Evening star., 1955-01-14
Veterans and
Droftees
8 THE EVENING STAR
Washington, D. G.
.RRInAY,. JANUARY II. 1858
BY Moi. Thomos M. Niol

By Moi. Thomos N. Nial
This is q busy time Of the
year for Veterans Administra-
ton people. One reason is that
they're tooling UP to send out
about million income question
faires to veterans and survivors
Of deceased veterans who are
drawing pensions. It's done every
year about this time.
The law requires every one on
VA pension rolls to I'LL out the
QUESTIONABLE and to return 1t
within 80 days. II they don't
their pension will be stopped.
The questionnaire is to find
out whether the pensioners year.
" income will fall within the
limit set by law-$1. 400 o year
for a person without dependents
and. $2,700 a year for one with
dependents,
One Of the problems that al
most all veterans and survivors
OF veterans run into in answering
the questionnaire Is trying to
figure. out just exactly what Is
considered income. It's not 90
simple as you might think.
Some Income Exempt.
Not all the money you might
receive during q year is actually
counted as income under the
limitations. Further. the ques-
tionnaire is rather long and in
volved and, by its nature. written
In legal, hard-to-understand Ian
guage.
Since it's impossible to run q
complete list Of all the types Of
income that are or aren't
counted. the best ! can do is list
the most common types Of money
received and how they At into
the income scheme.
Here are four broad types Of
income which you don't have
70 list on the QUESTIONABLE:
/. Income Of . wife or other
dependent.
Q. Any payments made by the
United States Government be-
cause Of disability or death.
under laws administered by the
Veterans Administration.
8. Government insurance pay
ments-such as National Ser
vice Life Insurance and Govern
nnent Life Insurance.
4. Overtime and additional
compensation paid to Govern
Ynent employees.
List Of Musts.
!. Here are the major types Of
income which must be listed on
the questionnaire:
/. Commercial insurance pay
ments for life, disability. acci-
dent, health or similar insurance.
2. Income from any source
because Of unemployment or
from damages collected because
Of injury or death, less costs
connected with the injury or
death.
3. Income from wages, salaries.
bonuses. earnings. investments,
rents. You can't subtract money
paid in taxes or toward retire.
ment.
4. Income from q business or
profession. You can deduct
operating expenses-rents, up
keep, taxes. repairs.
5. Proceeds from bequests or
inheritances. Property received
this way won't be counted as
income until the property Is
converted into cash. however.
8. Any retirement payment
Federal, State or private business.
This includes Federal Old Age
and Survivors Insurance. civil
service and railroad retirement
benefits, except that no such
payments will be counted as In
come in the case Of veteran
until the amount Of his con-
tribution toward these benefits
has been repaid. However. such
benefits received by a widow due
to her husbands employment
win be considered as income
under all circumstances.
Z. Social security benefits other
than Federal Old Age and Survi-
vors' Insurance.
8. Gifts and charitable dona-
tions from any source.
(You may tDrite Maj. Mai
IN care OF The Star about
your seruice-connected prob
lem. Please inclose stamped,
selt-nddyessed envelope and 20
cents In coin.)
SFrom Associated Press Newsfeatufes)