Show r F SERVICE id BUREAU DUREAU EDITORS EDITOR'S NOTE This Th newspaper through special arrangement with e the eW Washington w W Bureau o of Western rr estern per Union at 1616 Eye Street N. N W. W Washington Was D. D C. C is u able to bring brinK read read- readers ers this weekly column on problems of o othe the 8 veteran leteran and serviceman iceman and his fam fame ily Questions may be ba addressed to the above Bureau and they u will Z i be answered I in a subsequent column No replies can be made direct by mail but only in the I column which w will appear in this t news new i regularly r Increased ased Vet Yet Benefits I j I Veterans' Veterans Service Bureaus Bureau's Wash- Wash Washington Washington ington office has been flooded with I requests for information concern concern- concerning t ing mg the th new laws just signed by the j I President lent providing for J terminal leave pay for enlisted men in in- increased increased increased creased pensions for veterans of both World War I and II and auto auto- automobiles automobiles automobiles mobiles for amputees Next week a full column will be used for explanation of the ma ma- machinery machinery machinery chinery set up by the army navy and coast guard for payment of terminal leave to some members of the armed services Be sure and watch this newspaper for next weeks week's explanation For those who have inquired about increase in pensions and automobiles for amputees ma ma- machinery machinery machinery chinery for which is handled by the Veterans' Veterans administration here are the facts Approximately veterans of both world wars and about dependents are affected by the 20 20 per cent increase which author author- authorizes authorizes izes the payment of full pension or compensation to veterans who are hospitalized or domiciled in veterans' veterans institutions Heretofore those veterans were limited to 20 20 of their full monthly payments and andin andin andin in certain cases to 8 The new regulations r do not affect the 1500 accumulations now permitted for veterans declared mentally The Veterans' Veterans administration estimates cost of the new legislation legisla legisla- legislation legislation tion will be approximately for the first year Increases are effective as of September 1 but inasmuch as the monthly bene bene- benefit fit payments are not to be paid in advance the increased rates will not be reflected in any payments made before October 1 1946 Heres Here's the way it works Sup Sup- Suppose Suppose Suppose pose a veteran in a hospital obtains a pension of 60 per month Here Here- Heretofore Heretofore Heretofore he has been able to draw only 20 per month while he is in inthe inthe inthe the hospital and in some instances as low as 8 Now he will get the full 60 However if he is in the hospital for more than six months he cannot draw more than 30 per month beyond the six-month six pe pe- period period period but when he is discharged from treatment or care he will re re- receive receive re- re receive a lump sum equal to the amount which was withheld after alter the six month six month period If treatment or care is terminated by the veteran without approval of the VA then any amount withheld will not be paid until six months afterwards If he is again admitted ad ad- admitted admitted to a VA hospital the re re- reduction reduction re- re reduction will be effective the date of readmission but payments with with- withheld withheld withheld held will be paid when he is prop prop- properly properly properly erly discharged In event a veteran dies while he is receiving treatment or care any amount due him will be paid to his dependents VA points out that this 20 per cent increase does not affect retirement pay and it does docs not apply to subsistence al allowances al- al allowances allowances payable under Public Laws Nos 16 and I The Veterans' Veterans administration is urging veterans to take no action by making applications writing letters or making other inquiries since these will place an addi addi- additional additional additional burden on the claims service servI service service I ice and hinder administration They point out that the law requires no I action it is automatic and all vet vet- vet vet-I erans entitled to the increase will receive their increased payments in the October 1 monthly pay pay- ments As for autos for leg amputees the sum of has been ap ap- approved approved ap- ap approved proved to buy automobiles for those veterans entitled to compensation tion for loss or loss of use of one or both legs at or above the ankle The cost of each automobile is lim lim- limited limited limited to 1600 including special equipment or attachments necessary necessary necessary sary to enable the veteran to oper opere operate operate ate the car The law places upon the Veterans' Veterans administration the responsibility for determining that the veteran will be able to operate the car safely and that he will be licensed to operate it it Gen Omar Bradley stated that complete details for machinery of the car purchase plan have not I been completed Applications will willbe willbe willbe be made by the veteran to the tha nearest VA office Questions and Answers Answer Q My law brother was killea in action on Okinawa Ills His people received word of his burial on Okin Okinawa awa in the division cemetery Since then several of his buddies have returned home and tell teIl us his grave is not there Some of these buddies had even enlisted the aid of their commanding officers also their chaplain and they could not locate his grave A. A Write to memorial division of of- office office office fice of quartermaster general war department Washington D. D D C. C |