Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 10/15/2007

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
My mother is an 83-year-old widow of a retired Marine sergeant major who died in 1964. At that time, she applied for his pension but was told that the pension belonged to the Marine, and not the wife, so she never received anything from the government except medical benefits, which ended with Gramm-Rudman a few years later, and his small life insurance policy.

Have things changed at all? Is there any way for her to receive some of my father's pension? He was away from home more than he was home. He fought in World War II and Korea and was wounded twice, but she also served by caring for his five children and keeping his home on a small allotment when he was gone (which was most of the time). I would like to see her receive some of that pension.

Thank you,
Dee D.

Dear Dee:
According to my sources, your mother may qualify for the Forgotten Widows benefit — it's not much but better than nothing.

Certain widows of military retirees, who were left out of the military's Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) when it began in 1972, became eligible for a monthly payment of $165 on Dec. 1, 1997, as part of the fiscal 1998 Defense Authorization Act. It was increased to $212 per month in 2007.

The surviving spouse of a retired service member who died before March 21, 1974 and already was drawing military pay at the time of death is eligible. This widow must not have ever remarried; cannot have received Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from VA; or Minimum Income Widow (MIW) benefits from the VA.

I don't understand why your mother is denied military medical benefits. From where I sit, as long as she never remarried, she is eligible for Medicare and Tricare For Life benefits. Gramm-Rudman has no bearing now if it ever did on her benefits.

Shaft Notes
The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) recently announced a partnership with the Bob Woodruff Family Fund (BWFF) in presenting "Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Family Fund." This occasion is an evening of laughter, tributes and gratitude dedicated to our nation's injured service members, with proceeds from the evening going to the BWFF.

NBC's Conan O'Brien will host the benefit at Town Hall at 8 p.m. on Nov. 7, and the evening will feature performances by Lewis Black, Bruce Springsteen and Robin Williams.

The media and entertainment industry is coming together in full force to help this important cause.

In January 2006, while reporting for ABC News, Bob Woodruff was severely injured in Iraq when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. Both Mr. Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, sustained multiple life-threatening wounds. Mr. Woodruff spent five weeks in a medically induced coma before going on to do months of in and out patient rehabilitation. The Woodruff family established the Fund in February 2007 to raise awareness and money to assist members of the military injured while serving our country.

The Bob Woodruff Family Fund assists service members injured while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Emphasis is placed on the "hidden signature injuries" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — traumatic brain injury and combat stress injuries including post-traumatic stress disorder. The fund works with private industry and government to develop public awareness and excellence in research, treatment, support and resources for the injured and their families as they reintegrate to duty or civilian life. For more information, visit www.bobwoodrufffamilyfund.org. For more information on the festival, visit www.nycomedyfestival.com.

• Special thanks and farewell to friend Jim Nicholson for his dedicated service to our nations veterans. He was nominated by President Bush to serve as secretary of Veterans Affairs on Dec. 9, 2004, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Jan. 26, 2005. Mr. Nicholson announced his resignation on July 17, 2007, to return to private life after six years as ambassador to the Vatican and as secretary.

As secretary, he has been the principal advocate for veterans in the U.S. government and directed the nation's second largest Cabinet department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries for America's veterans and dependents. VA employs more than 240,000 people at hundreds of medical centers, clinics and VA regional offices. Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield will become the acting secretary of veterans affairs.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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