PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY FOR VETERANS

THORIZATION

pt./Agency: Veterans Administration (VA)/Department of Veterans Benefits.

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SOURCES

To assist wartime veterans in need whose non-service-connected disabilities are permanent and total and prevent them from following a substantially gainful occupation.

This pension program provides direct grants to veterans with non-service-connected disabilities on the basis of needs. After a cost of living determination is set for the veteran, this pension funds the deficit between that determination and the veteran's income.

Eligible veterans are those who have had 90 days or more of honorable active war-time service in the Armed Forces. Veterans with less than 90 days of war-time service are eligible if they were released or discharged because of a service-connected disability, are permanently and totally disabled, are 65 years of age or older and not employed, or became unemployable after age 65. Income restrictions are prescribed. Pension is not payable to those whose estates are so large that it is reasonable that they look to the estate for maintenance.

Same as Applicant Eligibility.

Special Groups; Client Programs and Services.

nge/Average $4,460 annual reduced by countable income for veteran alone and Assistance: $5,844 for a veteran with one dependent plus $755 for each additional dependent. An additional $2,676 for veteran in need of regular aid and attendance and $993 if housebound. Also, an additional $1,006 if a veteran of WWI or Mexican Border Period.

Assistance
Process:

Application
Procedure:

Direct from Federal government to applicant.

Very informal procedure; almost any request is considered a claim. An application (VA Form 21-526) may be obtained from a local or regional VA Office and submitted to the regional office.

Regional Off.: Contact the appropriate Federal Information Center or Regional Council listed in the Appendix.

VETERANS COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY

HORIZATION

t./Agency: Veterans Administration (VA)/Department of Veterans Benefits.

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To compensate veterans for disabilities due to military service according to the average impairment in earning capacity such disability would cause in civilian occupations. This program provides monthly payments (regardless of needs assessment) based on what the impairment "cost" the veteran in terms of earning capacity. Starting at 10% of a cost of living determination, payments are made in gradations of 10% up to 100% of cost of living expenses depending on the severity of the impairment.

Persons who have suffered disabilities due to service in the
Armed Forces of the United States.

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Same as Applicant Eligibility.

[onal Area: Special Groups; Client Programs and Services.

¿SOURCES

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bligations FY 1981):

ange/Average Assistance:

Past Corr.
Assistance:

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use.

N/A.

(Direct payments) $6,163,200,000.

Basic rates of compensation range from $48 for a 10 percent degree of disability under war-time conditions to a maximum of $2,536 a month for specified disabilities involving anatomical loss or the loss of use of arms, legs, or for blindness.

Yes.

MANAGEMENT

Assistance
Process:

Application
Procedure:

Direct from Federal government to applicant.

An application may be obtained from any VA office and submitted to the regional office.

Regional Off.: Contact the appropriate Federal Information Center or Regional Council listed in the Appendix.

VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

THORIZATION

pt./Agency: Veterans Administration (VA)/Department of Veterans Benefits. Education Division.

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OPE AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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To make service in the Armed Forces more attractive by extending
benefits of a higher education to qualified young persons who
might not otherwise be able to afford such an education; and to
restore lost educational opportunities to those whose education
was interrupted by active duty after January 31, 1955 and before
January 1, 1977.

The G.I. Bill provides direct grants and/or direct loans (for 45
months) to veterans to help pay for the costs involved in higher
education. The veteran may select a program of education to
assist him or her in attaining an educational, professional, or
vocational objective at any approved educational institution he
or she chooses which will accept him or her as a student or
trainee. The Administrator will not approve enrollment in
certain courses, basically those he finds avocational or
recreational in nature. A veteran who must complete high school
training to qualify for higher education may receive educational
assistance without charge to his or her basic entitlement.
The veteran must have served honorably on active duty for more
than 180 days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955
and before January 1, 1977. A veteran with less than 180 days'
service may be eligible if he or she was released because of a
service-connected disability. A service person who has served on
active duty for more than 180 days, any part of which was before
January 1, 1977, and who continues on active duty is also
eligible. Upon completion of 18 continuous months of active
duty, the maximum of 45 months of educational assistance will be
granted, if the veteran is released under conditions that satisfy
his or her active duty obligation, otherwise assistance will be
provided for at the rate of 1-1/2 months for each month of
service. Also eligible are those persons who entered into service
under the Delayed Entry Program between January 1, 1977 and
January 1, 1978, and who contracted for this program with the
Armed Forces prior to January 1, 1977.

Same as Applicant Eligibility.

Special Groups; Education and Vocational Training.