The U. S. government provides veteran's benefits programs for certain Philippine nationals as well as veterans of the U. S. armed forces living in the Philippines.
Important Announcement: Effective January 2, 2009 the Department of Veterans Affair Manila Regional Office (VA) is implementing an appointment system for all visitors to our public contact section. We will no longer entertain walk-in visitors; all visitors will be required to have an appointment before they are admitted to the Embassy.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has maintained a Regional Office in the Philippines since 1921. The Regional Office is located at 1131 Roxas Blvd. Manila 0930 in the U.S. Embassy Annex Building. Benefits counselors are available from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Friday to answer veteran’s benefits questions. For inquiries and appointment, our numbers are
When in Metro Manila, Trunk Line 528-2500; Fax Number 526-8822
When outside Metro Manila, toll-free number is 1-800-1-888-5252
To submit e-mail inquiries, visit our website at https://iris.va.gov/.
In addition to the Regional Office, VA operates a Clinic located at 2201 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1300. Clinic hours of operation are from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Medical care is limited to service connected disabilities only and includes out-patient care at the clinic and in-patient care at various contract hospitals. Prior authorization is required for non-emergency out-patient care and hospitalization. Persons having questions concerning eligibility for treatment should call 833-4566; Fax:(632)831-4454. To send e-mail inquiries, visit our website at https://iris.va.gov/.
Virtually all monetary benefits (compensation, pension, educational assistance, etc.) are payable to U.S. armed forces veterans with the exception of Home Loans. Home loan guaranties are available only in the United States and selected territories and possessions.
Benefits for veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFFE, Recognized Guerillas, and New Philippine Scouts are different than those for veterans of the regular components of the U.S. Armed Forces. |
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BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO COMMONWEALTH ARMY (USAFFE) AND RECOGNIZED GUERRILLAS
I. DEFINITION
The term Commonwealth Army veterans means persons who served before July 1, 1946 in the organized military forces of the Government of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces pursuant to the military order of the President of the United States dated July 26, 1941, including among such military forces, organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States, and who were discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.
II. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS*
Disability Compensation - payable to a veteran with service-connected condition(s) rated at 10 percent or more.
Prisoners of War - POWs who were incarcerated for at least 30 days are entitled to a presumption of service-connection for disabilities resulting from certain diseases if manifest to a degree of 10 percent at any time after discharge or release from active service. The disabilities are avitaminosis, beriberi (including beriberi heart disease), chronic dysentery, helminthiasis, malnutrition (including optic atrophy associated with malnutrition), pellagra, any other nutritional deficiency, psychosis, any of the anxiety states, dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis), organic residuals of frostbite, if it is determined that the veteran was interned in climatic conditions consistent with the occurrence of frostbite, post-traumatic arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, peripheral neuropathy except where directly related to infectious causes, and cirrhosis of the liver.
On October 7, 2004, a law was passed adding atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive vascular disease (including hypertensive heart disease) and their complications, and stroke and its complications, to the list of conditions for which entitlement to service connection is presumed for former POWs. There is no minimum interment requirement for these conditions.
Former POWs may also receive a complete protocol examination at the VA Outpatient Clinic to determine if he/she is currently suffering from the above-mentioned disabilities. In addition, former POWs may avail of a medal which he/she can get from the U.S. Department of the Army.
Additional compensation for dependents - Veterans having a thirty percent (30%) or more service connected condition may be entitled to additional compensation for a spouse, dependent parents, or unmarried children under 18 (or under 23 if attending an approved school) or when prior to age 18 the child has become permanently incapable of self-support because of mental or physical defect. The additional benefit for a spouse is payable in a higher amount upon receipt of evidence establishing that the spouse is a patient in a nursing home or so disabled as to require the aid and attendance of another person.
Clothing Allowance – Veterans, who because of a service-connected disability, wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair) which tends to wear or tear clothing, and veterans, who because of a service-connected skin condition use a medication that causes irreparable damage to outer garments, are eligible for payment of an annual clothing allowance.
Full-dollar VA compensation rate – Effective October 27, 2000, Public Law 106-377, authorized payment of disability compensation benefits at the full-dollar rate to veterans who, (a) reside in the U.S. (states, territories and possessions, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), and (b) are either U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens (as determined by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS).
III. MEDICAL BENEFITS AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES
Public Law 106-377 also extends VA hospital and nursing home care to Filipino veterans as if they are U.S. veterans if they permanently reside in the U.S. and are receiving VA compensation. Under the change in the law, these service-disabled Filipino veterans will be provided hospital and nursing home care and outpatient medical services, service related or not, under the same rules as for U.S. veterans.
IV. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS*
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) - payable to eligible spouses, children and parents if the veteran died in service, or died due to sickness or injury incurred in service.
Full-dollar DIC rate – Public Law 108-103 also allows payment of DIC at the full dollar rate to survivors of veterans who served in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Special Philippine Scouts, or organized guerrilla forces, if the survivors reside in the United States as United States citizens or as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
Aid and Attendance - payable to surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC if they are patients in a nursing home or require the aid and attendance of another person.
Housebound - payable to surviving spouses qualified for DIC who are not so disabled as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person but who, due to disability, are permanently housebound.
Dependents’ Educational Assistance - payable only to children of veterans who are eligible under Chapter 35 benefits. Spouses are not eligible. Payments shall be made at a rate of $0.50 for each dollar authorized per Sec. 107(a), 38 USC.
V. BURIAL BENEFITS
Burial and Funeral Expense Allowance - an allowance of $150 may be paid to the person who shouldered the burial expenses of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation at time of death; or if the veteran resides in the U.S. or resided in the U.S. at the time of death, nonservice connected burial allowance of $300 may be paid. The increase in burial allowance applies to cases in which the death occurred after November 1, 2000.
Plot or Interment Allowance - an allowance of $150 may be paid to the person who shouldered the plot or interment expenses of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation at time of death; or if the veteran resides in the U.S. or resided in the U.S. at the time of death, plot or interment allowance of $300 may be paid. The increase in plot or interment allowance applies to cases in which the death occurred on or after December 1, 2001.
If the veteran’s death is service-connected, VA will pay a burial allowance up to $1000 instead of the $150 basic burial allowance and the $150 plot allowance if death occurred on or after September 11, 2001.
Burial Flag - a flag may be given to the next of kin or a close associate of the veteran who died on or after April 25, 1951.
VI. BENEFIT PROGRAMS NOT AVAILABLE
- Non service-connected pension for veterans and death pension for dependents
- Headstones and Markers
- Hospitalization and Other Medical Benefits if the veteran resides in the Philippines
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS (NON-COMMISSIONED – ENLISTED UNDER PL 190, 79 TH CONGRESS ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 5, 1945)
I. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS*
Disability Compensation - payable to a veteran with service-connected condition(s) rated at 10 percent or more.
Additional compensation for dependents - Veterans having a thirty percent (30%) or more service connected condition may be entitled to additional compensation for a spouse, dependent parents, or unmarried children under 18 (or under 23 if attending an approved school) or when prior to age 18 the child has become permanently incapable of self-support because of mental or physical defect. The additional benefit for a spouse is payable in a higher amount upon receipt of evidence establishing that the spouse is a patient in a nursing home or so disabled as to require the aid and attendance of another person.
Clothing Allowance – Veterans, who because of a service-connected disability, wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair) which tends to wear or tear clothing, and veterans, who because of a service-connected skin condition use a medication that causes irreparable damage to outer garments, are eligible for payment of an annual clothing allowance.
Full-dollar VA compensation rate – Effective December 16, 2003, Public Law 108-183 allows full dollar VA compensation to veterans who served in the Special Philippine Scouts if they reside in the United States as United States citizens or permanent resident aliens (as determined by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS)). Public Law 108-183 also allows payment of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) at the full dollar rate to survivors of veterans who served in the Special Philippine Scouts if the survivors reside in the United States as United States citizens or as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
II. BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS*
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) - payable to eligible spouses, children and parents if the veteran died in service, or died due to sickness or injury incurred in service.
Full-dollar DIC rate – Public Law 108-103 also allows payment of DIC at the full dollar rate to survivors of veterans who served in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Special Philippine Scouts, or organized guerrilla forces, if the survivors reside in the United States as United States citizens or as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
Aid and Attendance - payable to surviving spouses and parents receiving DIC if they are patients in a nursing home or require the aid and attendance of another person.
Housebound - payable to surviving spouses qualified for DIC who are not so disabled as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person but who, due to disability, are permanently housebound.
Dependents’ Educational Assistance - payable only to children of veterans who are eligible under Chapter 35 benefits. Spouses are not eligible. Payments shall be made at a rate of $0.50 for each dollar authorized per Sec. 107(a), 38 USC.
III. BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES
Public Law 108-103 also extended burial benefit eligibility at the full-dollar rate to veterans who served in the Special Philippine Scouts. This amendment applies to deaths occurring on or after December 16, 2003 provided veterans met the following criteria on the date of death: (1) resided in the U.S. (states, territories and possessions, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), and (2) were either U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens (as determined by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and (3) were either receiving VA compensation benefits or met the disability, income and net worth requirements for VA pension benefits, and would have been eligible, if service had been deemed to be active military, naval or air service.
IV. BENEFIT PROGRAMS NOT AVAILABLE
- Nonservice-connected pension benefits for veterans and death pension for dependents
- Hospital and nursing home care, and outpatient medical services even though the veteran has service-connected conditions.
- VA loans such as home loan guarantees and small business loans
- Special Adaptive Housing
- Automobiles and Adaptive Equipment for Disabled Veterans
- Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH)
- Burial Flag
- Burial in National Cemeteries
- Headstones and Markers
NOTE: This information sheet does not apply to officers who were commissioned in connection with the administration of Public Law 190 (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 107). Commissioned officers (and their dependents) have the same benefits as U.S. veterans including payments in dollars.
