The Carlton County Veterans Service Office announces a change to the veterans van travel policy.
Carlton County Veterans Office has always had the policy that veterans pay $30 round trip/flat rate. The Minneapolis VA Medical Center interpreted this to mean our van only charges $30 for the ride so the VA was reimbursing our veterans who are eligible for travel pay less than the allowable amount authorized by the Code of Federal Regulations.
The VA had increased the travel reimbursement rate to 28.5 cents per mile effective Feb. 1, 2008. The Minneapolis VA's policy for veterans who ride the county van is that they will pay either the mileage from the veteran's home or what the county van charges for the ride to the VA Medical Center from respective county - whichever payment is less. The travel reimbursement from the VA Medical Center is not given to veterans who pay them to go to a medical appointment nor is it to be used for meals.
Currently, Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations 17.143 authorizes travel pay to veterans under the following circumstances:
- Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 30 percent or more
- Veterans traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition
- Veterans receiving a VA pension
- Veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension examinations
- Veterans whose income does not exceed the maximum VA pension rate
If a veteran drives himself/herself to the VA, then the travel reimbursement that is received is the veterans to keep for their own personal travel expenses.
If you have any questions concerning the new policy change, contact the Carlton County Veterans Service Office at 218038409172.
