For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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VA retraining workers in identity-theft awareness
Question: What is the Department of Veterans Affairs doing to ensure that identity thefts such as the one that recently occurred does not happen again?
Answer: The VA has directed all VA employees to complete the VA Cyber Security Awareness Training Course and complete the separate General Employee Privacy Awareness Course by June 30.
The VA also will be conducting an inventory and review of all current positions requiring access to sensitive VA data and require all employees requiring access to sensitive VA data to undergo an updated National Agency check and inquiries and/or a minimum background investigation depending on the level of access required by the responsibilities associated with their position.
Q: Can I borrow on my VA insurance policy?
A: Policyholders may borrow up to 94 percent of the cash surrender value of their insurance and continue the insurance in force by payment of premiums. Interest on policy loans is compounded annually. The current interest rate may be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-669-8477.
Policyholders of National Service Life Insurance and Veterans Special Life Insurance whose term policies are capped at renewal age 70 have cash values associated with their policies. Policyholders who voluntarily cancel their policies may either take the cash value or use it to purchase paid-up insurance.
For information about government life insurance, call the VA insurance center in Philadelphia toll-free, 1-800-669-8477 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. eastern time to discuss premium payments, insurance dividends, address changes, policy loans, naming beneficiaries and reporting the death of the insured. After hours, a caller may leave a recorded message, which will be answered on the next workday.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.