Veterans’ and their spouses miss out on pensions
Nearly 2 million poor veterans or theirimpoverished widows are likely missing out on as much as $22 billion ayear in pensions from the U.S. government, but the Department ofVeterans Affairs has had only limited success in finding them.
Widows are hardest hit. According to a VA estimate, only one in sevenof the survivors of the nation’s deceased soldiers, sailors, airmen andMarines who likely could qualify for the pension actually get themonthly checks.
What’s more, participation in the program isfalling, according to a Knight Ridder analysis of VA records. Thereason for the lax participation, a VA study said, is that poorveterans generally “are completely unaware that the program exists.”
“Veterans simply don’t know about it,” said Despina Hatton, who runs asenior law program for residents of Washoe County, Nev., that seeks tohelp veterans or their widows receive the benefit.