>>Valley Patriot>>


Benefits for Our Veterans
Susan Piazza
(05/07/07)

For those who read our last article, I think you can now understand how confusing VA benefits are for the veteran and his or her family. I cannot stress enough the importance of veterans keeping their families informed as to the location of their important military and/or veteran papers. These papers are essential in knowing and understanding what benefits the spouse and/or family may be entitled to. Benefits hinge on one issue, the type of discharge. Other matters can be debated, possibly bent. A dishonorable discharge is not one of these issues. A dishonorable discharge makes the veteran and his family ineligible for benefits. For purposes of this article, we will assume all discharges are under conditions other than dishonorable.

We will again focus on death benefits for survivors. The following are programs set up to assist the family left behind.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

 To be eligible for DIC, the veteran would have had to suffer a service related injury or disease resulting in death. A non-service related injury or disease can be eligible if the veteran was receiving or entitled to receive 100% compensation prior to his death for the ten (10) consecutive years prior to death.

A veteran who dies before the ten years has accrued can still be eligible if he was rated 100% disabled upon exit from the military, and this rating continued for the five years following exit from the military. POWs who died after 30 Sept 1999 and were rated 100% for one year prior to death may also be eligible. DIC helps surviving spouses, unmarried children under 18 (or between 18 and 23 if attending a VA approved school) or helpless children. Dependent parents whose income is low enough may also be eligible.

A spouse, in the eyes of the government, must be married and have lived with the veteran for a minimum of one year or, if a child is born of the union, any length of time qualifies the spouse.

A spouse can still be eligible, if he or she did not live with the veteran for a period of time prior to death, if the separation was not the fault of the spouse.
The VA considers a child to be “helpless” if he or she is permanently disabled, unable to care for one’s self, and if the disability occurred prior to the eighteenth (18) birthday and will not improve.

The surviving spouse and remarriage.

A spouse who remarries can still be eligible for benefits if the remarriage is terminated due to annulment, divorce, or death. However, if the surviving spouse lives with someone and sets that person up as their spouse, he or she can become ineligible. Another exception to the remarriage rule is that as long as the surviving spouse remarries after age 57, the spouse may still qualify.

Another important benefit that can be useful is something called Aid and Attendance. If a survivor is entitled to DIC, he or she may be entitled to Aid and Attendance. This assistance is given to inpatients in nursing homes, or to those that require the “aid and attendance” of another person on a regular basis.

A similar program is called Housebound. As one can logically assume, this benefit is for those spouses who are permanently housebound. One who is eligible for DIC is usually eligible for housebound benefits.

Death Pension.

 Pensions, as with DIC, are income based. They are based on need. Someone eligible for aid and attendance, or someone who is permanently housebound, may be entitled to a higher income limit.

The veteran has had to have served ninety (90) days in the service with at least one day served during wartime (or conflict) status, unless the veteran was discharged or retired for a service-connected disability.

A death pension may be issued to a “helpless” child. The helpless child definition explained in the DIC section applies here as well. This pension may continue until or unless the child marries and/or has an income that exceeds limits. Parents of a deceased veteran may be entitled to a death pension as well, but, again, only if income is limited.

Annual limits, changed yearly, conform to levels established by law. The current annual amount given to a surviving spouse is $7,094. These payments are diminished by the amount of income one receives. Social Security counts as income and is subtracted from this annual rate.

Any income received erodes this “benefit.” Non-reimbursed medical expenses may be used to offset some of one’s income. One point I want people reading this to take away - please, please, please! - make sure your finances are in order and that you have taken steps to ensure that those left behind will not have a declining lifestyle at a time in their lives when they are unable to work and maintain their own normal lifestyles.

Prepare.

 Now and again, laws change. So, even if this article implies you may not be eligible, check with a veterans’ agent. Massachusetts has an agent in every city. He or she will assist you in filling out forms. Many veterans’ organizations will also assist you.

May God bless all, and may God bless the great United States! Until later, I remain ...

Susan Piazza is the first female commander of the DAV in 75 years, and its current commander. She has been involved with the DAV over twenty five years. She is also Past Commander of the American Legion Post 417, Methuen.

 *Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The MAY 2007 Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007
, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 12,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover, North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland, Boxford, Amesbury,
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, Merrimack, Hampton & Salisbury Beach, and Lowell.

Valley Patriot Archive

Valley Patriot Story
ARCHIVES

Prior Lead Stories

Prior Valley Patriot Editorials

Prior Columns by ...

Tom Duggan
Dr. Chuck Ormsby
Paula Porten
Ralph Wilbur
Hanna
Ted Tripp

Valley Patriot of the Month

Griselsilva.com

Patrick Blanchette
D.J. Beauregard
Jim Cassidy
D.J. Deeb
Marcos Devers
Bob Desmarais
Regina Faticanti
Jim Fiorentini
Bill Kelly
Wilfredo Laboy
Peter Larocque
Vilma Lora
Ed Maguire
Billy Manzi
Paul Murano
Mark Palermo
Hartley Pleshaw
Debbie Quinn
Raise Em Right
Dr. Peary
Kathleen Corey Rahme
Barney Reilly
Angel Rivera
Jim Rurak
Grisel Silva
Mike Sullivan
Sandra Stotsky
Mike Sweeney
Ken Willette
Scott Wood
Jim Xenakis