For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
War vets’ spouses
can get benefits
Question: A friend lost her husband who was a Vietnam veteran. Is she entitled to a VA pension?Answer: Pensions based on need are available for surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service. Spouses must not have remarried and children must be under age 18, or under age 23 if attending a VA-approved school.
Pension is not payable to those with estates large enough to provide maintenance. The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and must have had 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war, or a service-connected disability justifying discharge for disability.
If the veteran died in service but not in the line of duty, benefits may be payable if the veteran had completed at least two years of honorable service. Children who become incapable of self-support because of a disability before age 18 may be eligible for a pension as long as the condition exists, unless the child marries or the child's income exceeds the applicable limit.
A surviving spouse may be entitled to higher income limitations or additional benefits if living in a nursing home, in need of aid and attendance by another person or permanently housebound.
This program provides a monthly payment to bring an eligible person's income to a support level established by law. The payment is reduced by the annual income from other sources such as Social Security paid to the surviving spouse or dependent children.
Medical expenses may be deducted from the income ceiling. Call the VA at 433-1000.
Q: How can a Gulf War veteran, family member, or other interested person keep up-to-date on scientific developments, legislation, and related matters?
A: VA's Gulf War Review (originally called the Persian Gulf Review) newsletter provides this. Veterans who are part of the Gulf War Registry are mailed this periodical. Anyone who would like to be added to the mailing list, should send his or her name, address and Social Security number to: VACO, Gulf War Review, Environmental Agents Service (131), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20420. The Review, including back issues, is available at www.va.gov/gulfwar. Gulf War veterans can call the VA at 433-0600. There is also a toll-free VA Gulf War Veterans Helpline: 1-800-PGW-VETS.
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/hawaii
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.
can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.