 | | | | | | | | | | | |
 |  | | |||||||||
 |  |  |  | | |||||||
 | | ||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |||
 |  |  |  | | |||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
Department of Veterans Affairs Washington Home Page |
Davao Outreach Services
Benefits Available to Commonwealth Army (USAFFE) and
Recognized Guerrillas
Benefits Available to New Philippine Scouts
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is pleased to announce our new toll free telephone service. For outside Metro Manila, you may call VA at 1-800 1-888 5252. You can still continue to use our direct line 528-2500 within Metro Manila. Please disseminate this information to your members, and to all veterans and their dependents in your area for their proper guidance.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has maintained a Regional Office in
the Philippines since 1921. Currently the office is located at 1131 Roxas
Blvd. in the U.S. Embassy Annex Building. Benefits counselors are on duty
at the Regional Office from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday to
answer questions concerning all aspects of veterans benefits. They may
also be contacted by telephone during the cited times. To send e-mail
inquiries, visit our website at https://iris.va.gov.
In addition to the Regional Office, VA operates a Clinic located at 2201 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Clinic hours of operation are from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Medical care is limited to service connected disabilities only and includes out-patient care at the clinic and in-patient care at various contract hospitals. Prior authorization is required for non-emergency out-patient care and hospitalization. Persons having questions concerning eligibility for treatment should call 833-4566; Fax:(632)831-4454; E-mail: manlopc.inqry@vba.va.gov.
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces have the same entitlement to monetary benefits in the Philippines that they would have in the United States with the exception of Home Loans and related programs which are not available here. Benefits for veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFFE, Recognized Guerillas, and New Philippine Scouts are different than those for veterans of the regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. U.S. citizenship does not affect their entitlement to benefits.
Benefits Available to Commonwealth Army
(USAFFE) and Recognized Guerrillas
Benefits Available to New Philippine Scouts
The US Embassy, in its continued effort to reach out to all U.S. citizens in Davao, holds outreaches every six months. Representatives from several sections of the embassy go to Davo including the Department of Veterans Affairs. The following services are Veterans Affairs services are available during outreach trips:
Veterans Affairs Office:
- Disseminate information on VA benefits.
- Answer general inquiries on specific claims and
- Assists in accomplishing VA application forms for various benefits such as compensation, pension, death benefits, burial benefits, claim for dependents and change of address.
VA- Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment:
- Disseminate information to U.S. regular servicemen regarding the VR&E services;
- Motivate qualified and eligible veterans to take advantage of these services;
- Follow-up those who have already claimed VR&E Benefits;
- Monitor the progress of those who are training and
- Explore employment options & provide employment services for those who are job-ready status.
The next outreach in Davao is scheduled for April 19, 2005.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO COMMONWEALTH ARMY (USAFFE)AND RECOGNIZED GUERRILLAS
I. DEFINITIONS
The term Commonwealth Army veterans means persons who served before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces pursuant to the military order of the President of the United States dated July 26, 1941, including among such military forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States, and who were discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.
II. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS
(1) Disability Compensation - payable to a veteran with service-connected condition(s) rated at 10% or more.
(2) Prisoners of War - POWs who were incarcerated for at least 30 days are entitled to a presumption of service-connection for disabilities resulting from certain diseases if manifested to a degree of 10 percent at any time after active service, including psychosis and anxiety states.
(3) Allowances for Dependents - payable to veterans whose service-connected disabilities are rated at 30 percent or more. Also entitled to receive a special allowance for a spouse who is in need of the aid and attendance of another person if the veteran is evaluated 30 percent or more.
(4) Clothing Allowance - payable to a veteran who is entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability for which he or she uses prosthetic or orthopedic appliances that tends to wear out or lear clothing or whose service-connected skin condition requires prescribed medication which irreparably damages the veteran's outer garments.
Payments of the above benefits shall be made at a rate in pesos as is equivalent to $0.50 for each dollar authorized per Sec. 107(a), 38 USC.
III. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS
(1) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)* - payable to eligible spouses, children and parents.
(2) Aid and Attendance* - payable to surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC if they are patients in a nursing home or require the aid and attendance of another person.
(3) Housebound* - payable to surviving spouses qualified for DIC who are not so disabled as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person but who, due to disability, are permanently housebound.
(4) Dependents' Educational Assistance - payable only to children of veterans who are eligible under Chapter 35 benefits. Spouses are not eligible. Payments shall be made at a rate in Philippine pesos equivalent to $0.50 for each dollar authorized per Sec. 3565(b)(1), 38 USC.
*Payments shall be made in accordance with Sec. 107(a), 38 USC.
IV. BURIAL BENEFITS
(1) Burial and Funeral Expense Allowance - an allowance of $150 (in Philippine peso equivalent) may be paid to the person who shouldered the burial expenses of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation at time of death.
(2) Plot or Interment Allowance - an allowance of $75 (in Philippine peso equivalent) may be paid to the person who shouldered the plot or interment expenses of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation at time of death.
If the veteran's death is service-conndected, VA will pay a burial allowance up to $750 (in Philippine peso equivalent) instead of the $150 basic allowance and the $75 plot allowance.
(3) Burial Flags - a flag may be given to the next of kin or a close associate of the veteran who died on or after April 25, 1951.
V. BENEFIT PROGRAMS NOT AVAILABLE
(1) Non-service connected pension benefits for veterans and dependents.
(2) Hospitalization, nursing home care, domiciliary care, outpatient dental and medical care even though the veteran has service-connected conditions. However, while in the United States or its territories, the VA may furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services to Commonwealth Army veterans for the treatment only of their service-connected disabilities (Sec. 1734, 38 USC).
(3) Va loans such as home loan guarantees and small business loans.
(4) Specially Adapted Homes
(5) Automobiles or Other Conveyances
(6) Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH)
(7) PX and Commissary Exchange Privileges
(8) Burial in National Cemeteries
(9) Headstones and Markers
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO NEW PHILIPPINE
SCOUTS
(NON-COMMISSIONED - ENLISTED UNDER PL 190, 79th CONGRESS ON OR AFTER OCTOBER
5, 1945)
I. DEFINITIONS
The term "New Philippine Scouts" means Philippine Scouts who served under Section 14 of the U.S. Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945, and who were discharged from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.
II. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS
(1) Disability Compensation - payable to a veteran with service-connected condition(s) rated at 10% or more.
(2) Allowances for Dependents - payable to veterans whose service-connected disabilities are rated at 30 percent or more. also entitled to receive a special allowance for a spouse who is in need of the aid and attendance of another person if the veteran is evaluated 30 percent or more.
(3) Clothing Allowance - payable to a veteran who is entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability for which he or she uses prosthetic or orthopedic appliances that tends to wear out or tear clothing or whose service-connected skin condition requireds prescribed medication which irreparably damages the veteran's outer garments.
Payments of the above benefits shall be made at a rate in pesos as is equivalent to $0.50 for each dollar authorized per Sec. 107(a), 38 USC.
III. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS
(1) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)* - payable to eligible spouses, children and parents.
(2) Aid and Attendance* - payable to surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC if they are patients in a nursing home or require the aid and attendance of another person.
(3) Housebounds* - payable to surviving spouses qualified for DIC who are not so disabled as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person but who, due to disability, are permanently housebound.
(4) Dependents' Educational Assistance - payable only to children of veterans who are eligible under Chapter 35 benefits. Spouses are not eligible. Payments shall be made at a rate in Philippine pesos equivalent to $0.50 for each dollar authorized per Sec. 3565(b)(1), 38 USC.
*Payments shall be made in accordance with Sec. 107(a), 38 USC.
IV. BENEFIT PROGRAMS NOT AVAILABLE
(1) Non-service connected pension benefits for veterans and dependents.
(2) Hospitalization, nursing home care, domiciliary care, outpatient dental and medical care even though the veteran has service-connected conditions. However, while in the United States or its territories, the VA may furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical services to Commonwealth Army veteran for the treatment only of their service-connected disabilities (Sec. 1734, 38 USC).
(3) VA loans such as home loan guarantees and small business loans.
(4) Specially Adapted Homes
(5) Automobiles or Other Conveyances
(6) Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH)
(7) Burial and Funeral Expense Allowance
(8) Plot or Interment Allowance
(9) Burial Flag
(10) Burial in National Cemeteries
(11) Headstones and Markers
NOTE: This information sheet does not apply to officers who were commissioned in connection with the administration of Public Law 190 (Authority: 38 USC 107). Commissioned officers (and their dependents) have the same benefits as U.S. veterans including payment in dollars.