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Bill O Boyle: DMVA warns veterans of scammers looking to poach their military pension

Times Leader - 6/5/2022

Jun. 4--Pennsylvania veterans and their advocates should be aware of an increase in scammers looking to poach their VA pensions, warns the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

"Pension Poaching" is financial exploitation targeting veterans and beneficiaries who are potentially eligible for VA pension benefits.

"Older veterans are a prime target for scammers," said Joel Mutschler, director DMVA Bureau of Veterans Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration, and Outreach. "As we approach World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, it is important to remind veterans and their advocates to be vigilant when dealing with their benefits, and make sure to always use the free assistance of an accredited veteran service officer."

Veteran pension poaching occurs when scammers, unscrupulous players or dishonest financial planners charge veterans or their beneficiaries for help in applying for or submitting applications for VA pensions.

The scheme often involves financial maneuvers, such as advising claimants to hide their assets in trusts or annuity products sometimes resulting in lost investments and lucrative fees paid to the advisor.

Veterans and their advocates should remember to never share their VA login information, or deposit VA benefits directly into a third-party bank account unless the person is court appointed or a VA accredited fiduciary.

Mutschler said he wants to make it clear that veterans or their advocates should never pay:

--For forms or to submit applications.

--To restructure assets in order to "qualify."

--For the promise of eligibility for a pension.

--To receive a lump sum payment on a pension.

Rep. Meuser supports legislation

aimed at stopping 'porch pirates'

Newly introduced legislation, backed by U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, aims to deliver increased federal punishment for "porch pirates," those who steal packages delivered to American homes and businesses.

The legislation would mean convicted thieves who steal packages delivered by private carriers, such as UPS and FedEx, would face the same federal penalties as those who take items delivered by The United States Post Office (USPS).

More than 23 million Americans have been victimized by porch piracy, the theft of packages from the consumers who are expecting items like groceries, medicine, pet food and gifts. The estimated retail value of the merchandise is $9 billion every year. One in four Americans reported a package stolen during the pandemic.

Meuser has co-sponsored HR 6852 -- The Porch Pirates Act -- which was introduced by Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips. The bipartisan bill would apply the same federal penalties currently in place for theft of USPS mail items to packages delivered by commercial carriers, such as Amazon, FedEx, and UPS. The theft of federal mail from USPS is treated as a federal felony, theft of mail or packages delivered by commercial carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and Amazon are often treated as a misdemeanor.

"It's simple -- it's theft and it needs a higher level of punishment," Meuser stated. "We're going to raise it to the same penalty that thieves who steal U.S. Postal Service items face."

Porch pirates poached more than 210 million packages from Americans last year. E-commerce exploded during the pandemic, and The Census Bureau's Annual Retail Trade Survey found sales increased to $244.2 billion, or 43 percent in 2020.

Gov. Wolf continues push for $2,000

direct payments to Pennsylvanians

Gov. Tom Wolf this week called on Pennsylvania's Republican-led General Assembly to finally act to support Pennsylvanians by passing legislation for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded $500 million PA Opportunity Program, which would send $2,000 checks to Pennsylvanians.

"The cost of everything from gas to groceries is a little higher right now than it was just a few weeks ago and for Pennsylvanians living paycheck to paycheck even a small increase in expenses can mean painful decisions like paying for food or rent," Wolf said. "I see that pain in communities across Pennsylvania and I want to talk about solutions. I want to put $2,000 checks into the hands of Pennsylvanians and families that need it."

In Gov. Wolf's proposed PA Opportunity Program, $500 million in ARPA dollars would provide direct payments of up to $2,000 for Pennsylvania households with an income of $80,000 or less.

The program aims to help families still recovering economically from the COVID-19 pandemic or support them with covering pandemic-related costs and managing the current, every day increasing cost of living.

"Now is the time to act, and the bill has already been introduced in the General Assembly," Wolf said.

Toomey legislation would provide

for law enforcement in retirement

U.S. Senators Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, and Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, this week introduced legislation to amend the federal tax code in order to allow law enforcement officers the ability to access their retirement funds penalty free upon reaching their eligible retirement age.

Toomey said the tax code currently allows eligible law enforcement and public safety officers to withdraw from their retirement if they retire at or after the age of 50 due to the taxing nature of these jobs.

However, federal officers are eligible for retirement prior to the age of 50 if they have completed 25 years of service. Under current law, when an officer retires prior to the age of 50 with 25 years of service, they are not allowed access to their retirement funds penalty free until the age of 59 1/2 , which is the age average Americans are able to withdraw from retirement accounts penalty free.

"America's law enforcement and public safety communities endure difficult, physically taxing jobs that often result in earlier retirements, often at or before the age of 50," Toomey said.

Wolf calls on General Assembly

for property tax relief program

Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres and Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Meg Snead this week to echo Gov. Tom Wolf's call for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to immediately use a portion of the $1.7 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help older adults and individuals with disabilities through property tax and rent rebates to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February, Gov. Wolf proposed his $1.7 billion action plan, which includes a proposal to direct $204 million to provide property tax relief to Pennsylvanians by investing in the existing Property Tax Rent Rebate program. This investment would be a one-time bonus rebate to current program users, doubling existing rebates with an estimated 466,000 Pennsylvanians receiving an additional average rebate of $475.

While Democratic leaders in the Senate and House have introduced legislation, Senate Bill 1187 and House Bill 2560, to support Gov. Wolf's plan to invest in the existing program, the General Assembly has been slow to act.

"Older Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly want to age in their homes and communities for as long as they are able. While the Department of Aging provides services and supports to help them achieve this goal, programs like the Department of Revenue's Property Tax/Rent Rebate offers seniors an additional benefit," said Secretary Torres. "Many older adults live on fixed incomes and when it comes to their finances, paying their rent or mortgage is a top priority. Governor Wolf's proposed one time increase in the rebate amount will help seniors to meet some of their needs during these difficult times."

Torres noted that in Dauphin County, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program benefited 8,716 Pennsylvanians who received more than $4 million, according to the most recent available data from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Almost 60% of these recipients were age 65 and older. Almost 39% were individuals with disabilities.

"Our seniors and people with disabilities in Pennsylvania deserve the opportunity to live independently and sustain their housing in their communities of choice in the face of rising costs. It is our responsibility to support and build on the successes of programs like the Property Tax/Rent Rebate that make community living possible and sustainable for our neighbors with fixed and moderate incomes," said DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead. "Expanding Pennsylvania's investment in the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program will make a substantial impact in quality of life and dignity for seniors and people with disabilities and provides the breathing room in their budgets to help them live and thrive in our communities across Pennsylvania."

"Everyone is paying more for nearly everything today -- from prescription drugs to gas to housing but, the problem of inflation is hardest for those on fixed incomes," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh.

"The governor's proposal is a simple plan to execute. Claimants won't have to take any additional action to receive their one-time bonus rebates," said Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell, who heads the agency that administers the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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