Veterans
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
This commitment, championed by Dr. Jill Biden, is a voluntary commitment by employers to adopt at least one of the following military spouse employment policies that could expand employment and career opportunities for military spouses: 1) facilitate job transferability; 2) offer remote or telework; 3) offer flexible work hours; 4) provide paid or permissive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) leave. VA has committed to all four of those policies, as well as extending Leave Without Pay status to military spouses whose active-duty military members receive PCS orders.
This effort is part of President Biden’s Executive Order 14100, “Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors,” a plan to address unemployment for the 16,000+ military-connected spouses in the federal workforce.
“To build the strongest possible workforce to serve our nation’s heroes, we need to hire and support military spouses – many of whom are Veterans themselves,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We at VA are proud to make these commitments and support our nation’s military spouses every way we can.”
“As a military spouse, I know firsthand that these commitments will make a real difference,” said VA Chief of Staff Kimberly Jackson. “Military spouses are some of the most talented and dedicated professionals in the public and private sector, and by making these commitments, VA will be better positioned to recruit and retain these public servants as we execute our nation’s most sacred obligation: caring for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
While VA will continue to work to fulfill the 4+1 commitments, VA already supports military spouses in many ways, including:
Facilitating job transferability: VA supports the reassignment of military spouses to vacant funded positions for which they are qualified when required to move as part of the service member’s military service. Military spouse employees will be offered leave without pay in instances where reassignment is not feasible.
Offering remote or telework: VA offers telework and remote work positions into which military spouses can be appointed. VA uses the remote jobs filter on USAJobs to post these announcements, making it easier for military spouses to find these employment opportunities with VA. Additionally, VA policies allow employees to request authorization for telework if their spouse in the military received orders for reassignment or relocation.
Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas, or DETO policy and program: VA currently supports employees on approved DETO agreements, which allows employees to receive authorization from VA and the Department of State to work overseas if their spouse in the military received orders for an overseas assignment.
Offering flexible work hours:Recognizing the ever-changing demands of military life, VA policy provides military spouses opportunities to request flexible work hours or compressed work schedules.
Providing paid or permissive PCS leave:VA leave approving officials can approve up to five paid administrative leave days for PCS.
DoD’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership: VA has been a part of MSEP since Fall 2019.
For more information about working at VA, visit https://www.va.gov/jobs/.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The report features veterans across the state urging the Biden Administration to designate or expand five national monuments.
“California’s national monuments and other public lands have long provided service members and veterans with necessary refuge and respite from the demands of military service,” said Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation and a Marine Corps veteran. “These lands are places of reflection, reunion, and healing for millions of veterans throughout the country. They also protect cultural resources, including military heritage sites, and important habitat, and help ensure access to nature for all communities, particularly those that lack parks or other green spaces close to home.”
With more than 30 military installations, California is home to 1.8 million veterans, 157,639 active duty military personnel, and 55,537 reservists and National Guard members — more than any other state in the nation.
Earlier this month, Goldbeck traveled throughout the state meeting with local veterans at several of the proposed national monument locations and hearing why they want the President to permanently protect these places.
“Together with veterans from around our state, I urged President Biden to protect these special places — from tribal lands in Northern California to the majestic San Gabriel Mountains above LA to World War II training sites in the California Desert,” continued Goldbeck. “We see protecting these places as an extension of our service to this country and the duty of anyone who thinks of themselves as a patriot. We urge President Biden to designate national monuments in our state.”
Currently, President Biden is on track to protect more public land than any other modern first-term president in history.
Vet Voice Foundation is urging President Biden to look to California next and expand and designate these national monuments via the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act of 1906 is a law that grants the president the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments with a Presidential Proclamation.
The locations featured in Vet Voice Foundation’s report include the following:
Expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
The expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument would increase equitable access to nature, protect critical wildlife habitat, and conserve an important water source for Los Angeles. Over 18 million people live within a 90-mile radius of these public lands and the proposed expansion area is considered the “gateway” to the Angeles National Forest. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the national forest received 4.6 million visitors in 2021 — more than the Grand Canyon or Yosemite National Park received in the same year. In addition to advocating for the monument's expansion, local veterans and advocates are also highlighting the urgent need for increased resources for the region to ensure sustainable recreation.
Expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument (Molok Luyuk)
Stretching from Napa County in the south to Mendocino County in the north, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is located about an hour away from Travis Air Force Base, providing opportunities for the thousands of people who live and work on the base to relax and recreate outdoors. The proposed expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument would add 13,753 acres of public lands to the existing monument. These lands are of tremendous present-day cultural and religious importance to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and include sites central to their origin stories. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has called for the expansion of the monument and a return to the Indigenous name (Molok Luyuk) for these lands.
Chuckwalla National Monument
The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument would protect approximately 660,000 acres of federal public lands in Riverside and Imperial Counties. The proposed monument would help preserve the California Desert’s rich history, including World War II training sites where General Patton trained military units for desert warfare. Moreover, analysis shows that desert conservation is critical to support ongoing modern-day missions from five major military bases - Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Edwards Air Force Base, Fort Irwin National Training Center, and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.
Medicine Lake Highlands (Sáttítla)
The Pit River Tribe is calling on President Biden to protect ancestral homelands and spiritual sites in an area known as Sáttítla, within the Medicine Lake Highlands area of northern California. This 200,000-acre area is located in northeastern California, just 30 miles from Mount Shasta. For thousands of years, the forested lands and clear blue water have been sacred to numerous Tribes including the Pit River, Modoc, Shasta, Karuk, and Wintu. Sáttítla and the Medicine Lake Highlands are a spiritual center. Tribes continue to use the area for religious activities, ceremonies, and gatherings.
Kw'tsán National Monument
The Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe is leading an effort to establish the Kw'tsán National Monument, calling on President Biden to protect more than 390,000 acres of the Tribe’s ancestral homelands located in Imperial County, California. The proposed boundary incorporates the Indian Pass Area, Pilot Knob, Singer Geoglyphs, Buzzards Peak, and Picacho Peak Wilderness areas. These lands contain incredible cultural, ecological, recreational, scenic, and historic values that the tribe is asking to be preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
California veterans who need assistance with filing an initial claim for benefits can receive assistance at no charge from their county veteran service office or from another U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accredited representative.
The VA also accredits attorneys and claims agents who can represent veterans before the VA and assist with benefit claims.
VA-accredited agents have to pass a certification exam that tests their knowledge, have to pass a background check, and complete ongoing training.
The fees that VA-accredited attorneys and agents can charge are capped by law, and they are subject to discipline — including revocation of their accreditation — if they don’t represent their clients competently and in accordance with the law.
In contrast, claims sharks are individuals and organizations that are not accredited, but still charge veterans for help with their benefits claims.
While some unaccredited individuals and organizations are well-intentioned, many charge exorbitant fees for subpar or worthless services, and operate outside of the VA accreditation system and the oversight and consumer protections that it provides to veterans.
This bill, sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and authored by Senator Menjivar, would prohibit claim sharking, make it a crime for claim sharks to obtain unauthorized access to the VA claims system using a veterans’ login information, and prohibit the charging of fees that exceed what a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent can legally charge to represent a veteran with a benefits claim.
“Claim sharks pose a risk to veterans who need help with their benefits claims,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “With the introduction of SB 1124, we are making it clear: if you want to charge veterans for help with their benefits claims you need to follow the rules and become a VA-accredited representative. California will vigorously protect those who have sacrificed so much to protect us.”
“Veterans bravely serve and oftentimes sacrifice their wellbeing for our country. Those living with the consequences of their selfless service deserve a smooth process in accessing the benefits they have earned. However, that process can be daunting and vulnerable,” said Senator Caroline Menjivar. “Therefore, we must ensure we have accredited advocates working on their case to ensure oversight and the proper dispersal of funds. Let’s protect the personal information, financial interests, and health of the veterans who have sacrificed to protect us.”
Specifically, SB 1124 would:
• Prohibit any person from being paid for work related to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for federal veterans benefits unless they are accredited by the VA as an attorney or claims agent.
• Make it a crime for claim sharks to access VA computer systems using a veteran’s login information.
• Make it illegal for any person to charge a fee for assistance with a veteran’s benefits claim that exceeds the fee that could be lawfully charged by a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent for those services.
SB 1124 is part of Attorney General Bonta’s larger effort to protect veterans from exploitation:
In September 2023, Attorney General Bonta announced the sentencing of Don Azul for defrauding the relatives of veterans as part of a fraudulent veterans educational benefits scheme.
In August 2023, Attorney General Bonta joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general in a letter to Congress expressing his support for federal legislation to protect veterans from financial exploitation.
In September 2022, SB 1311, a bill Attorney General Bonta sponsored to protect the rights of California service members and veterans, was signed into law. In November 2021, Attorney General Bonta issued a consumer alert warning veterans and their families to be aware of targeted scams and fraud.
And Attorney General Bonta is continuing to pursue a lawsuit against the Neptune Society for, among other things, failing to provide legally-required disclosures on mailers which advertised seminars that purported to provide information concerning veterans benefits.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
This is a result of VA’s new 2023 policy that eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are no longer required to make copayments for VA health care, urgent care, or prescriptions.
Under this policy, VA also reimburses for copayments paid on or after Jan. 5, 2022.
“To live their best lives, Veterans need access to affordable health care,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “This copayment exemption honors our treaties with sovereign nations and the distinguished service of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.”
Eligible veterans include any American Indian and Alaska Native veteran who meets the definitions of “Indian” or “urban Indian” under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
VA is continuing to receive, review, and process documentation for the copayment exemption.
To apply for the copayment exemption, veterans should mail 1) a completed VA Tribal Documentation Form (VA Form 10-334), and 2) a copy of official tribal documentation to VHA Tribal Documentation at P.O. Box 5100, Janesville, WI 53547.
Find more information on the copayment exemption for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
As a part of this effort, VA also released the findings of a new study today investigating disparities in grant rates for disability compensation for mental health conditions.
This study found that recently separated Black veterans have grant rates better than or equal to other veterans when they apply for disability compensation benefits within the first year of leaving the military and use a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization.
This is a critical discovery because ― while Black veterans receive VA benefits at higher rates than other Veterans – their grant rates are lower for mental health conditions.
In response to this new data, VA will be visiting 15 or more Department of Defense installations to work with transitioning service members, updating our Transition Assistance Program curriculum that is provided to all transitioning service members, updating VA Solid Start scripts to inform recently transitioned service members of their earned benefits, working directly with VSOs to engage with Black veterans, and doing direct outreach to encourage Black veterans to file for disability compensation benefits within the first year of discharge and utilize VA-accredited VSOs when filing a claim.
VA released this 2024 update to its Agency Equity Action Plan in coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda.
VA’s Equity Action Plan is part of the Department’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government,” which reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to advance equity and build an America where we serve all veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
“It’s our job to provide every veteran with the world-class care and benefits they deserve, no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love, where they are from, or how they identify,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “That means investigating any disparities in VA health care and benefits and eliminating them – and that’s exactly what this new study and plan will help us do. We will not rest until any and all disparities at VA are a thing of the past.”
As VA continues to deliver more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before, VA will strive to ensure that every veteran gets the care and benefits they deserve. Using the Agency Equity Plan, VA will work urgently to improve outcomes and eliminate disparities in Veteran benefits and health care; increase access to VA services; enhance economic security for all veterans, including historically underserved veteran communities; listen to and learn from Veteran communities; and more. These efforts are spearheaded by VA’s new agency equity team, which was launched in June 2023 to lead VA’s equity efforts.
Since releasing its first-ever equity action plan in 2022, VA has taken the following steps:
• Expanded care for women veterans: Over the past two years, VA has expanded breast cancer screenings and mammograms for Veterans with potential toxic exposures; supported access to reproductive health services, including contraception, abortion counseling and – in certain cases – abortion care for Veterans and VA beneficiaries; and dramatically expanded one-on-one maternity care coordination for women Veterans – the fastest growing cohort of Veterans at VA. Women Veterans are also enrolling in VA health care at higher rates under the PACT Act, and VA recently hosted its first Women Veterans Experience Action Center, helping more than 340 women Veterans apply for the care and benefits they deserve.
• Reached new, historic agreement with NAACP to improve quality of life for Black veterans: Under this partnership,VA and the NAACP are working to increase the number of Black veterans enrolled in VA health care, increase awareness of VA benefits and services among Black veterans, and increase recruitment of culturally competent providers at VA. VA and the NAACP also meet regularly, share expertise, and coordinate on outreach to minority veteran communities.
• Removed barriers to benefits for LGBTQ+ veterans: VA closed a gap in benefits for survivors of LGBTQ+ veterans, righting a wrong that was a legacy of the discriminatory federal ban on same-sex marriages. Previously, VA also increased access to benefits for veterans who were given “Other Than Honorable” discharges due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and more.
• Increased access to care and benefits for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans: In April 2023, VA announced that eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans are no longer required to make copayments for health care and urgent care received through VA ― making VA health care more accessible and affordable. VA also lowered the interest rate for VA Native American Direct Loans from 6% to 2.5%, making access to housing loans more affordable for Native American veterans.
• Updated its mission statement to include all veterans: In March 2023, VA updated its 1959 mission statement to be inclusive of all those who have served in our nation’s military — including women veterans ― and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors. The new mission statement is: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
• Increased service delivery to veterans with Other Than Honorable discharges: Over the past 10 years, VA’s eligibility determination rate for veterans with Other Than Honorable discharges has been 74% ― meaning that 74% of those Veterans were granted benefits and/or healthcare. VA has also conducted extensive outreach to Veterans who received Other Than Honorable discharges, increasing the number of Veterans with Other Than Honorable discharges who applied for VA care or benefits from approximately 1,700 in 2012 to more than 10,000 in 2023.
• Released new data showing that the PACT Act is helping eliminate disparities at VA: In September 2023, VA released its first quarterly demographic supplement to the PACT Act dashboard, with data showing that the PACT Act is helping VA reach and serve all Veterans, including those in historically underserved communities. For example, American Indian/Alaska Native and Black veterans are submitting PACT Act related claims at higher rates than the pre-PACT baseline. Additionally, Asian, Black, Hispanic veterans, women veterans, and the youngest veterans are all enrolling in VA care at higher proportions than a comparable baseline.
• Created a VBA Equity Assurance Office and Equity Assurance Plan to eliminate disparities in Veteran Benefits: In June, VA announced that it has created a new Equity Assurance Office within VBA to eliminate any disparities in the delivery of earned benefits to veterans ― including disability benefits, housing benefits, GI Bill benefits, and much more. This office released an Equity Assurance Plan, which includes actions like requiring all VBA employees to take unconscious bias and implicit bias training and increasing recruiting from minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, tribal colleges and universities, and hispanic-serving institutions.
As this work continues, updates will be posted on VA.gov/Equity. Learn more about the administration’s equity work at whitehouse.gov/equity and check out all Federal Equity Action Plans at performance.gov/equity.
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- Written by: Department of Veterans Affairs
All World War II veterans who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946, are eligible under this expansion, regardless of their length of service or financial status.
These veterans will not have to pay copays, enrollment fees or monthly premiums.
VA is reaching out by phone and mail to encourage World War II veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA care to apply today.
Veterans who enroll may also keep their private providers, Medicare, and most other insurance to meet their health care needs.
“These members of the Greatest Generation answered the call to serve when our nation – and the world – needed them most. Now, it’s our job to serve them in every way that we can,” said VA Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “We are proud to provide world-class, no-cost health care to these heroes at VA, and we encourage all of them to enroll today.”
All World War II veterans are encouraged to enroll in VA health care – the best, most-affordable health care in America for veterans.
Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings.
Veterans who were not approved for VA health care in the past due to income limits should apply again; income levels no longer apply due to this expansion.
VA cannot automatically enroll these veterans in health care; World War II veterans must apply for VA health care if they are not currently enrolled.
This expansion is made possible through the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022 (Cleland-Dole Act), signed in December 2022.
To apply for VA health care, visit VA’s health care enrollment website, call 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), or visit your nearest VA medical center or clinic.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“The PACT Act is a significant expansion of benefits for our country’s veterans, and it is essential that every veteran knows about what is available to them,” said Thompson. “I held town halls in our district to connect veterans with representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and to answer their questions about how to apply. Thanks to these town halls, we were able to help over 100 veterans, their family members, and survivors apply for the PACT Act before the August 9 deadline for retroactive benefits.”
Click here to learn about the PACT Act and to file a benefits claim.
The PACT Act is one of the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history.
The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
The PACT Act:
• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras;
• Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures;
• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation;
• Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care;
• Helps improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.
If you’re a veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
California is home to the largest population of active duty service members and reservists, and veterans in the nation.
Scammers often target the military community: according to the Federal Trade Commission, military consumers nationwide reported over 93,000 fraud complaints last year, including 39,909 imposter scams that reportedly cost them and their families over $164 million.
“California service members and their families should never have to worry about becoming targets for predatory scammers,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Throughout Military Consumer Month, and all year round, I urge California’s military community to learn the warning signs and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves. If you have fallen victim to a scam or suspect fraudulent activity, please report it to your local authorities or to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report. As part of our commitment to protect those who protect us, my office will continue to bring the full force of the law against those who seek to exploit the goodwill of California’s military community.”
Why is the military community targeted?
Military service members, veterans, and their families are frequently targeted for access to their military government benefits. In addition, the camaraderie that unites the military community is often exploited by impostors who claim to be veterans in attempts to access personal information for fraudulent purposes.
Common Scams targeting the military community:
Scammers use a variety of tactics to gain trust. Protect yourself by staying up to date on common military- and veteran-targeted scams. Beware of the following:
Charity scams: Just because a charity includes the word “veteran” in its name doesn’t mean that veterans are members of the group, or that veterans or their families will benefit from a donation. Scammers will use names that sound legitimate or those that mimic the names of well-known charities to create confusion. Take the time to make an informed decision and be wary of aggressive solicitations. Go to oag.ca.gov/charities, under the Resources & Tools section, and click on Registry Verification Search. If a charity is not listed, it should not be soliciting funds in California. If it is listed, you can view its financial reports, including the IRS Form 990 that the charity is required to file with DOJ's Registry of Charitable Trusts.
Predatory schools: The GI Bill and other military education programs offer you the chance to attend school and plan for your future, but for-profit schools sometimes target service members and veterans with false promises. Slow down and take the time you need to make the right decision. Predatory schools often use high-pressure sales tactics to try to get you to sign up. It’s important to ask for information about the programs, such as graduation rates, job placement, and graduate salary information. Offers that seem too good to be true generally are. Further, don't forget that educational opportunities at the California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California may be available to you.
Home loan scams: Be aware of scammers that — through phone calls or fraudulent mailers — claim to be affiliated with the government, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or your home loan servicer. These fraudsters may attempt to convince you to agree to loan modifications, refinance your home, or make payments on your loans. Be cautious of any individual or lender that contacts you and asks you to pay fees upfront before receiving any services; tells you to cancel your mortgage payment and resend the funds elsewhere; tells you to make payments to someone other than your current loan servicer; or pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand — including asking you to sign over the title to your property.
Identity theft and fraud: Some scammers will pretend to be from the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, or other official organizations in order to get your personal information so that they can commit identity theft or fraud. Before you provide any information, always make sure a request is coming from an official organization by doing a quick search on the internet or consulting a trusted source to get the organization’s real contact information. Never trust the contact information given by the person that is asking for your personal information, as scammers often give out fake contact information. Be wary of letters and emails that have misspellings, look unprofessional, or send you to a non-government website for information or action, as these are almost always fake. Lastly, never give out your Social Security number to receive military or veteran discounts. Scammers often promise military or veteran discounts in order to obtain personal information.
Job scams: Service members looking for new career opportunities after leaving service are a target for scammers posting fictitious job listings with the goal of stealing their personal information and finances. Avoid becoming a victim of job scams by conducting thorough research on the company. Additionally, stick to well-known job search platforms and government career websites when looking for job opportunities. Remember, legitimate employers will never require you to pay fees for applications, interviews, or background checks. You should also look out for fake check scams, which occur when a scammer posing as an employer sends you a counterfeit check to deposit into your account. The scammer will then ask you to send a portion of the funds back to them or a third party, while letting you keep some as payment. Eventually, the bank reverses the fake check, leaving you stuck paying the money back to the bank. If something feels off or suspicious during the job search, trust your instincts and end communication immediately.
Pension scams: Veterans ages 65 and over are targeted by scam financial advisers who try to persuade senior veterans to buy costly annuities or transfer their assets into trusts, or pay unnecessary and illegal fees for help with a veterans pension application. These "advisers" claim to help veterans qualify for Aid and Attendance or other veterans benefits, but may cause you to lose eligibility or access to pension, disability, or healthcare benefits. If you are interested in Aid and Attendance or other veterans benefits, you can get free help from your County Veterans Service Office here.
Affinity fraud: Affinity scams target members of identifiable groups, including the military. The perpetrators are — or pretend to be — members of the targeted group, and use sales pitches that rely on group trust and loyalty. In the military community, this includes exploiting the trust that service members have for their fellow service members, and for veterans who previously served. Don't make a significant purchase, or an investment decision, based on the salesperson's supposed military service, or the claim that a business is military-friendly or endorsed by the Armed Forces. Take a tactical pause, and shop around for the best deal.
Debt collection and illegal threats: Debt collectors may try to trick or scare service members into making payments on debts. It is illegal for debt collectors to do any of the following: revoke your security clearance; contact your command in order to collect a debt (unless they have your consent, given after the debt came due, to do so); discipline or demote you; or garnish your pay. If a debt collector is trying to collect a debt that you do not owe or have already paid, dispute the debt in writing. Tell the debt collector why you do not owe the debt, include copies of any evidence you have, and mail this dispute to the debt collector using registered mail so that you have proof that the collector received it — and make sure to keep copies of everything for yourself. If you dispute the debt within 30 days after the collector first contacted you, the collector must stop collection until it shows you written proof of the debt.
Rental housing scams: These scams target military personnel looking for housing near a base, especially prevalent during the Permanent Change of Station season. Scammers pretend to be real estate agents and post fake ads for rental properties on websites, sometimes promising military discounts and other incentives in order to get service members to send them money for fees and deposits upfront. If someone insists on receiving money or other payments before a property has been seen, it is likely a rental scam. Avoid wiring money to reserve apartments, and use your installation housing office or established property management companies to locate potential housing.
Predatory auto sales and financing: Car dealers located near military bases may try to lure service members with promises of special deals for military personnel. Often, these so-called deals conceal the terms of purchase for the vehicle and result in the service member drastically overpaying for both the vehicle and the cost of financing. For example, dealers may insist that military personnel will not qualify for financing unless they purchase overpriced and unnecessary add-ons. Other times, the dealer may tell a service member who just purchased a car that the initial financing fell through and insist on renegotiating for worse terms. You should not rely on oral promises, nor feel pressured to enter into any purchase, without first reading and understanding the contract. If you are looking to purchase a car, you should explore all of your options for financing — including by contacting your bank or credit union — before making a purchase.
Protect yourself from scams
Take advantage of free annual credit reports: You are entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit history contains information from financial institutions, utilities, landlords, insurers, and others. By checking your credit reports at least once a year, you can identify signs of identity theft, as well errors in your report that could be raising the cost of your credit. Order your free annual credit reports by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-322-8228, or online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
Place a fraud alert: If your identity is stolen, put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting the three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Also, consider requesting a credit freeze, which will restrict access to your credit file, making it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Report identity theft right away and get a recovery plan at identitytheft.gov. Additionally, file a police report with your local sheriff or police department and keep a copy for your records.
Report suspicious activity: Never give out personal information to a lender or servicer that contacts you out of the blue. If you are feeling unsure, hang up and call your loan servicer directly at the number that is listed on your mortgage statement. Report suspicious activity to the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report and file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Protect your online information and accounts with strong passwords: Protect yourself by using different, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. Make sure that the passwords you use are at least eight characters, including a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Check your credit card bills and bank statements often: Look for unauthorized charges, withdrawals, or unexpected bills, and report irregular activity to your bank as soon as you see it. If you notice that a bill didn’t arrive on time, it may mean that someone has changed the contact information on your account in order to hide fraudulent charges. Don't share personal information: Be careful about what personal information you share, such as your address or financial information.
Sign up for the Enhanced Homeowner Notification Program: If you reside in Los Angeles County, you may sign up to receive mailed copies of documents recorded against your home, allowing you to review recorded real estate documents so you are aware of actions taken against your property.
If you believe you have been the victim or target of a scam, immediately contact your local police department or reach out to your base legal office. For the legal office’s contact information, ask your command or visit to legalassistance.law.af.mil/. California National Guard personnel can also obtain legal help at www.calguard.ca.gov. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report. For additional information on military-targeted scams, visit our website at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/military.
Attorney General Bonta is committed to protecting service members, veterans, and their families. Here are some recent actions taken to protect California’s military community:
In April 2023, Attorney General Bonta filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of U.S. veteran James R. Rudisill in his attempt to access educational benefits to which he is entitled under the GI Bill.
The brief urged the court to review an erroneous lower court decision denying Rudisill’s challenge of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ruling limiting his benefits.
In August 2022, Attorney General Bonta announced the arrest of Don Azul in connection with an alleged yearslong scheme to defraud families with relatives who served in the military, as well as the University of California and California State University systems.
In July 2022, Attorney General Bonta announced a more than $15 million settlement with Harris Jewelry for violations of state and federal consumer protection laws. The settlement resolved allegations that the nationwide jewelry retailer targeted military service members with dishonest sales and financing tactics at now-shuttered stores located near military bases across the country.
In March 2022, Attorney General Bonta announced his sponsorship of Senate Bill 1311. Signed into law by Governor Newsom, SB 1311 further strengthens financial and legal protections for active duty service members, veterans, and their families.
In June 2021, Attorney General Bonta and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that Paul Flanagan was sentenced to 357 days of house arrest and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution for defrauding thousands of U.S. Navy sailors in San Diego County through a tax and insurance scheme. Another defendant, Ranjit Kalsi, was previously sentenced and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“Our veterans answered the call to serve our country and earned VA benefits for themselves and their families,” said Thompson. “Last Congress, I proudly voted for the PACT Act to help us live up to the promise we made our vets. The PACT Act is a historic expansion of benefits for our veterans and I encourage all eligible veterans and their families in our district to apply for PACT Act benefits before Aug. 9 and receive backdated care through Aug. 10, 2022.”
Click here to learn about the PACT Act and to file a benefits claim.
The PACT Act is one of the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act.
The PACT Act:
• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras.
• Adds 20-plus more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures.
• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.
• Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.
• Helps improve research, staff education and treatment related to toxic exposures.
If you’re a veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits.
Thompson is proud to represent California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
