News Vets Can Use
JOIN Commander’s Action Network
Go to dav.org/can and register to receive up-to-date legislation
Benefits Protection Team Leader Toolkit
Start contacting your local Representatives and get involved with their Veterans’ Advisory Committee. If they do not have one, ask if they are willing to begin one.
General Membership Meeting
The monthly General Membership Meeting is held on the First Thursday of each month at 4PM in the Veteran Service Center located at 1441 Tamiami Trail; Unit 385, Port Charlotte, FL 33948-4004.
We look forward to your attendance!
What is Pension Poaching?
- Financial scam targeting Veterans, survivors, and their families
- Unethical advisor profits
- Involves financial maneuvers such as advising claimants to hide assets
- An accredited attorney or claims agent, who is also a financial planner CAN NOT file an initial claim for pension or survivor benefits!
File a Complaint
- Call Department of Veterans Affairs National Call Center @ 1-800-827-1000
- Visit the Federal Trade Commission @ ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Visit https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general to find your State Attorney General
- Visit OIG @ https://www.va.gov/oig/
- Visit Federal Communications Commission @ https://www.fcc.gov/veteranstargetedbenefits-scams
Important for Veterans and Spouses:
VA-enrolled veterans admitted to a local hospital for life-threatening conditions thru the Emergency Room by ambulance or other means, need to follow these steps to ensure VA payment:
- Show the local hospital admitting clerk ALL the veteran’s insurance information.
- Call Bay Pines VA at 1-844-724-7842
- Provide Bay Pines VA with the name of the local hospital
- Provide Bay Pines VA with the Date of Admittance
- Provide Bay Pines VA with the Name of the Veteran
- Provide Bay Pines VA the last 4 of Veterans SSN
- Provide Bay Pines VA with a callback phone number
- Within 48 hours of admission, the Veteran or family member MUST call Bay Pines VA to confirm Hospital admission
VA-enrolled Veterans, please ensure your spouse or significant other has this information. It is very important.
Veteran Medical Appointment Transportation
Scheduling Number: (941) 575-3670
Charlotte County Transit offers FREE rides for veterans to medical appointments at the Lee County Clinic in Cape Coral and to Bay Pines Healthcare Center in St. Petersburg. Rides to Bay Pines Healthcare Center are provided on Mondays and Fridays only. Rides to Lee County Clinic are provided Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To reserve your ride, please contact Charlotte County Transit at least 3 days in advance at 941-575- 3670. You will connect with a voice mail box – you will not talk to a real person. Leave the following information :
- Your full name
- Telephone number where you can be reached
- Name of the Clinic (Lee County or Bay Pines)
- Day, Date and time of your appointment
- Last 4 digits of your social security number
Pick up and drop off location is the main entrance of the Charlotte Cultural Center, address 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte, FL (corner of Aaron Street and Gertrude Avenue). Vans begin loading at 7:30 AM and depart for Veterans Administration facilities at 8:00 AM.
Veterans should schedule appointments as follows:
Bay Pines Healthcare Center: schedule appointments between 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM, Mondays and Fridays. All appointments should complete by 3:30 PM. The van will depart Bay Pines at either 3:30 PM or when the last person on the van returns from their appointment.
Lee County Clinic: schedule appointments between 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All appointments should be completed by 3:30. The van will depart Lee County at either 3:30 PM or when the last person on the van returns from their appointment.