Recent news from The MOAA Newsletter. View previous editions of Council and Chapter News here. Send updates about your affiliate’s activities to blaird@moaa.org for possible inclusion in future editions.

The 2022 Community Outreach Grant Cycle Is Now Open!

The MOAA Foundation is accepting applications Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 for its 2022 Community Outreach Grants. To be eligible to receive a grant, MOAA councils or chapters must meet basic administration requirements and be actively involved in the delivery of community services supporting currently serving, veterans, and their families in one of 10 areas of critical family need: housing, food assistance, employment, health (including behavioral health), family support, community reintegration, financial assistance, legal assistance, transportation, and emergency relief efforts.

In 2021, 33 MOAA chapters received grants totaling more than $87,000.

Learn more about the grants, make a donation, and find the application (as of Dec. 1) at MOAA.org/foundation.

Apply for the 2022 MOAA Community Sponsorship Program

National MOAA supports councils and chapters by providing financial backing for community-focused programs and events.

Looking for ways to finance a council or chapter community event? Apply for sponsorship of up to $800 for council events or $300 for chapter events. Councils and chapters may apply to receive funds for one event per calendar year.

Sponsorship will be considered for events such as council conventions, chapter events that recognize ROTC and Junior ROTC cadets and enhance the chapter’s relationship with cadets’ schools, chapter activities that help to raise awareness of the chapter in the community (including recruiting events) and educate community members about benefits, etcetera.  Funds also may be used to purchase items, including signs, banners, and tablecloths, for use in such events.

Apply by visiting MOAA's website and filling out and submitting the online request form. MOAA will process requests in the order received and, if approved, transfer funds via Electronic Funds Transfer.

Coming Soon: Enter the Communications Award Contest

The deadline to enter the annual Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Award Contest is Feb. 1. Council and chapter leaders can submit entries to be recognized as a four- or five-star winner in two categories of competition: 1) print newsletters and electronic newsletters and 2) websites.

Entries will be accepted through an online submission platform that will be available soon. Find more details about the contest.

Did You Know? Affiliate Awards

Consider affiliate awards (such as Communication and Levels of Excellence awards) and individual awards (such as leadership, legislative liaison, and surviving spouse liaison awards) as ways to build morale and encourage retention and leadership succession. Find more information on all these awards.

Surviving Spouse Corner: What to Expect in 2022 With the ‘Widows Tax’ Repeal

Phase 2 of the three-year phase out of the widows tax is around the corner. Here’s how to estimate your benefit.

By Nancy Mullen, Surviving Spouse Advisory Council member

We are coming up on the second year of a three-year phase out of what has been known as the “widows tax,” which required forfeiture of a dollar of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) for every dollar of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) received. Please note this is only applicable to those surviving spouses who qualify for both DIC and SBP and are in receipt of the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA).

In Phase 1 (2021), surviving spouse SBP payments were reduced, or offset, by two-thirds of the DIC rather than the full dollar-for-dollar reduction. For many surviving spouses, this resulted in an increase in the amount of SBP paid as the gross amount of their SBP exceeded two-thirds of the DIC. Others have had to wait to see an increase in their benefit.

We are nearing the start of Phase 2 of the elimination of the offset for which the amount offset (or deducted) from the SBP will be reduced to one-third of the DIC payment. To estimate your benefit, subtract one-third of your current base DIC payment from your current gross SBP benefit. The result is approximately what your SBP payment will be in the second phase, plus any COLAs, which is expected to be approximately 5.9%.

Let’s look at an easy example: We will assume a COLA of 5.9% for 2022, which puts the projected 2022 base DIC amount at approximately $1,437.66. One-third of that new DIC amount is $479.22. This is the amount you will subtract from your gross SBP amount. So, if your gross SBP without offset is $1,000, then you would subtract $479.22 from $1,000 to give you a 2022 SBP payment of $520.78 ($1,000-$479.22).

You would also receive the SSIA, which is projected to be approximately $346. These new changes will be effective in January 2022, which you will see reflected on the payment to be received Feb. 1, 2022.

If you do not know your gross SBP, you can find that on your annuitant account statements, available in your myPay account. You should also receive an annuity statement in the mail in December 2021.

There are no changes to the post-9/11 active duty survivor child-only SBP option until 2023, and these changes do not impact the retiree child-only SBP option.

Thankfully, many resources are available to help you understand the basics of your benefits. If you are not already a member, please join the Military Widows: SBP-DIC Offset or the MOAA Surviving Spouses and Friends Facebook groups. These pages contain various important files you can use to read up on this and other issues as well as additional posts that might be of interest to you. You can also visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) website for the most up-to-date information and other guidance, including the June 2021 survivor SBP newsletter, The SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination: What to Expect in the Upcoming Phases, as well as a helpful frequently asked questions section. Visit the DFAS website to learn more.

Read past Surviving Spouse Corners.

MOAA Networker Group

Is your chapter interested in learning more about career transition and advancement to help transitioning officers and veterans in your community and potentially attract new chapter members? Connect with other volunteers focusing on transition and networking as well as national MOAA award-winning Career Transition Team Wednesday, March 2, from 5-6 p.m. Eastern time.

The “MOAA Networkers” meet via Microsoft Teams three times a year, on the first Wednesday of March, July, and November. The group also communicates regularly via email about opportunities and individuals who are need of local connections. Contact Capt. Pat Williams, USN (Ret), at patw@moaa.org for more information.   

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these MOAA events.

Quarterly Council President/Independent Chapter President Meeting: The meeting will be held Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Check the Dates to Know page for the meeting link.

Monthly Chapter Leader Virtual Roundtable: Join us at 7 p.m., Eastern time, Dec. 30 for a discussion about incorporation, tax status, and liability insurance. | Click here to join at the time of the meeting.

Get Newsletter Content From National MOAA

Need some content to supplement your chapter’s newsletter? The White Label Newsletter Template includes information, articles, and helpful tips from national MOAA that already are formatted for inclusion in your newsletter. The content is updated every month to ensure you are receiving timely, relevant information.   

From the Field

MOAA chapters give back to their communities through fundraising efforts, community-service projects, scholarship programs, and other initiatives. Here are some recent activities.

The South Carolina Council of Chapters and the Aiken Chapter partnered with the Aiken County Office of Veterans Affairs to hold a planning seminar for veterans and their spouses Nov. 6. More than 100 people attended the seminar, which informed participants about the latest benefits available to surviving spouses after the death of a veteran or spouse as well as considerations and actions that can be taken in advance of the death of a veteran. Experts from national MOAA and the VA gave presentations, and surviving spouses offered insights from their experiences.

Members of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter participated in a career day in late October hosted by University of Arkansas Air Force ROTC department. Five chapter members shared stories about their careers and answered questions. The Air Force cadets gained valuable tips about various career fields in the military. In addition to MOAA chapter members, active duty Air Force officers from Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Tinker AFB, Okla., also participated.

In November, the Tampa (Fla.) Chapter held its "Thriving After Military Service" event at Five Labs Tampa Facility. The interactive seminar provided insightful information and speakers about post-retirement issues that are both family-focused (such as TRICARE/health insurance, education benefits, wills and trusts, etcetera) and community-focused (such as community and veteran program initiatives). In addition, Col. DJ Reyes, USA (Ret), addressed seminar participants about Tampa's renowned Veterans Treatment Court program and its volunteer veteran mentor program. 

National MOAA Travel Schedule

Here are the councils and chapters MOAA leaders will be visiting over the next few months.

Please note: We are aware of the uncertainty surrounding the resurgence of the COVID-19 virus. We are still planning to execute scheduled chapter visits and continue to schedule visits as requests come in. Our rule of thumb at this point (subject to change) is to make the visit only if all required/appropriate safety measures are in place AND the traveler is fully vaccinated and comfortable with the trip. Chapters with scheduled visits are requested to inform Council and Chapter Affairs of the local conditions and safety requirements one week prior to the visit.

Contact the associated chapter if you would like to attend any of the following scheduled visits:

• Dec. 2, Catawba Valley (N.C.) Chapter, Hickory, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
• Dec. 2, Citrus County (Fla.) Chapter, Citrus Hills, Col. Theodore J. Janosko, USA (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• Dec. 4, Southern Tier (N.Y.) Chapter, Appalachian, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Dec. 8, Central Ohio Chapter, Columbus, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Dec. 10, Tampa (Fla.) Chapter, Col. Bradley S. Jewitt, USMCR, MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• Dec. 12, Hawaii Aloha Chapter, Hickman Field, Capt. Frank Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
• Dec. 12, Lower Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Chapter, Hartsdale, Capt. Erin E. Stone JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Dec. 12, Western Connecticut Chapter, Redding, speaker TBD
• Dec. 13, Charlotte Harbor (Fla.) Chapter, Punta Gorda, Gail Joyce, MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• Dec. 16, Southwest Virginia Chapter, virtual, Lt. Col. Walt Smiley, USA (Ret), MOAA board of directors (BoD)
• Jan. 7, Florida Council of Chapters, Orlando, Gen. Walter L. Sharp, Chairman, MOAA board of directors (BoD); various MOAA staff
• Jan. 10, Lee Coast (Fla.) Chapter, Fort Meyers, Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), vice president Council/Chapter and Member Support
• Jan. 12, Middle Georgia Chapter, Perry, Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), vice president Council/Chapter and Member Support
• Jan. 12, Heritage (Va.) Chapter, virtual, speaker TBD
• Jan. 12, South Shore (Mass.) Chapter, virtual, speaker TBD
• Jan. 12, Susquehanna (Md.) Chapter, location TBD, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
• Jan. 15, Arizona Chapter, Scottsdale, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
• Jan. 18, Greater Granbury (Texas) Chapter, Capt. Frank J. Michael, USN (Ret), program director, CCA
• Jan. 18, Jayhawk (Kan.) Chapter, Lawrence, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Jan. 19, Northern Virginia Chapter, virtual, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Jan. 20, Virginia Peninsula Chapter, Eustis, Maj. Gen. Joseph Lynch, USAF (Ret), general counsel, corporate secretary
• Jan. 20, Monterey County Chapter, Monterey, speaker TBD
• Jan. 21, Indian River (Fla.) Chapter, Vero Beach, Capt. Erin E. Stone, JAGC, USN (Ret), senior director, CCA
• Jan. 21, Mahoning-Shenango Valleys (Ohio) Chapter, Canfield, speaker TBD
• Jan. 21, St. Petersburg Area (Fla.) Chapter, Seminole, speaker TBD