New one-time benefit Veterans given until February 16 to file claims

CEBU, Philippines - All claims from Filipino World War II veterans for benefits created by the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 must be received by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office-Embassy of the United States of America by February 16, 2010.

In a press statement issued to The FREEMAN, it is underscored that these one-time payments are all “new benefits” made available when the ARRA was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in February of last year to recognize the service of qualified veterans.

The new one-time benefits are available to eligible veterans and widows of eligible veterans who applied before the death of the latter. Any change in the law to provide these additional benefits to other survivors would require new legislation in the U.S. Congress, this was learned.

Every application is handled expeditiously, this was assured, so that qualified veterans receive their payments as quickly as possible.

As of December 29, the USDVA approved the applications of more than 11,300 eligible Filipino WWII veterans or their widows. These qualified veterans and widows have been paid a total of nearly P6.4 billion.

The statement further mentioned that approximately half of the nearly P6.4 billion in one-time benefits paid out so far has gone to Filipino WWII veterans with American citizenship, and the other half to non-U.S. citizen Filipino WWII veterans.

There is no “master list” of eligible veterans for this new, one-time benefit. Each claim is unique and decided on its own merits. All veterans who feel they may be eligible are encouraged to apply immediately. The application process is free and simple, and there is no need to pay anyone to assist in completing the form, which can be mailed to the U.S. Embassy.

If sending the application by mail, veterans are encouraged to send early enough to ensure its receipt by the USDVA on the given deadline. Simply mailing the application by the deadline is not sufficient. It must be received by USDVA on Feb. 16, the advisory reiterated.

Veterans can also submit their application in person to the USDVA offices at the US Embassy. Veterans may call USDVA at (632) 528-2500 or toll free outside Metro Manila at 1-800-1888-5252 for more information about this option.

No appointments are necessary to file an initial application for this new benefit, this was also pointed out.

In addition, outreach activities will be conducted here in Cebu and in Davao to ensure that all eligible veterans have an opportunity to apply according to the following schedule: Philippine Veterans Affairs Office-Cebu from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 14, 2010 at the Central Command in Camp Lapu-Lapu, barangay Lahug; and the PVAO-Davao on February 11 at Door 4-Gutierrez Compound, Abad Santos Avenue, Davao City also from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Veterans who have already applied for this new one-time benefit will receive an acknowledgment receipt from the USDVA. There is no need to submit multiple applications, nor any need to obtain additional military service information unless requested by the USDVA.

Application instructions for the one-time benefits are available on the U.S. Embassy website: http://manila.usembassy.gov. — /MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)