herkman Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Down here I work as a volunteer, helping veterans get the entitlements which of course is a minefield. However I am pleased to advise that the benefits down here, appear to be clothed in less red tape that in the US Forces. I am assisting a Australian lady who still is an Australian citizen, who was married to a US Army veteran, and he died some three years ago from a condition that may or may not be service related. The US Government sent a head stone for his grave all the way from the USA, but he is buried in a local plot, as we have no military graves here in Australia after WW2. A problem has arisen, where the Australian government who is in charge of pensions, has indicated that she must make first a claim on US vet affairs for her pension, before they will top up her pension, by the difference between her Australian citizen entitlement and the Vets dependent from the USA. From this you can see it has become complicated, because the two governments have different rules. I have been looking through the US Vet Affairs site, and whilst some questions I have found answers there are just as many that are not, and hoping that some help and advice could becoming from you guys. Any other comments may care to make is appreciated. 1. If the Vets widow remarries, will she loose her USA pension, you may be interested to know that in Australia she would not. 2. Whilst she remains a widow, are there any benefits she would get, in addition to the pension which I presume would be granted. 3. Because Australia does not come under the NCA, she has had to pay the total cost of the internment. I note that in the USA because it may not be able to be proved that he died of war related causes, that she only has two years to do this in. Can a waiver be obtained for this time limitation, in view of the lack of both information and the NCA having representation down here. I would appreciate any comments or advise you would care to make, if you would prefer not to make comments on this site, my email address [email protected] Thank you so much Regards Col Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fräulein Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Oh boy. I would try to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs. https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/home.php Preferably by phone. They can be difficult to work with. But sometimes you get the right person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskeyglenn Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Col A good web-site to go to is vawatchdog.com It has alot of good info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herkman Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 Thanks guys much appreciated regards Col Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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