St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-02-27
Dear Joe
BY JAMES L. HICKS
MONEY IN YOUR POCKET

! MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
OK, Joe, you guys in school can
start spending that extra money
which the VA will place in your
subsistence checks beginning May
l.
The President has signed the bill
and it's now law that veterans in
school will drag down $75 a month
instead of $65, If they are single,
and $l05 a month instead Of $50,
II they have had the courage to
say II do"
The new law further provides
that you students who have a little
bambino or some little bambinoes,
can pick up a check Of 1920 month
instead of the usual 800. This also
goes for you guys who are married
and claim your mother or father
as dependents.
The new rates become effective
April /, and the VA says that you
single vets 1.-THE $75 class) and you
guys with only one dependent 1.-THE
$105 group don't need to take any
action to get the dough. It's auto
matte and the check which you re-
ceive on May l will be padded with
the increase.
But you strugglers in the 1920
class with more than one de-
pendent) have to come up with
some proof about all those peO-
pie leaning on you before the VA
will give you your increase.
You are not going to get your in
crease as quickly as the other boys.
(Although, if you have been sup
porting more than one dependent
off 800 a month all this time, by
the grace Of something, you are
entitled to get it firstly These legal
things take time, however, and
don't forget the VA is dealing with
about 10000 900 vets.
The VA says If you submit evil
dence Of your dependents prior to
July l, 1913, you will receive retro
active payments at the new rate
dating back to April 1, when you
finally get your increase. Mean
while, you will continue to pull
down the 500 per.
It's evident, then, Joe, that a
lot depends on you as to how soon
you get that increase in your
envelope.
Get that dependency proof in as
soon as possible. Here's how.
II it's a child or children that
makes you claim more than one
dependent, all you have to do is
furnish your regional VA office
with a photostatic copy of your
child's or children's birth certifi-
cate. That's enough, but get the
photostats in as soon as possible so
you can get that check in the mail
on May /.
If you are claiming one of your
parents as a dependent, sit down
now and send your regional VA
office some documentary proof that
he or they are dependent on you for
80 per cent Of their subsistence.
But don't stick your neck in a
moose, Joe, and say they are de-
pendent on you when they are not
because instead Of getting SI20
a month you might get 100 days
in jail. The VA Is not the Inter-
nal Revenue Bureau, but you are
still dealing with the govern.
ment.
Give as much evidence about
your dependents as you can. Tell
their income, il any, state how long
they have been dependent on YOU,
and show as much cause as possible
as to why they will continue to be
dependent on you. Do it as quick
ly as possible so that your increase
will not be delayed.
You guys who are taking part
time institutional training, institu-
tional On-the-farm training, on-the-
job training, inferno training. or
training under a fellowship, can re-
lax and forget you ever read this
piece because you are not eligible
for the increase.
The VA says only full-time stu.
dents are eligible and those of Won
who fall in this category will con-
hnue to get SOS a month il You are
single, and 800 a month If you have
a ball and chain.