Surfhag: I located the following via Google - The Department of Veteran Affairs provides a number of benefits for former military service members, including assistance in purchasing new homes and medical care. Whether or not you qualify for these benefits depends in part on your discharge status, which the DD214 can confirm.
That is a "maybe" Widow Benefits. If he was a Korean War Veteran that died or with service connyou could qualify for Indemnity Compensation (DIC) widow monthly pension . You will need to apply with a local Regional Service Veteran (RSO) Officer Like DAV, Disability Assistance Veterans. Make sure you take the Servicemen DIscharge DD 214, his social # and Death Certificate.
PACT Act (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics) only applies to those veterans exposed to toxins or their survivors. A surviving spouse of a veteran is eligible for other benefits if the qualifications are met… even if they weren’t exposed to toxins. Others have already given places to check and as has been pointed out it won’t be back dated so be sure to make a contact ASAP with your local veterans affairs office and get a claim started… it may be backdated to the date you start the claim process.
Follow through! My MIL just got benefits from her late husband's service in Korea. She could've been getting it for years.....they would not back date anything!
You will get best answer by contacting a VA office near your MIL or possibly by phone. If the MIL is able to speak for herself, she will need to be the one communicating with VA. Otherwise, it will need to be the person designated as MIL 'S POA. Certain veteran documents will be required. The VA office can tell the MIL or POA what documents are needed to pursue spousal veteran benefits. You may also speak with an Elder Law attorney who can offer valuable insights into the overall legal accountability of caring for aging .
Just this month my mother (96) was (finally) awarded VA Aid & Attendance, which is a benefit for widows of active duty veterans. My father was a WWII and Korea veteran.
The VA will throw reams and reams of confusing paperwork at you if you try to apply on your own (personal experience here). One little thing and your claim may be denied. After mine was denied for not meeting a deadline of returning my third packet of paperwork (they gave me 30 days), I finally waved the white flag and hired a third party to help me.
Patriot Angels is the one I used. If you call them, they will set up a free consultation to go over what benefits your MIL is entitled to and will tell you what documentation you'll need to provide to them. If you decide to hire them, there is a one-time fee which in retrospect is well worth it.
Contact your local Veteran's Assistance Commission. (every County has an office) They can get copies of paperwork if you do not have what is needed. You will need his full name and Social Security Number. They can help determine what benefits she is entitled to. If you can not find help with that office contact (your State) Veterans Service Officer. They can help with a variety of things. The VA is also a place to start
pension . You will need to apply with a local Regional Service Veteran (RSO) Officer Like DAV, Disability Assistance Veterans. Make sure you take the Servicemen DIscharge DD 214, his social # and Death Certificate.
https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=ar_pact_fy23_sur&utm_content=veterans_va&gclid=CjwKCAjwq4imBhBQEiwA9Nx1Bt1RwLlAco_nNzpj90OW_pGYNTWMHhQWSTm6V1ZwVp5Zgzrw2sN_YRoCqRgQAvD_BwE#information-for-survivors
https://www.koreanwar.org/
A surviving spouse of a veteran is eligible for other benefits if the qualifications are met… even if they weren’t exposed to toxins. Others have already given places to check and as has been pointed out it won’t be back dated so be sure to make a contact ASAP with your local veterans affairs office and get a claim started… it may be backdated to the date you start the claim process.
The VA will throw reams and reams of confusing paperwork at you if you try to apply on your own (personal experience here). One little thing and your claim may be denied. After mine was denied for not meeting a deadline of returning my third packet of paperwork (they gave me 30 days), I finally waved the white flag and hired a third party to help me.
Patriot Angels is the one I used. If you call them, they will set up a free consultation to go over what benefits your MIL is entitled to and will tell you what documentation you'll need to provide to them. If you decide to hire them, there is a one-time fee which in retrospect is well worth it.
www.patriotangels.com
615-912-2884
They can get copies of paperwork if you do not have what is needed. You will need his full name and Social Security Number.
They can help determine what benefits she is entitled to.
If you can not find help with that office contact (your State) Veterans Service Officer. They can help with a variety of things.
The VA is also a place to start
https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=ar_pact_fy23_sur&utm_content=w_s_d&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk96lBhDHARIsAEKO4xYGbAHiPVAj5tUsZTV2yy0P6cZvSskQ8EYo7DvIAE69k72nmA-OjnQaAmuuEALw_wcB#information-for-survivors
Do you have your dad's discharge papers?