The Department of Veterans Affairs and Facebook recently announced a new partnership aimed at helping Veterans stay connected to family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership will provide 7,400 Facebook Portals (a Facebook videoconferencing device that typically costs $129) to Veterans and their caregivers or family members. In order to fully utilize the Facebook Portal, the users must have a Facebook account and will be able to video chat with any of their Facebook friends or friends with a WhatsApp account. For Veterans to be eligible to apply for a Facebook Portal, they must be enrolled in a caregiver program or a geriatric and extended care program. Those Veterans that are approved for the Facebook Portal will receive two devices, one for the Veteran and one for a caregiver or family member. VA hopes that the distribution of the Facebook Portals will help Veterans stay connected to their support systems and stem suicides in the Veterans’ community.
The American Red Cross will be handling the applications, storage of the devices, and distribution of the Facebook Portals. Veterans can apply at the American Red Cross website at www.redcross.gov.
If you have questions about the VA and Facebook’s program or any questions about VA benefits generally please contact the experienced Veterans’ disability attorneys at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. today for a free case evaluation. Gardberg & Kemmerly serves Veterans across the United States from their home office in Mobile, Alabama. Please feel free to call the office at 251-343-1111 or 1-800-332-1529 for a free consultation.
