nature of discharge requirements prior to correction of their records, or not having timely established the existence of a compensable serviceconnected disability. Seriously disabled veterans may be granted such additional periods of eligibility as determined by the Administrator to be necessary based upon their disability and need for vocational rehabilitation. Subsistence. While pursuing a course of institutional vocational rehabilitation training and for two months after his employability is determined, a veteran having no dependents will be paid a subsistence allowance. Additional benefits are paid, under prescribed circumstances, in the case of veterans with dependents with increments based upon the number of his dependents. Proportionate rates are fixed for less than full-time training. In the case of a veteran receiving fulltime on-farm, apprentice or other on-the-job vocational training, the rates per month are based upon the same dependency scale. Trainees may also be furnished medical care. EDUCATION LOANS Eligibility.-Any veteran or dependent who is in attendance at an educational institution on at least a half-time basis and is enrolled in (a) a course leading to a standard college degree, or (b) a course, the completion of which requires 6 months or longer, which leads to an identified and predetermined professional or vocational objective. The loan is not available to a veteran or dependent pursuing a program of correspondence, flight, apprentice or other on-job, or PREP training. Amount.-Not in excess of $2,500 in any one regular academic year. Interest is charged at the same rate as that charged students under the guaranteed student loan program of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Repayment of the loan with interest in installments began 9 months after the date on which the borrower terminates 1 his or her educational program or ceases to be at least a half-time student and ends 10 years and 9 months after such date. Requirements. No education loan may be made unless the eligible veteran or dependent is unable to obtain a loan, in the full amount needed for such veteran or dependent, under a student loan program. Certain income and asset tests must be met, and eligible veterans or dependents must sign an agreement and a promissory note to obtain the loan. POST-VIETNAM VETERANS' EDUCATION PROGRAM Eligibility.-Individuals initially entering military service on and after January 1, 1977, (1) who serve on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, or (2) who are discharged or released for serviceconnected disabilities based on service commencing after such date, are eligible for educational assistance. Type of program. This is a voluntary contributory program under which participants contribute from $50 to $75 monthly from their military pay (up to a maximum of $2,700) into a fund administered by the Veterans' Administration. The Department of Defense may make contributions in such sums as desired to an individual's account, and the Veterans' Administration matches the individual's contribution on a $2 for $1 basis at the time the individual pursues his or her program of education. Participants must, in general, participate for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. They may utilize their entitlement following completion of their first obligated period of active duty or following discharge or release. They may pursue institutional, correspondence, flight and PREP (limited to last 6 months of first enlistment) programs. Participants may suspend participation in, disenrol from, or reenroll in the program under specified conditions. They are entitled to a maximum of 36 months of benefits and eligibility is limited to 10 years following discharge or release from service. Educational allowances. Participants are entitled to a monthly educational assistance allowance computed by (1) adding all contributions made by the participant; (2) multiplying the sum by 3 (representing the individual's contribution and the VA matching sum); (3) adding all contributions made to the individual's account! by the Department of Defense; and (4) dividing the total by the num ber of months the individual contributed to the program. Where the individual disenrolls from the program, or dies, before utilizing any or all of his or her benefits, the amount of the individual's unused contributions will be refunded to the individual or to his or her estate. Duration. The program is set up on a 5-year test basis. It may continue beyond December 31, 1981, only if the President, before June 1, 1981, recommends continuation, and neither the House nor the Senate takes action to disapprove the President's recommendation. In the event the program is continued, the matching contribution to the individual's monthly benefit after December 31, 1981, will be made by the Department of Defense. HOSPITALIZATION Hospital and nursing home care are available in VA's 172 hospitals and 16 domiciliaries for (1) any veteran for a service-connected disability or for a non-service-connected disability if he or she is unable to defray the cost of hospital care, (2) a veteran discharged or released for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, (3) a person who is in receipt of, but for the receipt of retirement pay, would be entitled to disability compensation, and (4) any veteran for a non-serviceconnected disability if such veteran is 65 years of age or older or in receipt of pension. Domiciliary care may be furnished a veteran discharged or released for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or receiving disability compensation, if the veteran is suffering from certain conditions, has no adequate means of support, and is unable to defray the expenses of necessary domiciliary care. Medical care may also be provided for survivors and dependents of certain veterans. Hospitals are located in 48 States, the District of Columbia and in Puerto Rico. During fiscal year 1978, 1,228,755 patients in VA hospitals, and 17,275 VA domiciliary members received care. Care is also provided in 88 VA nursing care units (11,671 patients in fiscal year 1978). Additionally, eligible veterans receive care at VA expense in non-VA hospitals (31.418 in fiscal year 1978), State home hospitals (6, 478 in fiscal year 1978), and community nursing homes (26,996 in fiscal year 1978). VA also financially assists State home domiciliaries in caring for veterans (assistance for 10,479 in fiscal year 1978) and State nursing home care (9,074 in fiscal year 1978). LOANS Eligibility. Any person who served in the armed services at any time on or after September 16, 1940, and prior to July 26, 1947, or on or after June 27, 1950, and prior to February 1, 1955, or on or after August 5, 1964 and prior to May 8, 1975, discharged under conditions other than dishonorable after active service of 90 days or more or because of disability incurred in line of duty is eligible. Any person whose entire active duty occurred between July 26, 1947, and June 26, 1950, or who has served on active duty after January 31, 1955, and prior to August 5, 1964, or after May 7, 1975, is also eligible provided such service was for a minimum of 181 continuous days and the veteran was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, or he or she served less than 181 days and was discharged or released for a service-connected disability. Persons currently serving on active duty are likewise eligible provided they have served more than 180 days and continue on active duty without a break therein. There is no time limit for making application for loan guaranty benefits to which a veteran is entitled. If eligibility is based on an active duty status entitlement is available so long as the serviceperson remains on active duty without a break in service. Widows or widowers of deceased veterans whose death was due to service and spouses of missing in action personnel and prisoners of war may also qualify. Conventional homes and condominiums.-Loans are guaranteed in an amount not more than 60 percent of the loan, but not to exceed $25,000. There is no maximum loan size, but on larger loans the percentage of guaranty decreases. Interest may be charged at a rate set by the Administrator to meet the current market needs, repayable in not more than 30 years and 32 days. Under certain conditions, the Veterans' Administration is authorized to lend up to $33,000 directly to the veteran when private sources are not available. Mobile Homes.-Loans for the purchase of mobile homes, or mobile home lots, or both, are guaranteed in an amount not more than 50 percent of the loan, but not to exceed $17,500. There is no maximum loan size, but on larger loans the percentage of guaranty decreases. Loans for the purchase of a lot only, a single-wide mobile home only, or both a single-wide unit and lot are repayable in not more than 15 years and 32 days. Loans for the purchase of a double-wide mobile home, or a double-wide unit plus lot are repayable in not more than 20 years and 32 days. INSURANCE NATIONAL SERVICE LIFE INSURANCE (WORLD WAR II) Enacted October 8, 1940, this law applied to all individuals who entered active military, naval, or air service, on or after that date, and was permissive, not mandatory. Until April 25, 1951, the insurance was issued to persons in the active service and to certain World War II veterans. Insurance was issued upon application in multiples of $500, but not less than $1,000 or more than $10,000. Effective July 1, 1972, dividends may be used to purchase additional insurance in excess of the $10,000 limitation. Types of insurance.-Any of the following types of policies were authorized: 1. 5-year level premium term. 6. Endowment at age 60. 7. Endowment at age 65. 0 C 15 26 A 5-year level premium term policy which has not been exchanged or converted for one of the policies indicated above (2-8) and which is not lapsed is automatically renewed as a level premium term policy for successive periods of 5 years at the premium rate for the then attained age without medical examination. Lapsed policies are renewed after expiration of the term period only in the event the lapse occurred not earlier than 2 months prior thereto. The modified life p plan of insurance provides a level premium throughout the insured's life but the face value of the policy is reduced 50% just prior to the veteran's 70th birthday. To replace this reduced insurance, the insured could be issued insurance on the ordinary life plan upon application in and payment of the required premium. VETERANS OF SERVICE BETWEEN JUNE 27, 1950, AND DECEMBER 31, 1956 Individuals serving in this period were covered by a $10,000 servicemen's indemnity payable only in the event of death, to members of the immediate family, in increments of $92.20 monthly for 10 years. Within 120 days after discharge (but not after December 31, 1956) the veteran continued to be covered by the indemnity and could, if he or she desired, take a $10,000 nonparticipating, nonconvertible term insurance policy. Effective January 1, 1959, any such policy may be converted to a new type of permanent plan insurance or exchanged for a limited convertible term policy. SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS' INSURANCE This type of national service life insurance is available, on either term or permanent plans, to veterans released or separated from active service on or after April 25, 1951, under other than dishonorable conditions. The veterans must have a service-connected disability for which compensation would be payable if 10 per centum or more in degree, and must not have a non-service-connected disability which renders them uninsurable. Application must be made within 1 year from the date service connection of their disability is determined by the Veterans' Administration. Payment or waiver of premiums is required. Under certain conditions veterans who did not apply and who became mentally incompetent from a service-connected disability are deemed to have applied for and been granted insurance, which is payable only to a limited class of beneficiaries. P 1 VETERANS DISCHARGED FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1956 Eligible only if qualified for service disabled veterans' insurance. CERTAIN VETERANS OF SERVICE AFTER OCTOBER 7, 1940, AND BEFORE During the period May 1, 1965, through May 2, 1966, individuals who were eligible to apply for National Service Life Insurance after October 7, 1940, and before January 1, 1957, and who were suffering from (1) a service-connected disability, but who were insurable according to the standards of good health established by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs notwithstanding that disability; (2) a serviceconnected disability or disabilities which rendered them uninsurable according to the standards of good health established by the Administrator; or (3) a non-service-connected disability of such severity as to render them unable to obtain commercial life insurance at any rates, could be granted non-participating insurance under plans 2-8 above. The premium rates include amounts necessary to cover Government administrative costs. This insurance was not available to certain Philippine veterans or to persons on active duty. insured. Beneficiaries.—At present time limited only by the choice of the Modes of settlement 1. Lump sum. 2. In equal monthly installments of from 3 years (36 months) to 20 years (240 months) in multiples of 12. 3. In equal monthly installments for 10 years (120 months) certain with such payments continuing during remaining lifetime of first beneficiary. 4. As a refund life income in such manner to provide payment of face value of policy and continuing throughout life of first beneficiary. 5. If no method of settlement is designated by the insured then the insurance is payable in 36 equal monthly installments. The first beneficiary may elect to receive payment over a longer period of time than the plan selected by the insured or longer than 36 months if no plan has been designated. These modes of settlement apply only to insurance maturing on or after August 1, 1946. Disability payments-Waiver of premiums.-Upon payment of an additional premium, disability insurance may be added to the policy providing payments of $10 per month for each $1,000 of insurance beginning with the first day of the seventh month of total disability (after period of 6 consecutive months of total disability). Inapplicable to insureds above age 65 or to insurance issued to the service-connected disabled veterans after April 25, 1951 (except those veterans who met the standards of good health established by the Administrator and were issued the provision during the one year period after May 1, 1965). Payments continue so long as total disability exists and do not decrease death benefits of policy. Waiver of premiums is authorized under all NSLI policies upon proper showing of total disability prior to age 65. |