Dan Meyer's Column VA Burial Allowances, VA Pension, Housebound Veterans

By: Dan Meyer

The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service] Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.

FLASH NEWS! September 19th is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I'll have a POW/MIA information booth in Madison that day, in front of Klein Bank. In addition, were working of handing out red lapel ribbons for all those who stop by in honor of all our Nation's POW/MIAs.


What are VA Burial Allowances? VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursements are generally described as two payments: (1) a burial and funeral allowance, and (2) a plot-interment allowance.


Who Is Eligible? You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if: (1) you paid for a veteran's burial or funeral, AND (2) you have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran's employer, AND (3) the veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.


In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the veteran died because of a service-related disability, OR (2) the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR (3) the veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay, OR (4) the veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.


How Much Does VA Pay? Service-Related Death. VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001. VA will pay up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 10, 2001. If the veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

Nonservice-Related Death. VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $300 plot-interment allowance for deaths on or after December 1, 2001. The plot-interment allowance is $150 for deaths prior to December 1, 2001. If the death happened while the veteran was in a VA hospital or under VA contracted nursing home care, some or all of the costs for transporting the deceased's remains may be reimbursed.


How Can You Apply? You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial Benefits. You must attach proof of the veteran's military service (DD 214), a death certificate, and copies of funeral and burial bills you have paid. Contact my office and I will assist you with all VA associated forms.


For more information, call toll-free 1-800-827-1000 or visit the Department of Veteran's web site as http://www.cem.va.gov. or contact your County Veterans Service Officer.


In the "Did You Know?" segment. When there is a death of a veteran, the family should report it immediately to your local county veterans service officer. If the veteran is receiving monthly compensation or pension, or the surviving spouse of the deceased veteran is in receipt of death pension, I need to contact the Compensation or Pension Maintenance Center. This notification is necessary to prevent an overpayment in their monthly benefits.


To order a “Vote in Honor of Veteran” button, visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.mn.us or call (651) 201-1374.





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September 15, 2008 -VA Pensions-
By: Dan Meyer

The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County
Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.]

What is VA Pension for veterans? Pension is a benefit paid to wartime
veterans with limited income, and who are permanently and totally disabled or
age 65 or older


Who is eligible? Generally, you may be eligible if: (1) you
were discharged from service under conditions other than dishonorable, and
(2) you served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day
during a period of war time*, and (3) your countable family income is below a
yearly limit set by law, and (4) you are permanently and totally disabled
(not due to your own willful misconduct) or you are age 65 or older.


*Note: Anyone who enlists after September 7, 1980, generally must
have served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to
active duty. Service from August 2, 1990 to present is considered to be a
period of war (Gulf War) in addition to other periods of war such as World War
II, Korea, and Vietnam.



How much does VA pay? VA pays you the difference between your
countable family income and the yearly income limit (situational income charts
are available at my office). The difference is generally paid in 12 equal
monthly payments rounded down to the nearest dollar.

If I am already receiving monthly payments or a service-connected
disability can I also get VA pension? No, you cannot receive a VA
non-service connected pension and service-connected compensation at the same
time, however, if you qualify for a pension and are awarded payments, VA
will pay you whichever benefit is the greater amount.


How do I apply for veterans non-service connected pension?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for
Compensation and/or Pension. If available, attach copies of dependency
records (marriage & children's birth certificates) and current medical
evidence (doctor and hospital reports). You can also apply
online through the following VA website at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. For
more information, call toll-free 1-800-827-1000, or visit the web site at
www.va.gov.


Remember, to contact your county veterans service officer for
information concerning the application process, countable income for veterans
pension eligibility, net worth requirements, exclusions to income or deductions
to reduce countable income, how VA calculates your pension, and
questions concerning Aid and Attendance, and Housebound benefits.


In the "Did You Know?" segment. To make it easier to find services
and to ensure immediate crisis intervention, Governor Pawlenty, on August 1,
2007 announced the launch of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
(MDVA) LinkVet customer service line.

The toll-free customer service line is the first of its kind in the
nation and it provides information referrals, immediate crisis intervention and
psychological counseling
24 hours a day, seven days a week at
1-888-LINKVET(546-5838).



Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following
seas."




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September 22,2008 Social Security - Housebound Veterans
By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.

Flash News. Veterans Career Day set for October 9th. Veteran friendly career fair 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Earle-Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Veterans and employers are welcome. For more information, contact Gary at 763.785.6465 or gary.quernemoen@state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Department of Military Affairs and the Minnesota Governor Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives are teaming up to host a Veterans Roundtable October 2 at the Rosemount National Guard Training and Community Center. The goal of the forum is to bring together hundreds of leaders and volunteers from faith and community organizations, state and local government, elected officials, service providers and others to hear about the needs of our veterans, military members and their families. For more information contact Lee Buckley at (651) 201-2567 or lee.buckley@state.mn.us.

In other news. The Fleet Reserve Association reports that those with military service prior to 2001 may be entitled to an extra monetary benefit when filing for Social Security benefits. This benefit includes all military veterans with active-duty service from 1957 - 2001.

Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for military service for this period can be credited to Social Security. The DD-214 can establish eligibility for up to $1,200 per year of earnings credited at time of application. Taking your DD-214 to the Social Security Administration when applying for benefits will help ensure extra earnings for military service.

For more information, visit the Social Security website.


In the "Did You Know?" segment. The Veteran's Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 specifies that the VA will furnish sensori-neural aids to the following veterans: those with a 10 percent or greater service-connected disability of any kind; those who are former prisoners of war; those in receipt of benefits under 38 U.S.C. 1151 (Vocational Rehabilitation); those permanently housebound veterans receiving aid and attendance; those with hearing loss which resulted from the existence of another medical condition for which the veteran is receiving VA care, or which resulted from treatment of that medical condition; or those who are service-connected for hearing loss, ear disease or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) even if the service-connection is 0 percent.
The two references for the information listed in the previous paragraph are: Public Law 104-262, Section 103, The Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 and VHA Directive 96-069, Provision of Prosthetic Services - Public Law 104 - 262 dated November 7, 1996.

Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following seas."