TRICARE and other supplemental health care insurance options. Retirees and their families remain eligible to use civilian health care facilities under TRICARE.
What happens if a sponsor dies?
If a sponsor dies after retiring from active duty (either regular or a medical retirement), surviving family members remain eligible for TRICARE with the same health plan options and costs they had before their sponsor passed away.
Do you have to join a prescription drug plan to get tricare?
If you have TRICARE, you don’t need to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. However, if you do, your Medicare drug plan pays first, and TRICARE pays second. You'll receive a letter in the mail. For most TRICARE beneficiaries, there is almost NO advantage to enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
Do you have to file a claim for tricare extra?
Enrollees pay little or no co-payment, and usually are not required to file claims for their care. 2. TRICARE Extra: A preferred provider organization-type program; no enrollment is required, however care has to be provided by a TRICARE network provider.
Is supplemental health insurance good for retirees?
Even though you are covered by TRICARE, a supplemental insurance policy is a good idea for retirees. Here's why:
Does tricare work with Medicare?
You'll receive a letter in the mail. It will explain how your TRICARE prescription drug plan works with Medicare Part D. For most TRICARE beneficiaries, there is almost NO advantage to enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
How long can you file taxes after returning from a combat zone?
You can't put off filing taxes forever, but you and your spouse may qualify for a deadline extension of at least 180 days after you've returned from a combat zone.
Does Uncle Sam give tax breaks to military?
Special Tax Breaks for Military Members. USAA. Military service demands sacrifices -- some personal, some financial. But in many cases, Uncle Sam recognizes those hardships and offers special privileges to compensate. When it comes to paying taxes, for example, military members can claim a host of tax advantages that aren't available to civilians.
Do military spouses pay taxes?
Before 2009, military spouses generally had to pay income taxes to the states where their spouses were stationed — but now they have a choice. Under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, military spouses can choose to be treated as if they still lived in their previous state.
Can military members claim tax advantages?
When it comes to paying taxes, for example, military members can claim a host of tax advantages that aren't available to civilians. Here are a few to keep in mind:
Can you deduct uniforms when you are off duty?
Uniform Deductions. If you are prohibited from wearing certain uniforms when off duty (a rule that usually applies to reservists), you can generally deduct the cost to buy and maintain those uniforms. But you must reduce your expenses by the amount of any uniform allowance or reimbursement you receive.
How long does the DOD continue to provide health care benefits?
But they are eligible for the DOD Continued Health Care Benefit Program, a premium based temporary health care coverage program for 36 months of coverage until alternative coverage can be obtained, if they enroll within 60 days of losing full military health care benefits.
What is the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act?
Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act. Many issues arise when a service member and their spouse decide to get a divorce. The military spouse's continuing eligibility for commissary, exchange and health care benefits, as well as their eligibility for a portion of the service member's military retired pay are a large concern.
What are the benefits of a 20/20/20 ex spouse?
A former spouse who meets these requirements is known as a 20/20/20 former spouse and is entitled to full commissary, exchange and health care benefits. These benefits include tricare and care at a military treatment facility. Former spouses who do not meet these requirements lose their commissary and exchange privileges once the divorce is final.
How long does a marriage last in the military?
In cases where the servicemember served 20 years of creditable service, the marriage lasted 20 years, but the period of the marriage overlapped the period of service by only 15 years the former spouse is entitled to full military medical benefits only for a transitional period of one year following the divorce. This is the 20/20/15 rule.
Can former spouses receive tricare?
Tricare, Commissary, and Exchange Privileges for Former Spouses. The USFSPA also permits former spouses to continue receiving commissary, exchange, and health care benefits after a divorce in certain cases.
Can an ex-spouse purchase a health insurance policy after 20/20/15?
This is the 20/20/15 rule. After this year of coverage, the ex-spouse may purchase a DOD-negotiated conversion health policy. Full coverage also requires that the former spouse does not remarry nor enroll in an employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
Can a former spouse receive military retirement pay?
Former Spouse Eligibility to Retired Pay. The USFSPA does not automatically entitle a former spouse to a portion of the member's retired pay. A former spouse must have been awarded a portion of a member's military retired pay as property in their final divorce order.
What is extra earnings for military?
The extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active duty for training. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit. If you served in the military after 1956, you paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. Since 1988, inactive duty service in ...
What is extra earnings for Social Security?
Extra earnings. Your Social Security benefit depends on your earnings, averaged over your working lifetime. Generally, the higher your earnings, the higher your Social Security benefit. Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. The extra earnings are for periods of active ...
When did extra credits come on Social Security?
From 1957 through 1967, extra credits will be added to your record when you apply for Social Security benefits. From 1968 through 2001, you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. The credits were automatically added to your record. After 2001, there are no special extra earnings credits for military service.
Does Social Security cover military service?
Social Security has covered inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves (such as weekend drills) since 1988. If you served in the military before 1957, you did not pay Social Security taxes, but you are given special credit for some of your service. You can get both Social Security benefits and military retirement.
Is inactive duty covered by Social Security?
Since 1988, inactive duty service in the Armed Forces reserves (such as weekend drills) has also been covered by Social Security. Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for periods of active duty from 1957 through 2001 can also be credited to your Social Security earnings record for benefit purposes.
Can you get credit for veterans who died while on active duty?
You are applying for survivors benefits and the veteran died while on active duty. You cannot receive credit for these special earnings if you are already receiving a federal benefit based on the same years of service.
Did you pay Social Security if you served in the military?
If you served in the military from 1940 through 1956, including attendance at a service academy, you did not pay Social Security taxes. However, your Social Security record may be credited with $160 a month in earnings for military service from September 16, 1940, through December 31, 1956, under the following circumstances: ...
What mental health conditions can you not serve in the military?
Here’s a list of 9 of the most common mental health conditions, and whether or not the condition will disqualify you from military service: 1. Anxiety Disorder . Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the United States. Oftentimes, anxiety manifests itself during your adolescent years.
What is the military mental health disqualifier?
4. Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental illness. It causes unusual shifts in your mood, concentration, energy, and ability to do day-to-day functions. Unfortunately, bipolar disorders are an automatic military mental health disqualifier.
Why don't you take psychological evaluations?
Don’t take the psychological evaluation personally because every new recruit has to endure the same evaluation. The military needs to determine if you have mental aptitude in addition to meeting physical fitness standards for enlistment. Related Article: Army APFT Standards for Males and Females.
Can you get a mental health waiver in the army?
You may request a waiver for depression, but your efforts may have better odds depending on the branch you apply for. Military branches like the Army are beginning to change their rigid stance on mental illness. Therefore, more mental health waivers are becoming more common for new recruits. Image: Health.mil. 6.
Can you join the military with PTSD?
While it is rarer for people to try and join the military with PTSD it is not completely abnormal. Unfortunately, the military considers PTSD a disqualifying mental health condition. If you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD you likely won’t receive a waiver. 9. Suicidal Tendencies.
Can you serve in the military with mental illness?
Image: Wikimedia Commons. The military treats mental health very seriously and takes a rigid stance on enforcing disqualifications. Military mental health disqualifications can prevent you from serving in the military. The problem with many types of mental illness is that the diagnosis is highly subjective.
Does the military treat mental health?
The military treats mental health very seriously, considering going into combat or other stressful situations could trigger unwanted symptoms. However, the Armed Forces have recently adapted and changed some of its previous guidelines regarding mental health disqualifications for military service.
