VA IMPROVES BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS

Nicola L. Luciani, Department Commander

More than a thousand Filipinos who served alongside U.S. forces in World War II and who live in the United States today as citizens or permanent resident aliens will see their disability payments double under a new policy providing equality in veterans compensation.

For these Filipinos meeting specific criteria, compensation for service-connected disabilities from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) previously was limited to half the rate of that paid to U.S. veterans. Under an interim final regulation published Dec. 27, their compensation doubles and in death, survivors of the service-connected Filipino veterans covered by the rule or certain lower-income veterans now will receive burial or plot allowances at the full rate rather than the half rate.

"The new policy recognizes that Filipinos residing in the U.S. have a higher cost of living -- or cost of burial -- than those living in the Philippines," VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi said. "This recognizes the service and sacrifice of our Philippine comrades while providing this higher compensation while they are residing in the U.S."

Many Filipinos were ordered into World War II service when the Philippines was a U.S. commonwealth, but various limitations on their eligibility for U.S. benefits evolved from the two governments' determination of mutual responsibilities as the Philippines became a sovereign nation in 1946, enacting its own broad range of veterans benefits.

The new regulation already is in effect but could be amended following a comment period that extends through February 25.

For those Filipinos who would have qualified continuously since the time of the law's enactment and during the period the implementing regulations were developed, benefits will be paid retroactively to Oct. 27, 2000. VA will notify eligible veterans and automatically increase their payments appropriately.

The new regulation defines U.S. residence for these veterans as requiring an actual dwelling place and not just a post office box. The veteran must be present in the U.S. for at least the majority of each year and not outside the country for more than 60 consecutive days.

The new benefits are available only to those who acquire U.S. citizenship or who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence. VA will rely on Immigration and Naturalization Service verification of status as a permanent resident alien.

Filipino veterans affected by the new policies are those who served before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while under the military order of President Roosevelt. That includes organized guerrilla forces under commanders designated by the U.S. military.

Payment of full-rate burial benefits is limited to the survivors of similarly eligible Filipino veterans who were residing in the U.S. at the time of death and either were a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. Burial allowances are available only to veterans who at the time of death had a service-connected disability or whose limited means met income and net worth requirements.

Information about these and other veterans benefits is available from the VA toll-free at 1-800-827-1000 or at the VA Web site at http://www.va.gov.

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