Evening journal., 1920-02-14
THOSE WAR RISK INSURANCE. CHANGES

VIII be Interested In the information that with the
passage by Congress OF the Sweet Bill many amendments
made TO the War Risk Insurance Act which are OF
Vital importance to millions Of ex-servce and their
relatives especially mothers and wives In order that
these changes may brought the attention OF every
interested digest thas been prepared by the office
OF the assistant to the Secretary Of War; service and
formation branch and Issued today by LleutensnColone
Mathew Smith, Of the General Staff In charge OF soldier
unemployment.
Probably the most welcome change is In the matter
Of compensation for disability Instead of maximum of
$50 month for temporary total disability the soldier now
receives at least $50 and ranges up 10 s05 month for
with four children. with extra allowance Of $40
each for dependent father and mother. There Is also
allowance to a temporarily and totally disabled with
wife living Of So additional for each child, without
limit 10 number.
For total permanent disability the monthly compen-
satlon Is siOO But now man Is also rated as totally
and permanently disabled he has lost foot and
hand foot and eye, or hand and the sight
Of one eye This ls an extension OF the former ruling
which defined total disability the Of both feet
both hands, the sight Of both eyes heplessness
Besides extra allowance up 10 $40 for attendant may
be granted There is also allowance OF $500 for
double total permanent disability. This is where man.
for instance. has lost both hands and both eyes both
eyes and hand and foot.
The scale is retroactive to April G. 1917. and pay
ments Of any amounts due to ex-servIce will be
forthcoming without application 10 the Bureau OF War
Risk Insurance Checks Will be sent out pos
sble. Compensation win also be paid for death
disability resulting from disease injury after induction
by the local draft board but before acceptance for active
service.
New. benencarles for insurance have been added 10
the list and include uncles aunls. nephews neces,
brothers-ln-law. ssiers-inaw and persons who have
stood place OF parent soldiers and children Of such
1@afat, LA Tho
payment of his insurance to his beneficiary in the form
Of nstaments in thrtyslx months more but not ex-
oeedlns 2iO months. in lump This is not re-
roactlye. Also applies only TO converted insurance
In case the soldier has not made any preference the
beneficiary may choose the form Of payment
There are some cases in which policies were issued
and premiums collected where the applicant had right
to the under the former law However these
policies are held to be valid In Of the death
total permanent disability Of the soldier II he did
not comply with the law limiting the period for applica
tlon.
Another provision remedies defects n the original
War Risk Insurance Act and protects two classes Of men,
The FIRST class embraces those men who were in The
service between April 1917 and the passage Of the War
Risk Insurance Act; and during this PERIOD died, be-
came totally and permanently disabled. They had no
opportunity to apply for Insurance. insurance was
provided for but their right TO II clear The second
class was those men who died became totally and
permanently disabled during the i2O days allowed for
making application for insurance, but had not applied
In many cases these had failed TO apply through no
fault OF their own and this provision OF the Sweet Bill
protects them Men both classes who died became
totally and permanently disabled held TO have been
insured IN amount sucent TO ente their hears to siO
payments Of s25 a month; the same payments during
their life in case OF permanent total disability
Persons nducted by the local draft boards who died
or became totally and permanently disabled before actual
acceptance are held to have been granted the same
insurance payable s25 monthly.
Instead payments ceasng when no one in the per
mte class Of benencsries survives the money now goes
10 the estate Of the soldier All money due service men
who are inmates Of insane asyums will be placed in the
treasury TO their credit and dsburscd 10 the chief
executive officer Of the asylum for the comfort OF the
former soldier to whom IL is due or TO his wife, minor
children or dependents
This digest Is the third OF series for the use OF ex
service men, II may be had from all recruiting Offices
employment agencies welfare organizations public health
officers American Legion posts Army and Navy hospitals
chambers OF commerce and various commercial organza
IONS II also will be sent by mail without charge upon
,ppllca,ion 10 the Service Information Branch Council
of National Defense Building. Washington'D D. c.
Those Deawareans affected by such amendments should
avail themselves Of the above information which Is OF
ncs and take steps to protect their interests under the
amended law.