1 | P a g e

Stock photo courtesy of

Microsoft

The Beacon 2014

Fall Edition

Please remember to update any

changes such as your name, address,

email and phone number with us. You

can do this either by sending an email

to Ryki Carlson at

richarda.a.carlson.civ@mail.mil.

This will ensure that you continue to

receive any important updates,

benefits information and news about

upcoming events. If you prefer to

receive this newsletter via email or opt

out of this mailing, please let us know.

You can do this by calling Brook

Carrion at 253-966-5047.

We Are Updating Our Records

Upcoming Events for

Surviving Families

1st October

Meet and Greet Brook Carrion

Survivor Outreach Services,

Bldg 2166 JBLM

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Refreshments provided

For More Info call: 253-966-5047

9th October

Vietnam Veterans Salute

Watkins Field, JBLM

For more information call 253-

967-5171

15th October

Financial Dine and Dial

Topic: Potential Financial

Education Resources for Military

Survivors

5:00 PM to 6:15 PM

Call in number: 626-677-3000

Access code: 7681905#

15th October

Family Programs Open House

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Marysville Armed Forces

Reserve Center

For Reservations call: 360-403-

2338

18th October

JBLM National Gold Star

Mother’s & Family Day Event

Family Resource Center

For more Info call: 253-966-5047

Contents:

Page 2: Survivor

Benefit Facts

Page 3-5: Comparison

shopping.

Page 6: Survivor to

Survivor

Page 7-8: Help List

“Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren’t any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn’t be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life’s challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person.” ~R. Buckminster Fuller

2 | P a g e

Survivor’s Benefit Fact Sheet Tri Care Medical and Dental For complete and/or current benefit entitlement information please contact: TRICARE West Regional Customer Service at 877-988-9378 Spouse: You are eligible for TRICARE coverage for three (3) years from date of death or until date of remarriage. Children: Children retain coverage until age 18 and can be continued until 23 if they are full time students. While attending college, children are eligible to maintain their TRICARE coverage until age 23. TRICARE Young Adult is available for eligible dependents as of age 23 and up to age 26. VA Benefits For complete and/or current benefit entitlement information please contact: Veterans Administration at www.va.gov or 800-827-1000 Benefit Tracking: If you have not already done so you are eligible to register for eBenefits. This website allows you to track your benefits, download VA Letters, update direct deposit and contact information. To register go to: www.ebenefits.va.gov VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Spouse: If you remarry before age 57 benefits will discontinue. Children: DIC will discontinue when child turns 18 unless proper form is submitted to VA verifying that child is full time student. Recommended time to submit VA form is 6 months prior to 18th birthday. If not approved 30 days prior to date of birth benefits will discontinue. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Retirement Services Office Joint Base Lewis-Mc Chord (JBLM), WA 253-966-5884 or 5881 Spouse: If you remarry before age 55 benefits will discontinue Children: Benefits will continue until age 18 or 22 if dependant is a full-time student. DEERS/ID Card: ID Cards should be renewed by expiration date on your card JBLM does not issue Photo ID to children under the age of 10 unless special circumstances exist Final Household Goods Movement Eligible Survivors have three (3) years to utilize Final Move Entitlement. A request for extension may be requested for extenuating circumstance and must be approved by authorizing agency.

6th November Fallen Heroes Memorial Tree Decorating Survivor Outreach Services, Bldg 2166 JBLM 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM For more info call: 253-966-5047 10th November Gold Star Family Bowling Bowl Arena – Bldg 2272 JBLM 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Cost: $1.50 per game/ $2.50 for shoes For more info call: 253-966-5047 11th – 15th December Snowball Express For more information visit their website at www.snowballexpress.org

Reoccurring Events

Gold Star Families Movie Day 3rd Saturday of each month starting in November 2014 McChord Theatre at McChord Field 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Suicide Support Group 2nd Wednesday of each month 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM For Survivors whose spouses were lost to suicide For more info call: 253-966-5047 Active Duty Grief Support Group 1st Tuesday of each month 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM For Active Duty Military only – feel free to bring a lunch For more info call: 253-966-5047

3 | P a g e

Comparison Shopping: 15 Principles to save Thousands by Mark Dunlap

The below is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to imply endorsement by the

Survivor Outreach Services Program of any event, organization, corporation, or product.

1. Save your savings – A Concept that Takes Practice

Many people don’t save for emergencies or retirement because they believe they just haven’t

earned enough money to do so. After establish a budget the family can then create a plan to save

10% on purchases this year. Once a strategy to save 10% is established then a plan for the

savings can be created. The family can start to save half of their planned savings into an

emergency savings account and start contributing the other half to their retirement account. .

2. Have savings Set Aside for Deep Discount Purchases – This Takes Planning

Families must try to have money set aside for deep discount purchases. This seems like a simple

concept but it is much more complex to implement. If a family has $300-$500 set aside for deep

discount they may save thousands. With even a small amount of savings dedicated to deep

discount purchases, the family can walk into a grocery store and buy $150 worth of meat for 50%

off, and put it in their freezer. This takes patience, savings and the ability to store goods. By

planning for the needs of your family, not just reacting to them, an individual can save thousands.

Shopping for holiday presents or decorations after the holiday will save you 50-90%. Shopping for

winter clothes in March can save 50-75%. Planning, patience and savings set aside for deep

discounts can save family thousands of dollars a year.

3. Mobile comparison application (Bar Code Scanner)

Mobile comparison shopping gives you the ability to go to a store and scan any item. Then, your

mobile comparison app will allow you to see the prices of that product at other stores in your area,

the price offered online and reviews of the product.

4. Mobile coupons

These are coupons that you can easily look up on your phone at sites like www.retailmenot.com.

Some mobile coupons sites will use GPS to automatically send your phone coupons as you enter a

store. On other sites, you simply type in the name of the store and select in-store-coupons. Most

stores will scan the coupon from your phone. Most apps are free and this is another no-cost, quick

and effective tool for low-income families to save money.

5. Online comparison shopping

Online shopping specifically refers utilizing a computer, laptop, tablet, etc., and attempting to

compare the best prices for a product. Online comparison sites are very effective for comparing

larger or more expensive items. Many online comparison sites now cross reference sites like e-bay.

Many times a shopper can use these online comparisons to have local stores match the price.

Some big box stores will match online advertisements but almost all will match online

advertisements of local competitors. Some big box stores may even give free shipping to match a

competitor’s offer as well.

4 | P a g e

6. Online Coupon Codes

Online coupon codes can be found at sites such as www.retailmenot.com. They can be entered

during checkout of an online purchase. After you find the best price through comparison shopping,

you can easily look for additional savings with coupon codes. Some of these codes are for a

percentage off the price, some are for a dollar amount and some are for such things as free shipping.

7. Food Costs

Food costs vary based on family size and likes. Most families can use sales and price matching to

save thousands. You can call some stores to see if there are any sales on such things as meat.

8. Price Matching

Understand which stores price match competitors can be very valuable. Stores like Wal-mart, Best

Buy and Target will match all local competitors’ advertisements. Some stores will even match online

competitors. Always request to speak to a manager if the store refuses to match local competitor

offers.

9. Compare financial products with bankrate.com

When buying a car, the old method is to ask the bank you currently bank with and maybe call a

couple of other banks to compare interest rates. Now, you can compare over 5,000 lenders in

seconds with www.bankrate.com. Compare not only car financing options but also credit cards,

mortgages, college and car loans. Bankrate.com has calculators and tools to help families understand

and become educated about their financial future.

10. Understand E-bay

E-Bay has millions of new and used products. Because companies don’t have to have a bricks and

mortar location, they can sell their products at a discounted price on E-bay. E-bay not only has

millions of products, but also thousands of coupons. Almost any coupon ever made can be found on

e-bay. Many on-line comparison websites will also cross reference e-bay prices.

11. Call all of your services once annually to see if you have the best deal.

Evaluate your home, auto, health and other insurance coverage once a year to ensure you have the

lowest price available. Call your credit card, cable, phone and other services to evaluate better prices

at least once a year.

12. Understanding Special Offer websites

There are now many deal sites offered on both local and national sites. Sites like Groupon, Living

Social and even Angie’s List can be used to purchase products, services and vacations with deep

discounts. If you are a rational spender, you can save thousands. If you are an emotional spender,

these sites may actually cost you money with additional purchases.

13. Understand the Stores Where You Shop

By understanding the stores where you shop, you will be able to maximize your discounts. By

knowing when deep discounts are scheduled, you can plan your annual buying strategy. Knowing

that toys are marked down 40-75% in January, winter clothes 35%-75% in March, summer clothes

35%-75% in September or lawnmowers are 30-75% off in October, you can save thousands. By

knowing the biggest sale dates for your stores (holiday, black Friday or once a year event) you can

save 25-75% on just about anything.

5 | P a g e

WA Survivor Outreach

Services (SOS)

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

AFCS Annex

Bldg. 2166, Liggett Ave & 12th S. St.

Ryki Carlson at 253-967-7501

or

Brook Carrion at 253-966-5047

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Casualty Assistance Office

Waller Hall

Bldg. 2140, Liggett Ave.

253-966-5890

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Retirement Services Office

Waller Hall

Bldg. 2140, Liggett Ave.

253-966-5881

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Air Force Retirement Services

Office

100 Col Joe Jackson Blvd

253-982-3821

www.facebook.com/SOSWASTATE

14 Weatherization of Home and Energy Efficient Appliances

Almost two-thirds of families are home owners and have direct

control over their home. The average monthly cost for Electricity is

$116.59 and $121.96 for gas. There are many programs that can

help pay for some or all of a home to be weatherized for low-

income families. Also, you may want to check with your Utility

Company on any Solar Energy incentives.

Some individuals continue to use outdated appliances because

they don’t have enough saved to buy updated appliances. An

average size refrigerator from 1990 uses approximately $143

dollars a year. A new refrigerator uses $45 per year. Even a

freezer from 2000 can cost an extra $50 per year to use versus a

new energy efficient model. A high efficiency hot water heater can

save 10-50% depending on the model it is replacing. Using

discounts, free delivery and free haul away, a family replacing

outdated appliances could save hundreds of dollars a year in

energy costs.

15 Ask the manager

This is an example of a question for a store’s manager.

MY QUESTION

I have been blessed with four beautiful children. I don’t want

something for nothing; I just want to know how to get the best deal

on a washer. I think ours has a little time left and I just don’t have a

lot of money right now but I need a reliable product. How can I get

the best product for the best price?

MANAGERS RESPONSE

Sure, we have a clearance section in the corner of our store,

our biggest sale dates are Memorial Day, Labor Day and Black

Friday. We also have a 15% online coupon that can be

combined with our sale price. We have military, government

employee and senior discounts. Finally, we match all

competitor prices in town. No one beats our prices!

If you are on the right

path, it will always be

uphill.

~ Henry B. Eyring

6 | P a g e

Survivor to Survivor: Chapter Two by Sarah Vargo May 23rd, this day had no meaning before 2012. But a little over two years ago my handsome, amazing hero was taken to heaven. From that terrible morning on, my entire life would be broken up into two categories; the time before and after my Jason died. As most of you can relate, I could no longer be the same person I was - I am now a Survivor. “So, I’m a Survivor. Now what?” I seem to ask myself this question a lot. A major step on my healing journey has been finding out who I am without my Jason. I embarked on a quest to find out what my interests were: what kinds of foods I liked, how would I want to decorate my house, what I want to be when I grow up. I didn’t know who I was without him, and to start truly living my next chapter, I had to find out. On this soul searching quest to find the new me (I know, I sound like a self-help book), there were many bumps along the way; a few questionable hair color decisions, over thinking home decor (this lead to living without a lamp in my living room for 6 months), disastrous meals that ended in ordering out and tears of frustration. I have also cherished many wins. I found emotional strength in getting stronger physically (who knew that one of my greatest joys in life is getting my butt kicked at the gym?), I just completed my first year back in school with a near perfect GPA, and I’m back in the work force. I also had to give myself permission to find happiness again. I struggled with a sense of guilt being happy in a world that he was no longer in. This feeling still hasn’t left me completely, and I still won’t leave him out completely. The urge to call or text Jason is still there, and sometimes this crazy girl does just that (without sending of course). I talk to his pictures, grave stone, and his urn. Occasionally, I get together with friends laughing and crying over memories of him. Giving myself permission to make new memories without him that will bring joy in future times. My love for him will never end, and, though changed, our love story continues. I carry him in my heart in this crazy “Chapter Two” journey. This isn’t a journey that should ever be taken alone. We will never truly live without the support of others, especially someone who can comprehend what is really means to be a Survivor. I didn’t receive a handbook from my CAO on how to keep living, but I have been blessed with the support system of Survivor Outreach Services and have had the honor of meeting and growing with many of you. Sharing your story and what you have learned along the way is what will keep us supporting one another. I look forward to listening to your story someday.

7 | P a g e

Veteran’s Administration (VA) www.va.gov

Department Name(s) Toll Free Number(s)

VA Benefits:

Burial Death Pension Dependency Indemnity Compensation Direct Deposit Directions to VA Benefits Regional Offices Disability Compensation Disability Pension Education Home Loan Guaranty Medical Care Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

1-800-827-1000

Beneficiaries in receipt of Pension Benefits 1-877-294-6380

Debt Management Center (Collection of Non-Medical Debts) 1-800-827-0648

Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) Foreign Medical Program (FMP) Spina Bifida Health Care Program

1-877-345-8179 (or) 1-888-820-1756

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) CHAMPVA In-House Treatment Initiative (CITI)

1-800-733-8387

Education (GI Bill) 1-888-442-4551

Health Care Benefits 1-877-222-8387

Smoking Cessation Counselors 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838)

Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Combat Call Center 1-877-WAR-VETS ( 877-927-8387) 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387)

8 | P a g e

Life Insurance: Service members and/or Veterans Group Life Insurance Program All other VA Life Insurance Programs

1-800-419-1473 1-800-669-8477

Mammography Helpline 1-888-492-7844

Women Veterans Hotline 1-855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636)

CHAMPVA Meds by Mail 1-888-385-0235 (or) 1-866-229-7389

Special Issues - Gulf War/Agent Orange/Project Shad/Mustard Agents and Lewisite/Ionizing Radiation

1-800-749-8387

Status of Headstones and Markers 1-800-697-6947

Social Security Administration (SSA) Active duty deaths 866-777-7887 or Retired 800-772-1213

Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 800-321-1080 (military retiree receiving benefits)

Military OneSource (800-342-9647) www.MilitaryOneSource.com 24/7 Call center for information to relationships, grief, spouse employments, education, parenting, and finances. My Army Benefits (888-721-2769) www.myarmybenefits.us.army.mil Online calculators and comprehensive military and Survivor benefits information of value. Survivor Outreach Services US Army (SOS) www.sosarmy.mil Children of the Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc. (301-865-6327) www.cfsrf.org Provides college grants and financial assistance to surviving children and spouses of the Fallen. United Services Organizations (USO) (703-908-6400) www.uso.org WA state Small Business Development Center www.wsbdc.org A resource for expert business advising, management training, and market research; offering one-on-one technical assistance at no charge to make sure you have the information you need to make decisions that are right for your company. Military Relief Societies Army Emergency Relief (AER) (800-769-8951) www.aerhq.org Air Force Aide Society (AFAS) www.afas.org Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) (703-696-1481) www.nmcrs.org Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (800-881-2462) www.cgmahq.org