Menu
SAG Watchdog
Takes a Bodacious Bite Out of Show-Biz Politics!
  • Home
  • Classics
  • Links
  • Contact
  • About
  • Archives
    • Archives

Close Menu
December 11, 2018

The MPTF Has Helped Industry’s Military Veterans Collect $500K In Unclaimed VA Benefits

Arlin Miller

 

 

Related image

Veterans Affairs MPTF

by David Robb
December 11, 2018 5:36pm

The Motion Picture & Television Fund’s VA Benefits Assistance Program has helped Hollywood’s military veterans and their families collect more than $500,000 in unclaimed retroactive Veterans Affairs benefits over the last five years — and more than $85,000 in ongoing monthly benefits, all tax free for life.

Related
MPTF CEO Bob Beitcher Recounts Heroic Evacuation Of Residents As Woolsey Fire Approached

https://deadline.com/2018/12/motion-picture-television-fund-woolsey-fire-close-call-evacuation-bob-beitcher-1202514488/

On Saturday, the MPTF will hold its 2nd annual VA Benefits Screening Day to help even more vets and their families receive the benefits they’ve earned.

The entertainment industry may not be thought of as one that employs many military vets, but the MPTF has found that about 10% of its clients are veterans or family members eligible for VA benefits. Since 2014, when the MPTF’s Social Services Department began formally tracking outcomes, it’s averaged more than 600 annual screenings of entertainment industry veterans, their surviving spouses, and parents of industry members who are eligible. Through these screenings and linkages to the VA for formal filing and processing, the MPTF program has helped veterans of military campaigns from World War II and the Korean War to Vietnam and the Iraq War.

“We’ve made it our mission to reduce barriers to access to these benefits,” Naomi Rodda, director of MPTF Community Social Services, told Deadline. “Our message to industry veterans and their families is: Don’t leave money on the table. You served our country and you are entitled to these benefits.”

The majority of MPTF’s veterans are identified and screened when they reach out for other services and programs offered by the fund. Rodda, who recently obtained her own accreditation as a VA Claims Agent – which allows the MPTF to have a more direct role in assisting its military veterans and their families throughout the claims benefits process – says industry veterans and their families should not be deterred by the “bad rap” the VA bureaucracy has received in some quarters.

“The biggest lesson that I’ve learned in working on behalf of the veterans for almost 10 years now,” she said, “is that the individual Veterans’ Service Officers that are responsible for filing and processing MPTF’s clients’ claims have been very helpful and willing to go the extra mile to resolve complex issues.”

The MPTF notes that as word of its program has spread, two industry donors have stepped up with financial support of $100,000 each to broaden and sustain its work.

Saturday’s 2nd annual VA Benefits Screening Day will be held at the offices of the Costume Designers Guild, IATSE Local 892, in Burbank. Although a limited number of screening appointments remain for the event, MPTF plans to hold additional screenings and outreach events throughout 2019.

Additional information: call (323) 634-3888 or email info@mptf.com.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy

—

Ahhh…Okay!

Arl

The Ol’ SAG Watchdog

*Headline photo featured in Mr. Robb’s article

(Added Take) Union Shuts Down Illegitimate Employer *SAG-AFTRA Promotes Four Female Staffers To Executive Director Posts

Related Posts

2016, 2019

*SAG-AFTRA Podcast Addresses “Wigging” And “Paint Downs” In The Stunt Industry

2016, 2019

WME’s Ari Greenburg Says WGA “Not Interested In A Real Negotiation” In Packaging Dispute

2016, 2019

Writers Guild, Agencies Meet Again Without Obvious Progress

Recent Posts

  • LA Local SAG-AFTRA Members Release Grassroots Union Literacy Guide
  • Dave McNary, Beloved Longtime Variety Film Reporter, Dies at 69
  • Dave McNary Dies: Long-Time Variety Film Reporter Was 69
  • SAG-AFTRA Health Plan Class Action Lawsuit
  • Class-Action Lawsuit Says SAG-AFTRA Health Plan Cuts “Illegally Discriminate Based On Age”
  • SAG-AFTRA Health Plan Sued Over Benefit Cuts for Seniors
  • FilmLA Quickly Rescinded New Limits On After-Hours Filming In LA
  • Hollywood Grapples With Mass Layoffs
  • Stuntplayers on ‘The Walking Dead’ Win Pay For Reuse Of Stunt Clips
  • Gabrielle Carteris' Politics Put Stunt Players' Lives in Jeopardy
  • Hollywood’s TV, film production cut in half this summer due to COVID-19
  • A Mobile App To Identify Workplace Serial Sexual Abusers

Archives

Most Viewed Posts

  • Abra-Cadabra Now you see it! Now you don’t! Be the first on your block to take the SAG Watchdog Quiz to find out what disappeared from the SAG WebsiteAnd Why! (9350)
  • Ned Vaughn Resigns as SAG-AFTRA Exec VP to Run for Assembly! (5845)
  • Fi-Core Jon, George, Wilfred and More!!! (3661)
  • (MORE) Ineptness against Foot dragging: And the winner will be? (1582)
  • Pamela Greenwalt’s Warning to SAG-AFTRA Members (1541)
  • Links (1430)
  • (Article ADDED!!!) SAG-AFTRA Board Approves New Movie-TV Contract, Triggering Ratification Vote! (1365)
  • Ed Asner & Martin Sheen Advise a NO Vote (1257)
  • ‘Midnight Rider’ Accident: More Than 500 Gather for Candlelight Walk and Memorial For Sarah Jones! (1227)
  • WGA Members Ratify New 3-Year Deal! (1083)

Tags

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2016 Gabrielle Carteris Headline Photo IATSE Jonathan Handel Ken Howard LA Los Angeles Membership First merger Midnight Rider National Board NBC Ned Vaughn New York NLRB NO Ol Dog Paul Edney PT Restore Respect Roberta Reardon RSVP SAG Scott Wilson Screen Actors Guild SVOD THR TV UFS UPDATE VP Watchdog WGA WGAW Writers Guild
Back To Top
SAG Watchdog
Web Design and Maintenance by ImagOvation