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Archives for: September 2009, 28
Veteran and Active Duty Survivors Now Have Own VA Assistance
By unitedweroll on Sep 28, 2009 | In Military News and Support
The following release has just come out regarding the staffing of an office within the VA to assist the survivors of both Veterans and Active Duty members. If this works as it should, this could be of great benefit to many.
When my dad went on to join that Heavenly fighter squadron, we were fortunate to be surrounded by many members of our military family and also some very helpful active duty folks at the local base who worked together to insure that everything that needed to be processed for my mom was done and done properly. But I have known others who did not have that kind of help and have had the frustrations of trying to deal with survivor benefits, etc., pretty much on their own. I seriously doubt that there is much of anything that one can do in conjunction with the military that does not require a lot of new forms and a whole set of past records just to get started.
I pray that this office will bring much assistance and some peace of mind to the survivors who themselves have contributed to the service of their spouse and to our country. Survivors who have earned and deserve this assistance.
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VA Staffs Office for Survivors of Vets, Service Members
Shinseki: "Voice of Survivors" Will Strengthen Existing Programs
WASHINGTON (Sept. 28, 2009) -- To strengthen the programs of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the survivors of the nation's
Veterans and military personnel, the Department has staffed an office to serve as their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or
modifying programs, benefits and services.
"Taking care of survivors is as essential as taking care of our Veterans and military personnel," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "By taking care of survivors, we are honoring a commitment made to our Veterans and military members."
The office serves as the primary advisor to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and service members. It will monitor VA's delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits and explore innovative ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they are eligible.
VA benefits for eligible survivors include educational assistance, home loan guaranties, health care insurance and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a monthly payment to the survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled Veterans.
More than 554,000 spouses, dependents and other survivors of Veterans
are receiving VA benefits. That figure includes nearly 5,000 spouses of World War I Veterans, 90 spouses and 94 children of Spanish-American War Veterans, and two children of Civil War Veterans.
The establishment of this office was authorized in the Veterans Benefits
Improvement Act of 2008.
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To view and download VA news release, please visit the following
Internet address: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel
