free_spirit_etc

Another option is looking through the records and only getting copies of relevant documments. Especially if you were in the hospital. They have pages and pages of check off sheets that don't tell you anything. The attorney would probably only need the reports. Free

Another resource -- NOT what will help - but some good info on what you are up against and what to avoid: http://www.va.gov/OCA/testimony/hvac/13ap00NE.asp free

I THOUGHT I had a resource of a doctor -- from our research -- but I can't find it. The VA has a specific page on their Hepatitis C Website that discusses airguns (they are NOT in favor of approving the claims: http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/vahep?page=ptfaq-2005-09-05 Frequently Asked Questions Question: Did I get hepatitis C from air gun vaccinations? Answer: Although it is possible in theory, there is not enough evidence to confirm this as a risk factor. Attempts to obtain service connection by claiming air gun infection during military service have been controversial. Please see the Veterans Benefits Administration's letter on this issue. The July 2004 letter is posted at http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/doc/va01-pr/pr...5/scpl-fl04.doc It starts with: BACKGROUND: In August 2003, one regional office issued a rating decision granting service connection for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as the result of immunization with a “jet air gun.” A misleading statement, incorrectly ascribed to Lawrence Deyton MSPH, MD Chief Consultant, Public Health Strategic Health Care Group, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC is posted on the Internet (http://www.hcvets.com/). On this site, the following is incorrectly ascribed to Dr. Deyton: "Anyone who had inoculations with the jet injector were [sic] at risk of having hepatitis C and should be tested." But the website they cited http://www.hcvets.com/ might lead you to some resources. Free

John - I am with you on that. That seemed to be one of my husband's PRIMARY concerns -- was to make sure I could be taken care of if he didn't make it. (He got me that song a few months ago "If tomorrow never comes will she know how much I love her" I asked him 'Are you saying goodbye?" He said -"No..I just want to make sure if the time comes I am not here - that I have done enough while I am here that it will last you forever." **He was talking about showing me he loved me -- not the VA - but I love to talk about how he gave me that song. Anyway - something practical I DID find out is that VA payments are ONE month behind. So the payment my husband recieved IN Feb -- he was entitled to - as he was alive the whole month. Also -- if the Vet dies at any time in the month -- THEY do not get a payment for the month they died (ie. it isn't paid for the estate)...BUT if they have a surviving spouse -- the spouse is entitled to their last payment. So in my case -- the $225 my husband got paid in March was actually for February -- so I don't have to send that back. BUT the toll-free lady told me that when I send in his death certificate I need to send in a statement in support of claim asking that I be allowed to keep the payment as his surviving spouse. Actually they have a claim form -- a 119 something I think - that THEY can fill out when you call in authorizing the spouse to keep the payment (instead of returning it and being issued a check to HER. But she said it was an internal form - and gave me no idea why she told me to send a statement in support of claim instead of filling out the form their instructions give (the internal one). But she did say that often people tell the spouse they can keep the payment -- but then they get a bill - or someone tries to take it back (thus her advice to fill out the Statement in Support of Claim). So apparently they don't actually HAVE a claim form that WE can use for the spouse claim -- they have ones THEY can use -- but they don't fill them out. In my case - I am glad it is only $225 -- because I am not confident they won't try to take it back even though they aren't supposed to. I also read that if the amount of YOUR check is MORE than DIC -- the spouse gets YOUR check for the month you die -- which is the payment you recieve the FOLLOWING month. If DIC is more -- then the spouse will get the DIC for that month. So -- tell your wife she SHOULD get the payment of the month of your death and the following month. Of course, when I called to report his death -- they said I had to send the money back. I said "I thought the payment went to the spouse." She said there was no such thing -- that I had to send the money back - even for the month he died. Then I got a letter telling me how to send it back -- but it said if you think you are entitled to the spouses benefit for the month of death - to call the 800 number. So - I callled the same 800 number that had told me there was no such thing as a spouse's benefit. The woman who answered didn't know - so she looked it up -- and said I get to keep the payments from both Feb and March (he died Feb 5). But -- I am not sure anyone really knows what they are doing. But yeah - isn't it a shame that those who are supposed to be caring for those who are injured and their widows don't even know that there IS a spouse award -- or don't know exactly how to make sure it isn't taken away from you if you are supposed to have it. And they have a form for that - but nobody fills it out - and it isn't available for you to fill out yourself. Free

Actually my husband had so much trouble working on his Thesis. He just got his Master's in sociology. But then he switched his topic to the VA -- and he breezed right through it. During his oral defense -- he got to cover his "case study" part - his own experience with the VA. His department chair and a couple of his professors came to the funeral and asked -- So now what happens to his VA claim? Was all that for nothing? I told them that I would re-activate his claim -- and try to carry it through. I am not sure about accrued benefits though. We had LOTS of evidence to send in about the absestos exposure. We got buddy statements, a list of buildings that had asbestos at the last base he was, evidence that the Air Force didn't even DO occupational health surveys for asbestos during the 13 years he was an electrician (they had denied him because he didn't have any occupational health surveys and they didn't even DO them at that time)-- but NOW people doing the type of work he did have to wear respirators -- what does THAT tell you? Anyway - a lot fo that evidence never got there. That was one of my top priorities during the winter break from school (I had been teaching 10 classes between three schools in the fall and was pretty busy). But he got sick on the last day of finals week -- and so ALL my time was spent taking care of him --- or standing over him trying to make sure the people who were supposed to be taking care of him were taking care of him. So -- I ever got that added to his file - because I didn't get it tightened up enough. And by the time we knew he was getting bad - there was NO WAY I was going to leave him to work on it. I guess I could have just thrown it in an envelope and mailed it --- but I really only came home long enough to feed the cats and pick up clean clothes. (I even showered at the hospital. I wish we would have gotten it in -- but I don't regret that I put HIM first - instead of his VA claim -- when he really needed me. I know I can submit the info with DIC -- but if it is what "makes" the claim -- it won't count for accrued - since it wasn't in his file at before his death. Free

I actually think my husband HAD more time -- but lots went wrong at the hospital NOT VA). Eventually the cancer would have gotten him -- but I think we had more time. He told the doctors he was short of breath for several weeks - and asked for supplemental oxygen. Finally when he got short of breath standing up -- they decided to do an O2 stat on him. It was horrid! They said he either had pneumonia or congestive heart failure. The doctor on base gave him antibiotics. Then a couple weeks later he had pains all over from the steorids they gave him. He went to the ER -- and they wanted to keep him - for the pneumonia or congestive heart failure. (no one had decided which it was). But he didn't want to stay -- so I called his doctor --(or the docotr covering for his doctor and asked if he could give him antibiotics -- and see him -- and if he needed IV antibiotics - order home infusion --so he could stay home. He called in antibiotics (oral. But when I took him in -- the doctor didn't even look at the chest x-rays or reports I brought -- he just blasted him with chemo. I questioned that because HIS doctor had stopped the chemo while he was sick. I took him for follow up on pneumonia -- he was starting to jaundice -- and the idiot gave him CHEMO! I said "shouldn't we wait until he gets a little stronger? He said that we couldn't afford to wait. Meanwhile -- a couple of weeks later - after he ran out of antibiotics -- he ended up in the hospital -- with pneumonia --and he was much more jaundiced -- and they found out he had a blocked bile duct. Now he had been to HIS doctor TWICE with the jaundice -- but they ordered tests to be done a couple weeks later. So after a couple weeks in the hospital - they took him off the IV antibiotics -- and put him on oral (to start getting him ready to go home.) Well -- they had trouble with the pain meds. They used shots until they got a pain patch. They TRIPLED the pain patch dosage -- and kept giving him the SAME amount of shots. They overdosed him BIG time. It is a good thing I was staying in the room with him because I heard his breathing slow down and he started gurgling. They had to give him Narcan to put him in immediate withdrawal to keep him from dying. (had I not been there they probably would have found him dead and told me that he died "peacefully" in his sleep). But that (after the overdose) is when he started talking about having the will to live but not knowing if he had the strength anymore. But he kept telling me "I don't want to die. I have finally found happiness - and I don't want to die." But something had changed. It was like something inside of him broke. Well - the next morning they wanted him OUT of there! They decided he was ready to go home. They couldn't get him out of there fast enough. They didn't like it that he was "full code" either. He would tell them he wanted EVERYTHING done to save his life -- and then they would wisk me out in the hall and try to talk me into a different decision. I told them I would honor my husband's choice (as they SHOULD have). But they sent him home with NO antibiotic. And guess what - 3 days later we were back at the ER. He went in ICU with pneumonia on Saturday -- and he died Monday. I do not believe that pneumonia came back. I believe he still had it. In fact he was down to 3 liters of oxygen -- then he went up to 4 - and then 5 WHILE he was in the hospital...BEFORE they sent him home. So looking back - I imagine his pneumonia started flaring back up once they took him off IV antibiotic and switched him to oral. And when they took him off ALL of it -- he ended up back in ICU. But when you have cancer --everyone just keeps saying it is the cancer. I know he would have lost his battle sooner or later -- but I think had his pneumonia been treated properly -- and had they not overdosed him -- it would have been later. He had just finished his Masters last fall - and was scheduled to teach this Spring. He had cancer - but he wasn't that "sick." I don't know how much time he could have had left -- but whatever time he had was the rest of his life -- and he deservd it. Free

Eek! It would depend on what TYPE of hypertension you have. Asbestos exposure can lead to pulmonary hypertention. Asbestos related diseases also take quite some time to show up. If you type in asbestos hypertension into a web search -- it will give you the scoop. So if you have pulmonary hypertension -and other symptoms of asbestos exposure - there might be a connection. I think it would be an uphill battle to connect regular hypertension to asbestos exposure without other signs. From Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asbestosi...0482/DSECTION=7 Complications The severity of asbestosis is generally related to the amount and duration of exposure to asbestos. Effects of the disease may be so mild as to cause almost no symptoms. Or the condition may create such a reduced flow of oxygen as to be disabling or even fatal. Asbestosis may lead to the following conditions: High blood pressure in your lungs. Asbestosis-related scar tissue may eventually compress or obliterate your lungs' small blood vessels, causing high blood pressure in your lungs' arteries (pulmonary hypertension). Heart problems. Pulmonary hypertension can lead to enlargement and failure of your heart's right ventricle (cor pulmonale). Your heart consists of four chambers — two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. Your right ventricle assists in pumping oxygen-poor blood from your organs and tissues to your lungs, where your blood receives a new boost of oxygen. As your pulmonary arteries narrow, your heart's right ventricle must work harder to pump blood through your lungs. Initially, your heart tries to compensate by thickening its walls and dilating the right ventricle to increase the amount of blood it can hold. But this measure only works temporarily, and eventually — after a period of a few years — the right ventricle weakens and fails from the extra strain.

If I had a choice I would rather have had more time with him, instead of the money. He was already "terminally ill" when we got married. However, he had beat the odds before -- and lived a couple years longer than they thought he would. And they were good years. But I am sure some people will question why I married someone who had little chance of living more than a few years. We were together for several years -- but only married for 10 months. I thank God for every day we had -- but oh how I wish we had more. I miss him so very much. Free

We requested a copy of his C-file last summer. We also requested copies of his SMR's - (inlcuding his discharge physical) We got no response on the c-file. We got a few form letters on the SMR record request -- telling us they are working on it. We tried to get copies from the National Record Center -- but after waiting about a month - they informed us that the VA has them. So I guess when the VA has your case - they take your ACTUAL records (and they are no longer in the archive) --kind of scarey - isn't it.... Because if they lose them..... the Record Center doesn't have a copy. That seemed odd to me - but that is what the record center told us -- that they don't have them -- they are at the VA. So I am hesitant to write and request them and wait a long time. My husband has most of his records and most of his file. So could I just make an appointment and go up to the regional Va office and look at the file and get copies of what I still need? Or will I be able to do that if they have closed his case? Free

I know my husband filed ammended returns when he got VA back pay. Where this applies is if you are retired -- to get your VA pension -- you have to WAIVE your retirement pay (if it is military) Since he paid taxes on that pay -- and then had to waive his retirement pay dollar for dollar -- he was able to file tax returns to get a refund on the taxes he had paid on his retirement pay. I am not sure how far back he went. The concurrent reciept will help a lot with this problem. Because if my husband had retired from any place EXCEPT the military - he would have been able to keep all his retirement pay PLUS get his $225 a month disability. But since he retired form the military -- he had to give up $225 a month of his retirement pay to get his VA pay. The only benefit to giving it up is 1. VA pay is tax free 2. Former spouse allotments are granted on military retirement pay - but not VA. Free

Berta, We were married for 10 months and 3 days. I should be able to provide proof that I lived with him for over a year though -- by family / friend statements - also mail recieved at this address (for example -- I collected unemployment in December 05 - January 06 -- and this was my address). But from what I am reading -- the one year period is only ONE of the requirements -- and since they list OR in between them -- I would think you would only have to meet ONE of the requirements. Since he retired in 1998 - wouldn't I qualify under the number 1 requirment (Before the expiration of 15 years after termination of the period of service in which the injury or disease which caused the veteran's death was incurred or aggravated)? § 3.54 Marriage dates. top A surviving spouse may qualify for pension, compensation, or dependency and indemnity compensation if the marriage to the veteran occurred before or during his or her service or, if married to him or her after his or her separation from service, before the applicable date stated in his section. ( Compensation. Death compensation may be paid to a surviving spouse who, with respect to date of marriage, could have qualified as a surviving spouse for death compensation under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs in effect on December 31, 1957, or who was married to the veteran: (1) Before the expiration of 15 years after termination of the period of service in which the injury or disease which caused the veteran's death was incurred or aggravated, or (2) One year or more, or (3) For any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1102) © Dependency and indemnity compensation. Dependency and indemnity compensation payable under 38 U.S.C. 1310(a) may be paid to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died on or after January 1, 1957, who was married to the veteran: (1) Before the expiration of 15 years after the termination of the period of service in which the injury or disease causing the death of the veteran was incurred or aggravated, or (2) For 1 year or more, or (3) For any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1304)

My husband didn't get any response except for form letters all year from the VA -- now it is my understanding that they will close his case since he died. We never even got the copy of his retirement physical -- or copies of his c-file --or anything we requested last June (just some we are working on it letters). Does that mean I will have to request those items again? and wait and wait and wait? Or can I go to the VARO and see his C-file and get copies of the docs I need? Free

I was reading something about Vietnam Era Vets supposedly being a "protected class" for jobs. I hadn't heard of that before. So when I was at a meeting at one of the schools where I teach - and they started talking about how thye have to protect diversity -- and affirmative action - and all that jazz.. I said "Oh...so you give preference to Vietnam Era Vets??" They thought I was kidding or something. They acted like "well THOSE TYPE of people aren't really cut out for.... ?????????????????? So much for diversity!!! Free (whose husband was a Vietnam Era Vet!)

It would seem like they would have to have your consent to destroy your records --and give you the option of having them released to you. I ran across something interesting looking for my husband's service number. He was stationed up in some Radar facility -- on the Canadian Border for awhile. I don't think the base is still there. Well --it wasn't even a base - it was a station. Anyway - he has travel vouchers --to go to the doctor / hospital - because there was no medical facilities avalible there (i think they were about 60 miles away from anything). But anyway -- all those times they said Your SMRs didn't show -- and dang! He was stationed at a place that couldn't even do anything medical -- he had to get a travel voucher to go to the doctor. Free

I think psychiatric records are treated different in many ways -- Maybe because they think they are more personal. But some insurance forms for release of medical records don't cover psychiatric notes. And when my husband went to the VA hospital to get his records and we asked if that was ALL of them -- they admitted they didn't include the pysch exam -- becuase they don't usually give those out because they can upset people. He asked for a copy of his -- but they had to read it first to see if it had anything in it that might upset him. So where psych records are concerned - they seem to have a tendency to want to "protect" us from ourselves. I was reading where sometimes the VA doesn't have to put certain things in your statement of claim if they think it might "harm" you -- again the psychiatric stuff. I think they have to list it - but not in the copy they give you. Kind of like when they didn't used to tell people they were sick or dying -- to "protect" them. And I guess they can still get by with it with psychiatric stuff because if you resist they just take it is more proof that you can't handle it. Kind of a catch 22. Free

I thimk you can apply for some state money too. I have student who said the first year she had to pay most of her tuition, fees, books, etc. out of her education grant -- but the next year the financial aid person at school helped her apply for a state grant that paid her tuition. I know on most financial aid programs -- the cost of attending school is not just tution -- it is the tution, fees, books, and living expenses combined. So when you hear it costs so much a year to attend such and such a school --that usually includes room and board or traveling expenses also. And usually when most financial aid programs determine need - they count those things too. Though I am not very familiar with the VA programs. Free

Thanks Chuck! Actually I got my husband SSD. They tried to tell us he didn't have enough work quarters in (because he went back to school after his retirement) and I had to show him how they could go BACK to the time his income dropped below substantial gainful. (when he did have anough quarters). But I had to show them several times. I know veterans, unemployment, public aid, etc -- they HAVE to let you apply -- then you can appeal. But I can't find such a regualtion about Social Security. It seems like they are allowed to glance over what you give them - or ask you one or two quetions when you try to apply -- and then tell you that you can't apply because you are not eligible. I am sure it keeps their backlog down - telling people that they aren't eligble when they are. But it sure isn't right. I WILL keep fighting... but I feel for those who don't know their rights -- and who leave themselves at the mercy of public servants who may mean well -- but could function a bit better. Free

Actually, my husband did his research on the Va for his Thesis. It was quite interesting to say the least. But one thing I remember is that women veterans did start getting benefits when men did. The first benefits were just for men. And actually -- the GI Bill -- wasn't so much to educate the vets - as it was to delay their entrance back into the workforce -- because they had tons of guys coming back home and no jobs to offer them -- and they were afraid of the backlash from the Vets. But I remember one of my students asking me WHO pays for all these Veternas benefits -- and I remember part of the research showing that it actually MORE than pays for itself. The pensions - the home loans -- the education - etc... has brought back MORE in revenue and tax dollars than is spent on the benefits. Something to think about. Free

I know about the vultures too. I was semi - "with" my husband since 2001. We "broke up" in 2004. He fell madly in love with a former g/f who drove him nuts (it MUST be love -- I feel so crazy). Anyway -- we became BEST friends because I was the only person who could understand what he was going through because she treated him like he had treated me. So I was the only one who could listen while he went on and on about it. When he was declared inoperable in June 2004 -- Ms. Wonderful only showed up at the hospital ONE time (two days after his surgery). Then she broke up with him by email. I had stepped in to take care of him until she took over -- and she backed off. So I promised to take care of him as long as he needed me to. (He actually wasn't supposed to live very long). But he ended up getting better -- and we started taking care of each other -- and were best friends - and pretty inseperable since 2004...and madly in love. Then - when he cancer returned in 2005 --he proposed. He started with "I don't want to scare you, but.." lol We already loved and respected each other so much. And he wanted to take care of me. I thought that was so loving that when he was afraid he might not make it - he wanted to do everything he could to make sure I was okay. He especially wanted to make sure I had a home. But I told him - you better talk to your daughter before you offer me anything. I don't want to lose you -- but if I do - I don't want anyone coming in here and accusing me of taking what was theirs. So he talked to her. She was happy for us. all she wanted was the grandfather clock. yadayadayada. We had a beautiful wonderful wedding -- and a beautiful wonderful life together (though WAY too short). He changed his life insurance to me - to cover the mortgage on the house. Even before he changed it - he would tell me "My daughter knows what I want. And she doesn't want the house or the money. If something happens to me -- she would take the insurance and pay off the house and give it to you." When he started getting sick - she warned me not to spend all the insurance money -that I would have to pay taxes etc. Well -- AFTER he died -- and AFTER they found out he really did have insurance --OMG!! She calls me hysterical --WHy did my dad love you and not ME? Why did my dad want to take care of you and not ME?? Why did my dad trust you and not ME??? I tried to reasssure her that he did love her. But she thought he should have left the money to HER -- because SHE would have taken care of me. I tried to explain that men don't usually leave their 37 year old daughter money to take care of their 50 year old wife. I am not elderly. I even paid some god awful amount for a funeral that pleased his whole family -- fuenral here, buried there... a $3600 casket (the one I picked out wasn't good enough --etc.. etc.) and the flowers that said DAD! I even let HER be presented with the FLAG!! The day after he was buried she came to pick up her clock -- and also took his coin collection - his motor scooter - my jar of quarters - my tanks of propane -- her and her hubby and inlaws were snatching his eagle statues off OUR bookcase. I am still not even sure WHAT all they took yet. I was flabbergasted! They have changed their story from time to time - that they took the stuff because they were afraid I would leave and they woudn't get anything -- to they took it to their house for safe keeping -- to I volutarily GAVE it to them. But anyway -- then they started threatening to SUE me for the life insurance. They know there is not enough in his actual estate because his two biggest possessions - the truck and the house have big loans on them. (and the house is about 50 years old and needs fixed up). She told me the insurance was hers for 36 years. Then she told me he bought it for HER when she was a teenager. She told me he promised it would always be hers. etc etc. The policy told a different story. He had taken it out during his second marriage and the beneficiary was his wife. Well - now her tune has changed from why did he love you more than me to "he didn't Love you at all." That's right. She is telling me it would be okay if he had wanted to take care of me if he loved me -- but he didn't tell HER he was in love with me -- that he just married me so I could have health insurance --and they are accusing me of MAKING him change everything. And still threatening to sue me if I don't give them half of the life insurance. And then she has the nerve to say "You never CALL me anymore!! You think losing a husband is worse than losing a father!!" It is hard to be "supportive" of someone who tells you that your husband didn't love you --even if you know that is not true. Someone who would try to take your husband's love away from you -- for their own selfish motives -- ACK!! I told her --that's odd -- even perfect strangers would always remark about how much we were in love. But she said "Well - I hardly ever saw you.." And then she told me all the excuses of why she couldn't come and see her terminally ill father... But they just act like I danced in right before he died --and took it all. And anyone who knows my husband - knows that there is not ANYONE who could make him do something he didn't want to...lol But, yeah..I know ALL about the vultures. The sad thing is --that I DID want to share whatever I could with his daughter. But they were so worried that they wouldn't get anything -- and they started shoving me to "settle" the week he died -- and they would not back off and even give me TIME -- Like I don't even know WHAT I am going to end up with yet -- so it is hard to promise them from the unknown -- But they have acted in such a way that I don't think my husband would want me sharing anything with them right now. Yep. I know all about the vultures. I wish I didn't. Free

Oh Berta -- how much I know about being treated like an idiot. I have been trying to make a decision on what to do with my husband's truck (owes more than it could be sold for -- bought it last July) And the credit life probably won't pay off even though he told the salesman he had lung cancer -- the salesman sold it to him. But all you can get in the world out there is 800 numbers staffed by people who can't answer your questions right! Like the truck financing place --the guy says "I never handled a death case before." Geez... They can't tell you if you surrender the vehicle --what fees would be involved -- how much they would probably sell it for -- etc. I fell like screaming "HELLO! I Just want to have the details so that I can make an INFORMED decision here!!!" But even the dealership finance manager was just acing like --Oh well -- he's dead --it is not YOUR worry. What are they going to do - sue him??" I think - well YES! They come against the ESTATE --which affects ME!!! And I even showed the finance guy where he overcharged my husband. I just couldn't get the numbers to add up -- so I figured it out. The MSRP was $25, thousand and something -- but the little add on sticker was $26 thousand and something (a $1288 difference) because the added on sticker included the auto butler stuff. My husband didn't want the auto butler -- so they didn't give it to him -- but did NOT take the $1288 off the price of the truck --they still charged him for it -- charged sales tax on it -- and charged finance fees on it. Now isn't this kind of against the Truth in Lending Act?? But what does the finance guy say?? He didn't give him auto Butler because he didn't WANT it. I say: Yes - but you still CHARGED him for it!! He says: Well - I DISCLOSED to him that he wasn't getting it. Well - dang -- most people would assume that ALSO meant you wouldn't have to pay for it. But -- you just try to find out what you need to know to make intelligent decisions -- and they are treating you like some crazy broad that is just worried about MINOR details. They think I should just turn the truck in - forget about the $1288 and the fact that they sold my husband credit life KNOWING he had cancer (and collected their commission) --and not worry my little head over them coming against the estate for the difference between what they sell the truck for and what he owes on it! ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! Free

GREAT info!! Again -- I wonder why they said I would have to give it back so that they could send me a letter that told me if I think I should get it I should call the 800 number. Well - of course people don't call the 800 because they 800 number already TOLD them they couldn't have it. And -oops -- it was $225 --20% disabled. Interesting to note though -- If you send in a DIC claim form with your request for the last month of pay -- then they HOLD the last month of pay -- until they decide the DIC -- So since I have already waited this long I might as wel wait another week or two before I file DIC -- so they will let me keep the $225 that I need NOW! But it also says that the payment for the final month is taken OFF the DIC payment you finally get --UNLESS you wait a year to file DIC. I sure won't wait that long -since I have to start over with his case anyway (time waiting-wise that is). I am sure it is much simpler for those who got service connection granted before their death. I guess if you file when you are 20 and live a long life those things are possible. Yep. The "woman thing" . I get really aggravated by people treating me like I am an idiot. Free

Oops! I COMPLETELY missed that. I was loking for Air Force - saw Army and didn't notice. Duh! (and here I accuse government employees of not being able to read). My husband joined the AF in 1970 (Sept) -- so I gues he never had a Service Number. Free (can now read poorly enough to work for the government)

Well - my tax dollars are hard at work keeping people busy. I called the VA to report my husband's death - and they said that the payment for Feb (the month of his death) will have to be returned. I asked "isn't that payable to the spouse? THey said NO. I was going by this: TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS PART IV--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS CHAPTER 53--SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO BENEFITS Sec. 5310. Payment of benefits for month of death (a) If, in accordance with the provisions of section 5110(d) of this title, a surviving spouse is entitled to death benefits under chapter 11, 13, or 15 of this title for the month in which a veteran's death occurs, the amount of such death benefits for that month shall be not less than the amount of benefits the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for that month but for the death of the veteran. ((1) If the surviving spouse of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation or pension at the time of death is not entitled to death benefits under chapter 11, 13, or 15 of this title for the month in which the veteran's death occurs, that surviving spouse shall be entitled to a benefit for that month in the amount of benefits the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for that month but for the death of the veteran. (2) If (notwithstanding section 5112((1) of this title) a check or other payment is issued to, and in the name of, the deceased veteran as a benefit payment under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for the month in which death occurs, that check or other payment (A) shall be treated for all purposes as being payable to the surviving spouse, and ( if that check or other payment is negotiated or deposited, shall be considered to be the benefit to which the surviving spouse is entitled under paragraph (1). However, if such check or other payment is in an amount less than the amount of the benefit under paragraph (1), the unpaid amount shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued benefit under section 5121 of this title. I figured that meant I got to keep his $255 (and if I finally get his SC award -- then they will deduct the $255 they already paid. Now they sent me a letter that said the money has to be repaid -- but that spouses may have certain benefits --and to call the number if I think I am entitled. So I would call the SAME people that told me I wasn't entiteld to $255. As my husband was retired - I also contact the Defense Accounting people to report his death. They did not mention that the deposit they made on Feb 1 (he died on Feb 5) would have to be repaid. They sent me a claim form for unpaid benefits - and still didn't inform me that I would have to return what was already paid that month. In small print at the bottom of the form it says to return any uncashed checks -- like you would not cahs a check at the beginning of the month --but wait to make sure you live through the whole month before you spend it. Now I am reading that you have to live the WHOLE month to earn the check for that month. You have to send the money back - and then they send a prorated check for the number of days you lived. So in this case - I guess I have to send back his retirement payment for February -and they will send his daughter (his beneficiary of record) a check for FIVE days). What gets me is that nobody told me!!! But it looks like as soon as I send them the death certificate - they will suck it out of our bank account. I even went to the Defense Accounting site. It says as soon as you report the death --they will freeze the account to PREVENT overpayments. Well - unless you die on the last day of the month - it looks like you have already BEEN overpaid. It just sure would be nice if THEY would TELL you that!!!! Instead of letting you think it is all straight and then running across the dirty details on other web sites. Geez!!1 And it is not just the military. I tried to apply for Social security for my sin (adult disabled child). They wouldn't let him apply at first because they asked if he had worked --and he said yes - so they said he was not disabled. I informed them that he worked for 6 weeks out of 27 years - and that he was declared disbaled by SSI in 1993. So then they decided to let him apply -- but then they sent him a disability report. I called and asked -- do we have to fill this out - You have already FOUND him disabled 13 years ago. The question is whether he can be considered a dependent on my husband's record (as a step-child, adopted child, or equitbaly adopted child -- my husband was in the process of adopting him --and the adoption will still probably go through.) They said since this was a different program (SSD - not SSI) they would have to have all the paperwork to decide if he was disabled --though the standards are the same for both programs -- and though it was THEIR doctors that found him disbaled --and have continued to do so. So I spent a couple of hours filling out all of their forms -- took them with me -- and the case worker said she didn't need to see the forms because he had already been declared disbaled. ACK!!!!! Now they are telling me I can't apply for Mother's benefits -- because you can only get those if the child is PHYSICALLY disabled and you provide physical care (though their regualtions CLEARLY state you can claim if your child is mentally disabled and you provide guidance and supervision. - You can not claim if the child is physically disbaled and you don't have to provide care --if they are over 18. But you CAN claimif they are mentally disabled) ACK! I can't even appeal the decisions they are making because they aren't actual denials -- they have to let me submit a claim before I can appeal!!! ACK! Way too much to deal with... But it sure would help if the government workers KNEW what their own regulations were - instead of just spouting off whatever they THINK they might be. Free

Thanks for the link. The Air Force isn't even listed --so I guess they always used Social Security numbers. But then again, if ALL branches switched over that long ago -- wouldn't it be nice to stop sending people forms that ask for a number that doesn't even matter? They could just ask for the Social Security number in the first place -- and have enough info - rather than burden us civilians with spending a couple of hours trying to find a number they are requesting so we can get $300 back on a funeral...and get a headstone ordered. Free

I have looked all over the DD214 and tons of his active duty papers (pay vouchers, re-enlistment papers, travel vouchers, etc). The only thing I ever see them use is his Social Security number. Maybe the Air Force is a little different,... (Who would have thunk it! ) Free