October 12, 2006:
Most Americans don't know that military veterans, who are over 65 years old and living in poverty, are eligible for pensions. So are the widows of veterans. The Veterans Administration (VA) currently pays out about $3.4 billion each year to these pensioners. But calculations of the number of over-65 veterans living beneath the poverty line (annual earning under $10,580 a year, $7,095 for widows) shows that some $20 billion a year should be going out. This is bad news for the Veterans Administration, whose budget is currently $70 billion, and completely spoken for.
The money would bring those eligible to just over the poverty line. The reason most of those eligible, don't know about it, is because the VA has dozens of programs, and not a lot of money to run big, and constant, multi-media advertising programs to reach eligible vets. Those who are missing out usually do not belong to veterans organizations (which do make sure their members know this stuff), have children who are tuned into the benefits angle, or are mentally infirm, and not able to seek out this kind of help. There may be as many as half a million eligible vets out there, who are not getting the benefits (which can be up to $2,300 a month, or as low as $112 a month.) These are vets who are not making a lot of money, so even $112 a month can mean a lot. To find out if you, or someone you know, is eligible, go to www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Milsvc/Docs/Pensoneg.doc, or call 800-827-1000.