January 2018 - Military Veterans Resource Center

January 26, 2018

Published by Krystle Proper at January 26, 2018

Free income tax filing assistance for veterans

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Jan. 26, 2018) – Military Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) is partnering with the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) and the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) to offer free income tax filing assistance to military veterans and their spouses. Veterans and their spouses will need to bring a valid photo ID, their DD-214 (or other evidence of military service), and their income tax records. Social Security cards are required for all dependents, including children. The new IRS identification requirements is to help keep identity theft at a minimum. A pre-appointment information form is required to be filled out and brought to the filing appointment. Those who do not bring the necessary documentation will not be able to file. A full list of all required documents is available here. Those filers who are claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit and/or are claiming child dependents may experience a delay in their refunds this year. Those forms are expected to be processed near the middle of February 2018. Appointments are available at the Columbus office on Tuesdays and Thursdays until April 18. Contact Doug Schultz at 614-636-4362 or doug.schultz@milvetsrc.org to make an appointment. The Columbus office is located at 1395 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., Suite 350. The Ohio Benefit Bank is a program of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program is an IRS initiative designed to support free tax preparation service for the underserved through various partner organizations. This service helps low- to moderate-income […]

January 26, 2018

Published by Krystle Proper at January 26, 2018

Teens stand at high risk of gambling addiction

By Bruce Jones LSW, LCDC III, NCGC I, OCPSA One More Chance Administrative Coordinator Most people see the stereotypical “gambling addict” as a middle-aged (or older) woman or man relentlessly feeding coins into a casino slot machine for hours on end, day after day, ignoring their spouse, losing their job and blowing their retirement savings. But today about one in eight of the eight million compulsive gamblers in the U.S. are teenagers. And several gambling experts believe this group represents the fastest-growing segment of people hooked on betting. Many of the triggers that incite out-of-control gambling in adults have the same effect on teens, such as the “rush” of the game, the false belief that “the big one” will happen any second and the insanity of continuing to wager even when losing big. But teens face some unique risk factors too. They: …spend a lot of time alone or online. Many live in virtual worlds playing games or talking with friends so solitary activities seem normal. …have more free time and are more easily bored. School or work isn’t as time-intensive or as demanding as adult careers and family obligations. …lack the experience and maturity to fully understand how to handle money responsibly. Just as is true with other high-risk behaviors, their brains have not matured completely. They don’t completely comprehend what consequences may flow from their behavior and choices – making them even more vulnerable to addiction disorders. In most states, teenagers cannot bet in casinos or buy lottery […]

January 24, 2018

Published by Krystle Proper at January 24, 2018

Goodwill looking for security officers for Ohio BWC

Goodwill Columbus has several security openings at the Bureau of Workers Compensation building downtown (corner of Spring and High). Starting pay is $13 per hour, with increases after training. Mandatory overtime, benefits, uniforms provided. Promotion opportunities are available as well. Goodwill is interested specifically in hiring veterans. There are five positions on three shifts available: Please note, when clicking on each link to the specific position, you will be asked to create a jobseeker account before being able to view the details. Security Officer (Wednesday-Sunday 10p-6a, Monday & Tuesday off, mandatory overtime.) Security Officer (Thursday-Monday 2p-10p ** mandatory overtime**) Security Officer (Monday-Friday 2pm-10pm) About Goodwill Columbus: http://www.goodwillcolumbus.org/about-us/careers/

January 22, 2018

Published by Krystle Proper at January 22, 2018

What a government shutdown means to you and your VA benefits

The VA has pursued a comprehensive approach to diminish the impact of a partial or full government shutdown on veterans and their family members. In general federal activities that are authorized to continue during a funding lapse, are excepted activities. The two main categories of excepted activities are those authorized by law, and those involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. Below are the functions and programs the VA has identified to be legally excepted during a shut down. These essential services include providing: consistent, high quality medical care; compensation and pension benefits; housing; and other services. Basically this means the following: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will be fully funded, meaning all VA clinics, CBOCs and hospitals will continue to function as normal to include: Medical services, medical community care, medical support and medical and prosthetic research. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) will be suspending all outreach, the GI Bill call center, all public contact activities, all appeals, pre-discharge activities, transition assistance, Chapter 36 counseling, Vet Success on college campuses and quality assurance programs. The VBA WILL continue the following services: Administer the insurance and Loan Guaranty programs, ongoing processing and payment of compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation benefits; and processing monthly benefit payments. The Bureau of Veterans Appeals (BVA) will stop processing ALL claims appeals. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will cease all activities during the shut down. The VA’s Office of the Inspector General will cease all activities during the shut down. […]

January 17, 2018

Published by Krystle Proper at January 17, 2018

How to make the most of your experience at the New Year, New Career military job fair

Going to a career fair doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you prepare well for it. A military-focused career fair like New Year, New Career should be looked at as an opportunity and not a chore. If anything, it is good practice for interviews you will be participating in down the road. Even if you are happy where you are at professionally or you are in school, networking now could prove invaluable in the future. According to a report from ABC News, 80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking. Also with more and more veterans getting out of the military than ever before, the competition for openings that military-friendly employers are offering is fierce. So, how do you stand out among all the other similarly-trained military veterans? You must learn how to sell yourself by crafting your own ‘brand’, and then selling that brand effectively using tools like creative resumes, video cover letters, stellar portfolios and impactful elevator pitches. A job fair purpose is not to land a job on the spot but to get your foot in the door. Getting an interview or some other type of follow-up action on behalf of the employer is a successful outcome from events such as this. Most jobs fairs publish a list of participating employers a week to a few days before the event. Our list can be found here. Try to do as much research as you can on the employers you are interested in. A good place to get […]