RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,83689,00.html

I'm really surprised to hear this. My mother has had a relatively comfortable life for over 50 years due to my father and step-father's pensions and other government programs due to their military service. They both died young.

The VA don't give a crap about Survivors getting benefits. If they did they wouldn't make it so hard for older Vets or their Widows to fill out the required forms. To prove my case just click on the web site you posted on your blog or call that toll free number.

Sounds like a 'natural' use for the American legion or the VFW. Are those organizations not interested in veterans and their families? Do they have no pensioners who know how to fill out the forms?

It's easier to blame a (now Democrat)government organization for not knowning where every vet and his or her partners and kids are. THIS problem just cropped up, right?

Duster6,

I responded to the article, that's why it appears on my blog.It apears automatically. Maybe, herein lies the problem. Failure to read/listen for understanding and comprehension. My mother's pension and benefits kicked in right away. Of course she's an English/Spanish major with a Masters degree, so that may have facilitated the process. There weren't computers back then, or at best bare bones data processors, either. Sorry to hear you're having problems.

Funny that this came out now. They just remembered they also have an assisted living plan for the disabled and homeless vets.

Duster's point seems to be well taken ...

Clicking on either of these two links within the article -

quote:

If you think you may qualify for the benefit, go to:

www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Milsvc/Docs/Pensoneg.doc

If you are a widow of a veteran, go here:

www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Milsvc/Docs/Dpeneg.doc

takes one to military.com's site map.

Cutting and pasting them to one's browser or clicking on them from my quote above gives one a "Page not found".

I didn't pursue the touchtone menu at the phone number provided in the article to see how long it would take to find the right person to talk to ... none of the choices were intuitively obvious.

One would think that military.com would have at least verified the links before reproducing the article as military.com news.

Does this site have anything that will help you.

http://www.vba.va.gov/SURVIVORS/index.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Duster6:
The VA don't give a crap about Survivors getting benefits. If they did they wouldn't make it so hard for older Vets or their Widows to fill out the required forms. To prove my case just click on the web site you posted on your blog or call that toll free number.

This country does not give a crap period. Remember, it is "voluntary service".