Dependency

[NoliMeTangere]

Do you receive additional compensation just for having a child or do you need to have custody and be able to claim them on your federal taxes?

[Philip Rogers]

You get paid for being the parent of a child. I believe this does not include a child given up for adoption. Children can live in either parents' custody but you still get paid. You can apply that payment towards any support you may be paying. You can also get paid for step-children living w/you.

pr

[NoliMeTangere]

Thanks pr

I recently went from 30 - 70 and my award letter states that I will be paid $1,366 as a veteran with 1 dependent. I was first SC'd in '10 at 30% and have never been paid for a dependent. My child was born in '07...

Historical claims on eBenefits show:

Date of Claim Type Date Closed

04/07/2010 Compensation 03/08/2011

03/07/2011 Dependency 05/20/2011

06/04/2013 Compensation 10/30/2013 (pretty quick eh?)

So am I owed back pay and if so from when? The date of original comp claim or the date of depend claim? If you look they overlap by 1 day.

If I am owed back pay, how do I go about getting it?

Thanks

Edited November 6, 2013 by NoliMeTangere

[meghp0405]

send a "request for an audit" on your account. Send this to your varo and explain your concerns with the dependency benefit.

[NoliMeTangere]

How do I request an audit? Could you be more specific please

[meghp0405]

VA FM 21-4138, request an audit of your account stating the reasons that you believe your dependency award has been inaccurate.

[NoliMeTangere]

Thanks Meg,

I called the VA hotline and got some answers. The first guy I talked to was rude and told me to go find my old letters to find out why. I asked him to clarify and he said he thought he answered my question and hung up on me.

I called right back and talked to a nice girl who informed me that it had already been noticed and is being included in my retro. I haven't crunched the numbers yet but I got more than I was expecting and looks to be legit.

Thanks to everyone for their input