MOAA Catawba Valley Chapter
(An affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America)
Welcome to MOAA Catawba Valley Chapter's website!
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(UPDATE:"Sister Bill" NC SB 109 was just filed; it will lower property taxes for Disabled Veterans. See Website "Legislative" page to view summary of both bills.)
NC Disabled Veterans Tax Relief Bill (HB118) Filed
(From President of MOAA NC Council of Chapters)
State House Bills: There is one bill that just got filed that I wanted to get out to all the chapters immediately. This was just filed on the 13th and hasn’t yet been sent to a committee yet. It is our number one priority though. HB118: Disabled Veterans Tax Relief Bill. It supports modifying property tax (Homestead) to the percentage of appraised value of a primary residence owned by a disabled veteran equal to the veteran’s disability rating that is over 50%. It has a surviving spouse's clause as well.
Wanted to be sure everyone was aware and could start watching and working towards getting this bill moving forward since it is our number one priority.
Here is a summary of the bill NC HB118:
Bill H 118 (2025-2026)
Summary date: Feb 13 2025 - View summary
Under current law, the property tax homestead exclusion for disabled veterans, set at the first $45,000 of appraised value of the residence, is excluded from taxation. Revises the property tax homestead exclusion for disabled veterans under GS 105-277.1C, so that the value of the exclusion is set as follows for the following claimants:
o Disabled veteran exclusion. – For a disabled veteran, the exclusion amount is the product of (i) the appraised value of the residence and (ii) the percentage of the qualifying owner's disability rating, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
o Surviving spouse exclusion. – For the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, the exclusion amount is equal to the greater of (i) the amount excluded under the disabled veteran exclusion explained above as of the date of the disabled veteran's death or (ii) the first $45,000 of appraised value of the permanent residence, provided that the applicant establishes eligibility for such exclusion by providing certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that, as of January 1 preceding the taxable year for which the exclusion is claimed, the veteran's death was the result of a service-connected condition. (Current law allows a surviving spouse to provide such certification from another federal agency as well.) Makes conforming changes to the definition of disabled veteran.
Streamlines the disability component of the definition of disabled veteran so that a veteran only has to show that they have been assigned a disability rating of 50% or greater for service-connected disability by certification from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. (Currently, veteran can establish entitlement to homestead exemption as a qualifying veteran under the statute by either (1) establishing permanent and total service connected disability by the VA or (2) establishing receipt of adaptive housing under 38 USC 2101 due to blindness or other permanent and total disabilities). Makes organizational and conforming changes. Effective for taxes imposed for taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Protecting Your Benefits Data from Fraudsters!
Click below button to view recent Veterans Administration's comprehensive and concise info and tips to help us defend against fraudulent activity targeted at military Veterans.
2025 Veterans Administration Benefits Guide Book
Click Button Below to view the VA's new Benefits Guide book
for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, & Care Givers for 2025
MOAA NC State Legislative Priorities 2025
MOAA NC Council of Chapter's top three legislative priorities for 2025 are shown in the below document (NC CoC Slides). Click button to view. BTW: Shown priorities totally reflect the inputs our chapter recently gave to the council.
MOAA Catawba Valley's Benevolent Fund
Our chapter's four designated local charities for 2025 are now:
- Foothills Veterans Helping Veterans
- Purple Heart Homes
- Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council
- Welcome Home Veterans
When making donations to our Benevolent Fund, you may annotate the check to specify any of the above charities, or leave it to our Board of Directors that apportions out funds to the various charities. Visit our "Charity Info" page on this website for info on organizations, their website addresses, and donation procedures.
NEW PROCEDURE FOR FREQUENT BASE VISITS
There’s a new procedure for Veterans and Care Givers who make recurring visits to military installations. To enroll for reoccurring installation access, eligible Veterans and caregivers must establish identity, fitness, and purpose on their first visit to each DOD installation they wish to access at the visitor’s center. As part of the enrollment, you must: 1.) Present an acceptable credential (VHIC or REAL ID) to establish identity. 2.) Undergo an on-the-spot criminal record and terrorism check to establish fitness. 3.) Have your eligibility for on-installation benefits verified electronically to establish purpose. View full details on how to initiate a three-year enrollment for recurring visits by clicking the button below:
MOAA Foundation Crisis Relief Program
Anyone in the local military or veteran community who might need financial assistance as a result of the hurricane can apply for financial assistance of up to $1,000 by filling out the MOAA Foundation's Crisis Relief Grant application. This is not a loan; it's a disaster relief grant. Click on the below button to view eligibility criteria and to apply.
(Please email relief@moaa.org or call the MOAA Member Service Center at (800) 234-6622 if you have any questions about the program.)
TRICARE & Dental for Guard & Reserve
The National Guard Association of the U.S. (NGAUS) is asking for our advocacy help. The pending legislation is to provide Zero-Cost TRICARE and Dental to National Guard and Reserve service members. Considering the incredibly large share of missions and deployments covered by Guard and Reserve members over recent years, this is a well-earned and long-overdue benefit; plus, it helps ensure that servicemembers remain continually ready for deployment in terms of their health. Please communicate your support of this legislation (HR 4221 Health Care for Our Troops Act and HR 4220 Dental Care for Our Troops Act) by sending an e-mail to your respective legislators via the NGAUS website “Take Action” page at: www.ngaus.org/legislation/write-congress. (Link button below) There you’ll see a preformatted e-mail templet. The NGAUS “Take Action” system automatically finds and addresses your respective Representatives and Senators for you.
No More Express Scripts Auto-Refills
Express-Scripts pharmacy is no longer allowed to automatically refill our prescriptions. Each refill request must be initiated/confirmed by the participating patient. In reaction to this development, Express-Scripts is now sending many more text and e-mail refill reminders and shipping status. By the way, Express Scripts has a mobile App for both Android and Apple smartphones; the App is titled “Express Scripts.” With it, you can manage your prescriptions and even load your COVID vaccine history into your smartphone!
STATE TAX EXEMPTION FOR USPHS AND NOAA RETIREES!
The NC Governor has signed HB103 (2022 Appropriations Bill) that now expands the military retiree state tax exemption to also cover U.S. Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency retiree pay. This was done by changing/correcting the current "military service" tax exemption for retirees to read "uniformed service." This USPHS and NOAA retirement pay tax exemption takes effect for tax year starting January 1, 2022. This success story is the result of NC CoC and chapter members lobbying/advocating to expand the no-tax benefit to cover USPHS and NOAA retirees. Congrats to our chapter's USPHS members!
Home Depot's Newly Revised
Military Discount Program
Home Depot has revamped its military discount program. Their discount program is available to all active duty, retired and former uniformed service members, including National Guard, Coast Guard, NOAA and USPHS. Plus, spouses of service members currently enrolled in the Home Depot Military Discount program may also establish their own separate account! The discount on in-stock merchandise is for 10 percent of purchase price, and each program participant receives a maximum cumulative annual discount of $400 per year. Enrolling is a bit complicated. First verify proof of service via the on-line service “SheerID.” Then, establish an account at: www.homedepot.com/military/discount. That gives you automatic discounts for both on-line and in-store purchases. Making in-store purchases involves using your “Virtual ID,” which is a QR code imbedded in Home Depot’s smartphone App, or obtainable via smartphone by logging into your Home Depot website account. Scan the QR code during checkout to get your discount on eligible items. Note, for security reasons, the QR code changes from time to time. Get full info by clicking on the words “Military Discount Benefit” located on the bottom of the www.homdepot.com homepage.
North Carolina Ends Taxation of Military Retiree Pay!
Great news for all military personnel, especially for those who retired in recent years and future retirees. On November 18th, NC Senate Bill 105 was approved by both houses of the state General Assembly and was then ratified. The Governor signed the bill that very same day, enacting it as State Law 2021-180. The law contains a provision to exempt all military retiree pay from state taxation. The provision also benefits Surviving Spouses who receive Survivor Benefit Plan payments.
You can view the section that provides this long-awaited benefit by visiting www.ncleg.gov and then typing in "S105" in the bill search box on the upper right-hand corner of the page. Then, on the left side, click on "SL 2021-180" and scroll way down to section 42.1A. This benefits only those who retired as members of the Armed Forces of the United States. The tax-exempt benefit goes into effect on January 1, 2022. Finally, all retired military personnel receive this benefit, no matter what their rank nor when they retire.
VA Authorizes Local Urgent Care
VA now offers an urgent care benefit that provides eligible Veterans with greater choice and access to timely, high-quality care. When using the urgent care benefit, Veterans must go to a contracted urgent care provider in VA’s network. Upon arriving, Veterans must state they are using their VA urgent care benefit. The urgent care provider will verify the Veteran’s eligibility before providing care. If a Veteran arrives at an urgent care network location and has difficulty receiving care, just call 866‑620‑2071 for assistance. To find an urgent care location in VA’s contracted network, search by ZIP at website: https://vaurgentcarelocator.triwest.com
Military Retirees Still Subject to UCMJ
The U.S Supreme Court recently determined that military retirees are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Although the retirees are no longer in uniform, they can be court martialed if they commit an illegal act, even if that crime is not related to military service. This became the Supreme Court’s official position by virtue of their rejecting an appeal (petition) regarding a military retiree who was court martialed and subsequently sentenced for an illegal act not related to his military service.
Along those same lines, U.S. Code Title 10, Armed Forces, Subtitle A. General Military Law, Part II Personnel, Chapter 47 Uniform Code of Military Justice, Section 802, Article 2. Persons Subject To This Chapter, states that persons subject to the UCMJ include: (4) Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay. (5) Retired members of a reserve component who are receiving hospitalization from an armed force.”
IRS Tax Fraud & Identity Theft Protection
Prevention, Detection & Victim Assistance
(Click on relevant button to IRS website)
www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-protection
www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/tax-fraud-alerts
SPECIAL VETERANS IDENTIFICATION CARDS (VIC)
The Veterans Administration issues a special Veterans ID Card (VIC) to be used in lieu of the standard DD-214 to show proof of military service. The VIC is for Veterans who do not carry a military retiree or Medically Discharged ID card. For further details and the procedures for obtaining a VIC, visit: www.vets.gov
North Carolina Special
Military License Plates!
Thanks unanimous approvals by the NC General Assembly, there are now fifty specialized plates relative to those who have served in the military, including one for the Merchant Marine Academy that some military officers have attended. The most recent addition is the Veterans plate for those who have served in the military, a specific plate for each branch of service. There are also three forms of disabled Veterans plates with the handicapped-parking symbol, none of those can be ordered on-line. Plus, a few others can’t be ordered on-line due to proof of eligibility requirements. Further info and ordering procedures are at www.ncdot.gov. Click on License Plate; then click on Specialized & Personalized Plates.
Veterans Administration App Store
The VA Mobile App store has a collection of thirty-seven different Apps (programs) developed specifically for Veterans care, such as: Concussion Coach, PTSD Coach, PE Coach. When visiting the VA's on-line App store, you not only see a description of the App, you can also view a short imbedded video explaining the nature and use of each specific App. All Apps work on web-based platforms (desktop, laptop, notebook, etc.). iOS and Android mobile devices (smartphones) can handle many but not necessarily all of the Apps. Once on the VA App store screen, click on the "App Store" tab, then “Platform” tab, and then on your category of device to see what Apps it’s capable of handling. You then know what Apps can be downloaded directly to your device. The VA Mobile App Store is at: https://mobile.va.gov
(Or click on below button)
