Veterans Bonuses in Ohio and Other States

Ohio is now giving cash bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars.****Now, only veterans of the Afghan war can apply--ALL OTHER DEADLINES HAVE EXPIRED. For online applications, see the state web site, or call 1-877-644-6838 for a paper application. There is also a website with eligibility requirements.  They are exempt from state and federal taxes. 

The deadline for filing for those who served in the Persian Gulf War (August 2, 1990-March 3, 1991) is December 31, 2013.  However, for those who served later, the deadline is later.  For those that served in Iraq between March 19, 2003 and December 31, 2011, the deadline is December 31st, 2014.  For those who served in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001, the deadline is three years after the President calls an end to involvement.  See this post for more details. Also for the VERY LATEST, from the Dept of Veterans Services in Ohio:

Down to the Wire for Iraq War Veterans...

The application deadline for the Ohio

Veterans Bonus is approaching rapidl

y for veterans of the Iraq War

–

Dec. 31, 2014, is the last day to apply for the

Ohio Veterans Bonus for

military veterans who

served boots-on-the-ground in Iraq

between March 19, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2011.

The Ohio Veterans Bonus is available to

veterans, and active duty service members

who are legal residents of Ohio, who served

anywhere in the world during the time of the

wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Service must

have been for more than

90 days active duty,

not for training. Eligible veterans must have

been Ohio residents at the time of their entry

into the service, and must be Ohio residents

at the time they apply.

Although the end of the year marks the dead-

line to apply for service in Iraq, the Bonus

remains open for veterans who served in the

country of Afghanistan or anywhere else in

the world since Oct. 7, 2001.

With the news of this new bonus by the state of Ohio to veterans of the Persian, Afghan and Iraqi wars and benefits for their survivors (created by voters last year), I decided to check out other states, too, and find that there is a mixed bag of such cash bonuses in other states for different conflicts in U.S. history. Most are small cash bonuses, restricted to those with honorable discharges who were residents of the state before going to war.

Vermont has one that is still in effect for veterans of Vietnam, and goes back to the War of 1812, to compensate citizen-soldiers for the use of the horses and weapons they were expected to bring with them to that conflict. Massachusetts has offers on the books for veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and the “war on terror,” covering conflicts since 9/11. In West Virginia, there is a bonus for veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo and their survivors. Pennsylvania has a bonus for veterans of the Persian Gulf and their survivors. In Alabama, there is a bonus program for veterans who were held prisoner in Southeast Asia. Illinois Veterans Affairs offers bonuses to wars stretching back to World War II, plus compensation for POWs. New Hampshire and South Dakota offer small bonuses. For a rundown of state military benefits, see this link for all 50 states.

update: The Ohio applications must be notarized. If you want the notarization for free, see these Attorney General regional locations.

MORE POTENTIAL MONEY: The Stop Loss Compensation has extended its deadline.  If you have non-voluntarily had your duty extended between Sept., 2001  and Sept, 2009, you can file for this back pay compensation by March 18, 2011. 

Got a Countrywide Mortgage? You May be Eligible for Help.

Bank of America, the new parent company for Countryside, has settled the suits against it by the governments of: Illinois, California, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Washington and Connecticut. The states of North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan were also in settlement talks. They involve accusations of deceptive mortgage practices by Countryside in the last few years. Among the charges by various state's attorneys-general, Countryside offered "teaser" rates that were short-lived and then jumped significantly. It's alleged that they also offered loans to people who could not adequately document their incomes, knowing that they would be unable to pay in the future. The total amount of money under the state settlements could run up to $8 billion dollars, and affect 400,000 borrowers.

What does this mean for you? If you had a mortgage from Countryside, depending on the settlement struck by your state, you may be eligible for a renegotiation of your mortgage, or foreclosure relief. It's earmarked for customers who have been foreclosed on or are in serious risk of foreclosure. In Ohio, eligible mortgage holders should soon start getting letters, telling them about their options. For more information, call 1-800-669-6607.

If you are in one of the other states affected, and have gotten a loan from Countrywide in the past few years, contact the attorney general's office in your state to see if you may be eligible for assistance.