The American Banks and Financial Institutions

President Thomas Jefferson lived from 1743 to 1826 and was one of America's founding fathers. He words are amazing and how prophetic today in the light of printing the trillions of pieces of official looking paper, or typing digits on a computer and saying trillions of dollars now exist just milliseconds after the key strokes with full faith, credit and value to the People.

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."

Survivor Payments

As we Veterans know we use benefits that are gained as a result of our military service, but what happens after we die, do our families have any continuing monetary support? The answer is yes if we have any of the circumstances below; or the surviving spouse has little or no income falling below V.A. Pension guidelines.

Between Pension and D.I.C. the later is the preferable benefit because it allows a higher benefit payment each month for life. We support a claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits based on a service-connected disability that was established during the veteran's lifetime.

For those leaving a surviving spouse simply show that the veteran had a service-connected disability that was either the principle or contributory cause of the veteran's death; OR The veteran died from a non service-connected injury or disease AND was receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (100%) for at least 10 years immediately before death; In order to receive the benefit the spouse has to have been married to the Veteran at least 8 years prior Veterans death.

NOTE; Remember a disabled Veteran with less than 100% rating but cannot work, should pursue a increase of current rating up to 100% based on non employability, (automatically qualified at age 65) this is possible only when one disability rating is 60%, or if 2 or more disabilities combine at 70%, in addition if under 65 it is possible to gain benefit when unable to sustain employment because of disabilities.

VETERANS with Compensation or Pension and SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS will receive ONE TIME BENEFIT PAYMENT from STIMULUS BILL

The BILL will provide $14 billion for one-time $250 payments to all Social Security recipients, as well as poor people on Supplemental Security Income, and veterans who receive disability payments and pensions. (There will be NO double payments.)

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse a onetime Economic Recovery Payment of $250 to adults who were eligible for Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement benefit=, or veteran's compensation or pension benefits; or individuals who were eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits (excluding individuals who receive SSI while in a Medicaid institution). Only individuals who were eligible for one of the four programs for any of the three months prior to the month of enactment shall receive an Economic Recovery Payment.

The Secretary of the Treasury shall commence disbursing payments under this section at the earliest practicable date but in no event later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary of the Treasury may disburse any payment electronically to an individual in such manner as if such payment was a benefit payment or cash benefit to such individual.

Another Note from the Stimulus Bill: Filipino Veterans From WWII To Receive Benefit Payments. During World War II, the "Veterans Administration, precursor to the Department of Veterans Affairs, ruled that scouts and soldiers in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines called into service" by the US military "were eligible for full veterans benefits in recognition" of that service.

But it was not until this week, when President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, that a total of $198 million was arranged to be paid out to "roughly 18,000 surviving Filipino veterans." several lawmakers, most notably US Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), played a key role in getting the Filipino vets provision included in the act, adds that while VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "has yet to give a formal announcement, indications are the department is already preparing to administer benefit payments."

David Lord has been a National Veterans Service Officer doing veteran's benefits in Mexico for over a decade. David is a combat veteran, wounded by gunshot in Viet Nam 1968 and is a retired Marine. The Veterans Administration has played a critical role in his life, by his having both medical and compensation benefits. He uses his personal experience in the claims process along with having legal and credentialed Accreditation by the Department of Veterans Affairs. His use of Congressional approved Veterans Organizations, to steer veterans and dependants through the maze of regulations and entitlements due them from military service is outstanding. For more information, email him at david.lord(at)yahoo.com.

Click HERE for more Veteran Affairs with David Lord »»»