FEDERAL AGENCY:

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

AUTHORIZATION:

38 U.S.C. 1805.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide financial assistance to certain children born with spina bifida who are children of individuals who served in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

No restrictions.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Those children born with spina bifida, except spina bifida occulta, who are natural children of individuals who served in Vietnam, regardless of age or marital status, conceived after the date on which the individual first served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, without regard to the characterization of the individual's service.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Children born with spina bifida.

Credentials/Documentation:   Birth certificate and military discharge certificate. Child must be born with spina bifida and be the natural child of an individual who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 2, 1962 through May 2, 1975.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   An application (VA Form 21-0304) may be obtained from a local or regional office (see Appendix IV of the Catalog), and submitted to the regional office.

Award Procedure:   Awards are authorized at the regional office.

Deadlines:   None. Entitlement is established from the date of receipt of the application, but not before October 1, 1997.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not available at this time.

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:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Not applicable.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   36-0102-0-1-701.

Obligations:   (Direct Payments) FY 01 $13,276,000; FY 02 est $13,901,000; and FY 03 est $14,389,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Payments are $270, $930, or $1,586 monthly based on the degree of disability of the child.

In fiscal year 2001, 929 children received benefits. The estimate for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 is 949 and 959 respectively.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

38 CFR 3.814. "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is 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) 461-9700.

Web Site Address:  
https://www.va.gov/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.

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