Benefits Available for Needy Veterans

You want to know what kind of aid state law and the Soldiers’, Sailors and Marines fund provide to injured veterans. You also want a description of the fund and aid application procedures.

Wartime veterans who need help because of disability or other causes incident to war service are eligible for temporary financial assistance from the veterans' affairs commissioner in an amount and for a time he determines (see Attachment 1 for what qualifies as wartime service). The commissioner may also help the spouse, children, or siblings of any veteran who died as a result of such service if they cannot support themselves because of the veteran's death (CGS § 27-125).

The Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Marines’ Fund provides assistance, such as food, clothing, medical or surgical aid, and general care and relief, to needy wartime veterans and their dependents and surviving spouses. The veteran must live in Connecticut when he applies for and while receiving aid. The spouse of an eligible veteran who lives with him, a veteran’s surviving spouse who lived with him when he died, and dependent children under age 18 are also eligible for aid from the fund. A veteran is ineligible if he (1) has adequate resources to support himself and his family, (2) attempts to secure aid through misrepresentation or fraud, or (3) creates the need for aid by misconduct or violating the law.

Wartime veterans who need medical or surgical care and treatment as a result of disease, wounds, or accident are eligible for admission to the Veterans’ Home and Hospital or any other veterans’ hospital. Those with no adequate means of support are also eligible for admission to the following Connecticut hospitals at the state’s expense: tuberculosis sanatorium, state chronic disease hospital, and mental hospital or training school for the mentally retarded (CGS § 27-108).

Veterans may contact the Veterans’ Advocacy and Assistance Unit to determine if they are eligible for any of these benefits and get information on any other benefits that may be available. The address and telephone number are:

The Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Marines’ Fund is a self-sustaining trust fund created by the legislature to provide financial and other relief to eligible veterans (CGS § 27-138). Specifically, the fund must be used for:

furnishing food, wearing apparel, medical or surgical aid or care or relief to, or in bearing the funeral expenses of, soldiers, sailors or marines who performed service in time of war as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, in any branch of the military service of the United States, or who were engaged in any of the wars waged by the United States during said periods in the forces of any government associated with the United States, who have been honorably discharged therefrom or honorably released from active service therein. . . or to their spouses who are living with them, or to their widows or widowers who were living with them at the time of death, or dependent children under eighteen years of age who may be in need of the same (CGS § 27-140).

The American Legion determines applicant eligibility for aid and makes the payments to such applicants. It must disburse the funds according to procedures in its bylaws and send quarterly financial statements to the state treasurer showing who got aid and how much (CGS § 27-138).

Money is available for (1) weekly care and relief (including food and clothing); (2) rent, mortgage interest, and utility payments; (3) medical expenses; (4) some dental expenses; (5) medical supplies, prosthetic devices, orthopedic shoes and appliances; (6) eye examination and eyeglasses; (7) audiological examination and hearing aids; (7) funeral expenses; and (8) home health care.

Money is not available for (1) paying taxes, insurance premiums (except medical insurance), mortgage principal, alimony or child support, or past due debts or bills; (2) repaying loans; (3) buying real estate or capital goods; or (4) buying securities, bonds, or mutual fund shares.

A veteran requesting aid must apply to the fund representative in the community where he lives or, in his absence, to the representative in the nearest town or city. He must declare any real and personal property he owns and document his income from all sources. Property up to a certain value is not considered as asset available for supporting the household; all income is considered, regardless of source.

A veteran is ineligible to get aid from the fund if (1) he secures or attempts to secure it through fraud, misrepresentation, or submission of inaccurate information or (2) his resources are found to be adequate to meet his needs or those of his family unit. He is also ineligible if the need for aid was caused by his misconduct or an illegal act, unless supporting information shows that these actions are reasonably related to, or the result of, physical or mental illness or certain environmental factors. Misconduct includes misuse of funds, evasion of responsibility, voluntary idleness, refusal to work, and failure to cooperate with government officials on recommended or available rehabilitation plans or programs. Veterans denied aid or whose aid is terminated may appeal following steps in the American Legion’s procedures governing the fund.

Table 1 shows the operations occurring since 1940 that qualify as wartime service under Connecticut law for purposes of veterans' war service benefits. This includes any time served since August 2, 1990 (CGS § 27-103, as amended by PA 03-85). To qualify for the benefits, the veteran must have served at least 90 days active service in the U. S. Armed Forces unless he was separated earlier because of a Veterans’ Administration-rated service-connected disability or the war or operation lasted for less than 90 days and he served for the duration.

* Includes service with the armed forces of any government associated with the United States during the named periods.

** Service must be in a combat or combat-support role


April 28, 2004		2004-R-0415
BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR NEEDY VETERANS

By: Veronica Rose, Principal Analyst

*Operation*	*Dates*
World War II	12/7/41-12/31/46
Korean War	6/27/50-1/31/55
Lebanon Conflict**	7/1/58-11/1/58
Vietnam Era	2/28/61-7/1/75
Lebanon peacekeeping mission**	9/29/82 -3/30/84
Grenada invasion**	10/25/83-12/15/83
Operation Earnest Will (escort of Kuwaiti tankers flying U. S. flag in Persian Gulf)**	2/1/87-7/23/87
Panama invasion**	12/20/89-1/31/90
Persian Gulf War	8/2/1990 until a date prescribed by the President or law
	Period beginning on date of any future congressional declaration of war and ending on the date prescribed by the presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of Congress