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VA Mid-Atlantic Chapter News and
Information
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VA Increases Travel
Reimbursement for Eligible Veterans
| New Homes for the Disabled Program
VA Increases Travel
Reimbursement for Eligible Veterans
Peake: Disabled Veterans Earned Increase
WASHINGTON (January 31, 2008) - Over a
million eligible veterans will see their
mileage reimbursement more than double
starting tomorrow, for travel to Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities.
"This increase helps veterans -- especially
those living in rural areas -- offset some
of the gasoline costs as they travel to VA's
world-class health care," said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
"Increasing the mileage reimbursement is one
more step by VA to help veterans access the
health care they deserve."
The 2008 appropriations act provided funding
for VA to increase the beneficiary travel
mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents per
mile to 28.5 cents per mile. The increase
goes into effect on Feb. 1.
After little more then a month on the job,
Secretary Peake used his authority to
establish the first increase in the mileage
reimbursement in 30 years, fulfilling a
pledge he made during his Senate
confirmation hearing last month.
While increasing the payment, VA, as
mandated by law, also equally increased the
deductible amounts applied to certain
mileage reimbursements. The new deductibles
are $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a
round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per
calendar month.
However, these deductibles can be waived if
they cause a financial hardship to the
veteran.
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Virginia Mid-Atlantic PVA Launches
the “New Homes for the Disabled Program”
The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter (VAPVA) is partnering
with RL Seely Homes and SunTrust Mortgage to launch a
new homes for the disabled program. This is an extremely
important initiative as so many disabled veterans and
others are not building new homes, even though they have
the resources to do so, because:
• They do not know of a constructor who specializes in
this type of housing;
• Need help in deciding on the floor plan including the
special features they need to accommodate their
disability;
• Do not know how to obtain financing including
determining the grants and other forms of assistance
they are entitled to; and/or
• Need assistance in locating and purchasing affordable
land.
The Virginia Housing and Development Authority (VHDA)
states that the greatest need they have identified is in
the area housing for the disabled. The problem is being
compounded today by the increase in the number of
disabled returning from Iraq and the growing number of
veterans who are becoming disabled as they get older.
The VAPVA program is designed to be a “one stop shop”
where the disabled can get answers to all of their
questions right where they live and also be guided
through the entire new homes process.
Richard Seely, President of RL Seely Homes, has built
more than 60 houses this past year and has the
experienced team to both design and build affordable and
accessible housing for disabled. SunTrust Mortgage has a
long history of assisting the disabled and low-income
successfully purchase homes. SunTrust has been a strong
supporter of the VAPVA in the latter’s effort to gain
affordable housing for disabled veterans. Seely &
Associates, Inc. is also a major partner in the
initiative. The firm is carrying out project
development, fundraising and project management
activities on behalf of the VAPVA and is committed to
assisting the project to build more than 20 affordable
homes in 2007 that incorporate floor plans and amenities
needed by the disabled. .
The Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter and its partners look
forward to speaking with all who have an interest in
participating in this exciting new program. Please
contact anyone of the following officials to receive
more information and to arrange a meeting to discuss
your new home:
• La Don Chambers, VAPVA, (phone) 800-852-7639, (email)
ladon@counsellor.com
• Richard Seely Jr, RL Seely Homes, (phone)
540-379-3220, (email)
seelyrls@hotmail.com
• Deborah Sampson, SunTrust Mortgage, (phone)
804-559-2063, (email)
deborah.Sampson@suntrust.com
• Dr. Richard Seely, Seely & Associates, (phone)
703-239-0710 and (email)
rseely@cox.net
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