To
assist needy surviving spouses, and children of deceased war-time
veterans whose deaths were not due to service.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
No
restrictions.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Unmarried surviving spouses and
children of deceased veterans who had at least 90 days of honorable
active war-time service or, if less than 90 days during war-time,
were discharged for a service- connected disability. Income restrictions
are prescribed. A child must be unmarried and under 18, between
18 and 23 if in school, or disabled before 18 and continuously incapable
of self-support. Pension is not payable to those whose estates are
so large that it is reasonable they use the estate for maintenance.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Needy surviving spouses and children
of deceased war-time veterans.
Credentials/Documentation:
Military discharge certificate, marriage certificate, and birth
certificate(s). Income and net worth must be limited as prescribed
by statute.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: An application (VA Form 21-534)
may be obtained from any VA office or regional office (see Appendix
IV of the Catalog) and submitted to the regional office.
Award
Procedure: Awards are authorized by the Regional
Office.
Deadlines:
None, but entitlement may be established from the first day of
the month in which the veteran died if the application is received
within 45 days after the date of death; otherwise, entitlement
is established from the date of receipt of the claim.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
94 percent in 90 days or less.
Appeals:
Available through special board. In the event of a denial, claimants
are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
A surviving spouse, or child must promptly report a change in marital
status and income. Additionally, a change in schooling for a child
over 18 but under 23 must be reported. Eligibility verification
requests are sent periodically.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 36-0102-0-1-701.
Obligations:
(Direct Payments) FY 01 $684,558,000; FY 02 est $683,631,000;
and FY 03 est $675,523,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: $6,407 annually, reduced by countable income for a spouse without
children ($10,243 if in need of aid and attendance and $7,832
if housebound) and $8,349 for a surviving spouse with one child
($12,221 if in need of aid and attendance and $9,810 if housebound)
plus $1,630 for each additional child. These rates were effective
December 1, 2001, for the Improved Law Pension.
In fiscal year 2001, 247,784 survivors cases received pension. The
figures for subsequent periods are: fiscal year 2002, an estimated
232,765 cases; and fiscal year 2003, an estimated 219,456 cases.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
38 CFR 3.3. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," Pamphlet
80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O.
Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number: 051-000-00220-2.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the Catalog
for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.
Headquarters
Office: Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington,
DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 273-7210.
