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Show EDITOR'S NOTE: This newspaper, through special arrangement with the Washington Bureau of Western Veres-paper Veres-paper Union at 1616 Eye Street, A'. If '., Washington. D.C.is able to brinft readers read-ers this weekly column on problems of the veteran and serviceman and his family. Questions may be addressed to the above Bureau and they will be an-steered an-steered in a subsequent column. A'o replies can be made direct by mail, but only in the column which will appear ap-pear in this newspaper regularly. Increased Vet Benefits Veterans' Service Bureau's Washington Wash-ington office has been flooded with requests for information concerning concern-ing the new laws just signed by the President providing for terminal leave pay for enlisted men, increased in-creased pensions for veterans of both World War I and II and automobiles auto-mobiles for amputees. Next week a full column will be used for explanation of the machinery ma-chinery set up by the army, navy and coast guard for payment of terminal leave to some 15,000,000 members of the armed services, j Be sure and watch this newspaper for next week's explanation. For those who have inquired about increase in pensions and automobiles for amputees, machinery ma-chinery for which is handled by the Veterans' administration, here are the facts: Approximately 2,000,000 veterans of both world wars and about 400,-000 400,-000 dependents are affected by the 20 per cent increase which authorizes author-izes the payment of full pension or .compensation to veterans who are hospitalized or domiciled in veterans' institutions. Heretofore those veterans were limited to $20 of their full monthly payments, and in certain cases to $8. The new regulations do not affect the $1,500 accumulations now, permitted for veterans declared mentally Incompetent. Incom-petent. The Veterans' administration estimates cost of the new legislation legisla-tion will be approximately $298,. 500,000 for the first year. Increases are effective as of September 1, but inasmuch as the monthly benefit bene-fit payments are not to be paid in advance, the increased rates will not be reflected in any payments made before October 1, 1946. Here's the way it works. Suppose Sup-pose a veteran in a hospital obtains a pension of $60 per month. Heretofore Here-tofore he has been able to draw only $20 per month while he is in 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 period, pe-riod, but when he is discharged from treatment or care, he will receive re-ceive a lump sum equal to the amount which was withheld after the 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-mitted to a VA hospital, the reduction re-duction will be effective the date of readmission, but payments withheld with-held will be paid when he is properly prop-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 not apply to subsistence allowances al-lowances payable under Public Laws Nos. 16 and 346. The Veterans' administration is urging veterans to take no action by making applications, writing letters or making other inquiries, since these will only place an additional addi-tional burden on the claims service serv-ice and hinder administration. They point out that the law requires no action, it is automatic and all veterans vet-erans entitled to the increase will receive their increased payments in the October 1 monthly payments. pay-ments. As for autos for leg amputees, the sum of $30,000,000 has been approved ap-proved to buy automobiles for those veterans entitled to compensation compensa-tion for loss, or loss of use, of one or both legs at or above the ankle. The cost of each automobile is limited lim-ited to $1,600 including special equipment or attachments necessary neces-sary to enable the veteran to operate oper-ate the car. The law places upon the 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. Gen. Omar Bradley stated that complete details for machinery of the' car purchase plan have not been completed. Applications will be made by the veteran to the nearest VA office. Questions and Answers Q. My brother-in-law was killed in action on Okinawa. His people received word of his burial on Okinawa Okin-awa in the 7th division cemetery. Since then, several of his buddies have returned home and tell us his grave Is not there. Some of these buddies had even enlisted the aid Df their commanding officers, also their chaplain and they could not locate his grave. A. Write to memorial division, office of-fice of quartermaster general, war department, Washington, D. C. |