Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1960-01-23

service pensions after June 30,
/ 1860 will be under the new sys-
/ tenn. Those already on the pension
roles on June 30, 1860, will not
be affected unless they choose to
come under the new system. They
can make this choice at any time,
] but once the election is made, the
/ pensioner can never revert to the
| ola system.
] Q. How does the new law affect
those drawing compensation or
I service-connected benefits?
A. The new law does not affect
benefits paid for service connected
( disabilities.
Q. Does the new law affect serv-
ice pensions
A. No. Service pensions are paid
only to Indian War, Civil War and
Spanish American War veterans.
These pensions are not affected by
the new law.
Q. Does the new law change the
eligibility requirements for pen
sions paid to veterans?
A. Not basically. Ninety days
active wartime service and an hon
orable-type discharge are requir-
ed. The veteran must also be per-
manently and totally disabled.
! There are important changes in
the income limits under the new
! system as we'll as some changes
in the methods employed to COM
pute the pensioners annual income.
Under the new law the veterans
1 estate or worth" will become an
eligibility factor.
Q. Let's go into this step at
time. What are the criteria for
establishing permanent and total
disability?
A. The degree of disability may
vary according to the age of the
veteran Generally he must have
disability which at his age pre-
vents him from getting regular,
full time employment. This dis
ability must be such that doctors
do not expect it to improve ma
terially.
Q. What are the changes in a
veterans income limits
a. Under the old law a veteran
without dependents could not draw
a pension if his annual income ex-
ceeded $14OO. Under the new law
he may receive some pension if
his income is as high as $500.
Under the old law a veteran
with dependents could not receive
a pension if his annual income was
more than $27OO Under the new
system his annual income may
be as much as $4,000 and he still
will be eligible for some pension.
@. What are the changes in
methods to be used in computing
income under the new system?
A. Income received by a veteran
or by his widow from any source,
with few exceptions, will be con-
sidered as income under the new
system. In cases where the vet
Grams spouse has a separate in
come the new law provides that all
such income over $1,000 per year
shall be counted as the veterans
income, unless to do so would Gre
ate a hardship.
@. What would constitute "hard-
ship" in this instance?
A. If the evidence shows that
the entire income is needed for
large and unusual family expenses
such as those incurred by serious
\ illness or unusual expenses in
Cured for the education of chill
dren-counting all but $1,000 of
the spouse's income as the income
of the veteran might be regarded
4 as a hardship. Each case of this
nature is considered on it's own
merits.
@. What income is specifically
exempt by law?
A. Eight categories of income
" are exempt from consideration in
calculating the annual income to
determine pension eligibility. They
are:
/. Payments of the six months
death gratuity by the Service De-
+, partments.
2. Donations from public or pri-
viate relief or welfare organiza-
tions.
8. Payments of compensation or
pension by. the VA.
d. Government life insurance
payments and payments of service
mems indemnity.
5. Social Security lump sum
death payments.
6. Payments to an individual
under public or private retirement,
annuity endowment or similar
plans equal to the amounts he