Disabled Filipino Vets: Filipinos who served alongside U.S. forces in World
War II and who now live in the United States as citizens or permanent
resident aliens will see their disability payments double under a new
policy providing equality in veterans compensation. For those Filipinos
meeting specific criteria, compensation for service-connected disabilities
from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs previously was limited
to half the rate of that paid to U.S. veterans. Under an interim final
regulation published Dec. 27, their compensation doubles, and, in death,
survivors of service-connected Filipino veterans covered by the rule or
certain lower-income veterans will receive burial or plot allowances at the
full rate rather than the half rate. The new regulation is in effect but
could be amended following a comment period that extends through Feb. 25.
[Source: AF News 22 FEB 02]