FEDERAL
AGENCY:
SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
AUTHORIZATION:
Foster
Care Independence Act of 1999, Section 251, Public Law 106-169;
Social Security Act, Title VIII.
To
pay a special benefit to certain World War II veterans, that are
eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and meet
other specified criteria for each month that they reside outside
of the United States.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use.
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USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Monthly
cash benefits are paid to certain World War II veterans that meet
the qualification criteria prescribed in the Law for each month
they reside outside the United States on the first day of that month.
There are no restrictions on the use of benefits, although the right
to future benefits is not transferable or assignable.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: In order to become entitled for
SVB, an applicant must: Be age 65 or older on December 14, 1999,
the date the Law was enacted; be a World War II veteran with length
and dates of service and character of discharge as specified in
the Law, this includes Filipino veterans of World War II who served
in the organized military forces of the Philippines while the forces
were in the service of the U.S. armed forces, or served in organized
guerrilla forces under the auspices of the U.S. military; be eligible
for SSI benefits for December 1999, the month the Law was enacted;
Be eligible for SSI benefits for the month that the an application
for SVB was filed; and, have other benefit income that is less than
75 percent of the SSI Federal benefit rate. For 2001, 75 percent
of the SSI Federal benefit rate is $397.50; have other benefit income
that is less than 75 percent of the SSI Federal benefit rate.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Benefits are paid to certain
World War II veterans meeting the criteria specified under Applicant
Eligibility.
Credentials/Documentation:
Proof of age, military service, the receipt and amount of benefit
income, and foreign residence is required.
APPLICATION
AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: An application may be filed at
any local Social Security office, the SSA Division of the Veterans
Affairs Regional Office in Manila, the Philippines, and U.S. Embassies
and consulates worldwide.
Award
Procedure: The applicant (and representative
payee, if any) will be notified by mail of award or denial.
Deadlines:
Benefits are not paid prior to May 2000, or prior to the month
of application, whichever is later.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
A request for appeal may be filed at any local Social Security
office, the SSA Division of the Veterans Affairs Regional Office
in Manila, the Philippines and U.S. Embassies and consulates worldwide.
The appeal process ranges from a local office review to a review
by the Federal courts. Appeals must be filed within 60 days of
the date on which a written notice of decision is received by
the applicant.
Renewals:
The law allows for the redetermination of a person's benefit amount
and continuing eligibility. The procedures for conducting such
reviews are not yet determined.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: This program has
no statutory formula for matching requirements.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Any change of address or any event affecting SVB qualification or
benefit amount (such as an increase in other benefit income received)
must be reported to the Social Security Administration when the
event occurs.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
INANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 28-0401-0-1-701.
Obligations:
(Benefit Payments) FY 01 $7,113,314; FY 02 est $9,000,000; and
FY 03 est $9,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
The maximum monthly SVB payable for current year 2002 is $408.75.
(Per Title VIII of the Act, the benefit amount equals 75 percent
of the SSI Federal benefit rate.) This amount will change yearly.
The monthly SVB amount payable to an individual is reduced by
the amount of that person's benefit income for the month. Benefit
income includes any recurring payment received as an annuity,
pension, retirement or disability benefit. A valid average benefit
cannot be calculated at this time as benefit payments have been
made only for several months.
PROGRAM
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The Social Security Administration began taking SVB applications
in April 2000 and initiated benefit payments in May 2000. The SVB
program operations has approximately 2,000 beneficiaries who have
established residency in the Philippines receiving monthly SVB payments.
Individuals may apply at any U.S. Social Security Office or at the
Office of Veterans Affairs in Manila, Philippines.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Regulations are being developed. A program fact sheet, "Special
Benefits to Certain World War II Veterans," is available from any
Social Security Office without charge. It can also be found on the
Social Security internet site.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Consult Appendix IV of the
Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Office of Public Inquiries, Room 4100
Annex, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD 21235. Telephone:
(410) 965-2736.
Web
Site Address: http://www.ssa.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Not applicable.
