Below, with no further editorial comment, is a letter I have just mailed the VA regarding benefits for my father, a low-income WW2 era vet.
Identifying information has been removed to protect his privacy - for what little time he has left.
I will not be hanging around right now to respond to comments, for obvious reasons.
February 12, 2010
Re: Pension Application for X
Gentlemen,
Enclosed is pension application originally filed on January 26, 2009, with additional information requested by you on January 6, 2010, plus new information on changes in circumstances since filing of application.
All additional info summarized here also.
Part A, Page 1, section 1 "Tell us what you are applying for":
2b: This is a request for a pension.
Part A, Page 1, section 2 "Tell us about you":
- Not certain why you have circled this because Social Security # XXX-XX-XXXX is provided and accurate.
- Mr. x is no longer at this address as he is in nursing care.
- This phone # is no longer valid. Number for contact belongs to X Jr, his son.
13c: The address of X Jr. has changed.
Part D, Page 2, section 3, "Tell us if you are in a nursing home":
6a: Mr. X has been continuously hospitalized or in a nursing home since August 19, 2009.
Part C, Page 2, section 3 "Tell us about any previous marriages":
13 a: Mr. X was married 1 (one) time.
Part D, Page 4, section 5 "Next 12 months - Tell us about other income for you and your
dependants:
12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f: Value of all fields is 0 (zero.)
I believe this supplies all the requested information requested.
Despite multiple contacts it has taken just under a year for you to reply to this application
with a request for additional information.
Mr. X, my father, is now terminally ill with cancer and now has just weeks, or
perhaps less, to live.
Your tardiness and lack of attention has deprived a low income veteran during the last
year of his life of additional benefits he earned via his military service.
You should be ashamed.
Sincerely,
X Jr.
son of the Mr. X making this application
*****
My thanks to those of you who took the time to read and comment.
My father worked until his health took a turn for seriously worse in 2009. His only income was Social Security - and help when possible from me and my brother - and was indeed low enough that he qualified for a monthly cash benefit.
Though he did not wish to switch to the VA system for health care he was still eligible for a benefit should he become institutionalized, as unfortunately happened.
Sadly, this all matters little now. I don't know if the pension would be paid posthumously and frankly don't care. I wanted the money to improve the quality of my father's life, not after its end to line my own pockets.
The first time I called to check on it I was told it would be flagged for immediate processing. Later, when I called, I was told they were actually processing it while I was on the phone. Then when Dad got sick being there every day for him was the priority and I gave little thought to the benefits till his Medicare got close to running out.
Dad is still alive but not for long, certainly not long enough for this to be settled. As I said, I don't want their money now anyway, but I sure think it would be nice if the VA would make an effort to get aged vets their hard-earned benefits while they are around. I can't help but feel they just want these WW2 guys to die before they have to pay them.
Dad was a great father and I am proud to be his son. The story of the battle he fought the last 6 months of his life would fill many pages.