Filipino war veterans get US benefits approved
Posted on December 27th, 2009
The applications of the more than 10,000 World War II Filipino and Filipino-American veterans have been approved by the US Embassy’s Veterans Affairs Office. This gives them part of the P5.8-billion budget allocated for this purpose.
This new benefits will be paid out under a law passed by the US Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in February 2009 to recognize the service of qualified veterans during the World War II.
It involves a one-time payment, and all claims for this benefit filed by February 26, 2010 will be adjudicated, and every application is handled expeditiously so that qualified veterans can receive their payments as soon as possible.
The P5.8 billion allocated budget will be equally divided between American citizen veterans and non-US citizen veterans recipients. The one-time benefits are available to eligible veterans and widows of eligible veterans who applied before their death.
Changes in the law that would provide these additional benefits to other survivors would need a new legislation in the US Congress.
All veterans who feel they may be eligible for this one-time benefits are encouraged to apply. There is no master list of eligible veterans for this one, and each claim is unique and treated based on its own merits.
Applying is free and simple. Claimants need not pay anyone who would assist them in completing the form, which can be mailed to the US Embassy.
Outreach activities around the country will be conducted to ensure that all eligible veterans are informed and will have an opportunity to apply. These new payments are in addition to previous and continuing payments for these same veterans, and many others, including family members.
For more information and application instructions on the one-time benefits, visit the US embassy website at http://manila.usembassy.gov.
