Spousal Benefits

Spousal Benefits

The spouse or widow of a veteran could be eligible for various benefits. By Michael Roof

If you are married to a veteran receiving or they recently filed for VA monthly compensation, you will want to verify that you are listed on their award letter as their spouse. This might sound a little elementary, but it is sometimes overlooked by the veteran when filing. This will ensure that they are getting paid the correct amount and make it easier to connect to your benefits after he/she passes.

There are a couple situations where the surviving spouse can receive a monthly benefit.

If the veteran is rated at 100% or is paid at the 100% rate through Individual Unemployablility (IU) for at least 10 years.

» If the veteran passed from something that he/she is compensated for through the

VA. » If the veteran is 100% he/she is eligible for CHAMPVA. A health insurance program through the VA. This benefit is continued for the spouse even after the passing of the veteran.

Another benefit is the NonService Connected Pension. The basic point of eligibility is that the veteran had to serve during a period of war. There are some income /asset factors to concern as well, but I would advise talking to a Veteran Service Officer about those details.

The “basic” pension program offers help to those with extremely low income by paying a maximum benefit of $768 monthly. The Aid & Attendance pension program covers paying for In-home, Nursing home or Assisted living facilities. For surviving spouses the maximum benefit is $1,228 monthly.

In the state of Michigan, if the veteran was Permanent & Totally Disabled 100% or IU at the time of death, and he/she owned a permanent residence, then those property taxes could be exempted for the surviving spouse as well.

As always, please call or visit the Grand Traverse County Dept. of Veterans Affair for more information with these benefits or for assistance in filing a claim.

12/11/19 - 2nd Wednesday Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 12/16/19 - 3rd Monday VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 12/19/19 - 3rd Thursday Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 12/24/19 - 4th Tuesday American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 01/08/20 - 2nd Wednesday Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 01/16/20 - 3rd Thursday Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 01/20/20 - 3rd Monday VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 01/28/20 - 4th Tuesday 2/25/20 - 4th Tuesday American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 4th Wednesday - Monthly Traverse Senior Center 801 East Front St, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 10am-11:30am 1st Tuesday - Monthly Foster Family Health Center Rm A&B. Former MCHC 550 Munson Avenue, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 6pm-8pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Trinity Lutheran Church 995 James St, Frankfort (231) 882-4865 Facilitator: Janet and Fred Hough 2pm at these GATHER Old Mission TM Upcoming Chapter

Meetings

Parkinsons Support Groups GATHER Veterans – 27 6pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm A&B. Former MCHC 550 Munson Avenue, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 6pm-8pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Trinity Lutheran Church 995 James St, Frankfort (231) 882-4865 Facilitator: Janet and Fred Hough 2pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Governmental Center Suttons Bay/ Leelanau Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 2pm-3:30pm Find a Meeting Near You http://district11-aa.org/meetings. html AA Meeting

Schedule

Veterans Build Program We offer programs that improve the lives of local veterans. Learn more about affordable housing & home repair services. habitatgtr.org 231-941-4663

2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 4th Wednesday - Monthly Traverse Senior Center 801 East Front St, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 10am-11:30am 1st Tuesday - Monthly Foster Family Health Center Rm A&B. Former MCHC 550 Munson Avenue, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 6pm-8pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Trinity Lutheran Church 995 James St, Frankfort (231) 882-4865 Facilitator: Janet and Fred Hough 2pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Governmental Center Suttons Bay/ Leelanau Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 2pm-3:30pm at these GATHER Old Mission TM Upcoming Chapter

Meetings

Parkinsons Support Groups AA Meeting Schedule

Veteran, nine-year Navy Corpsman Kyle Monteith and his family moved into their Maple City Habitat home in July 2019. Veterans Build Program We offer programs that improve the lives of local veterans. Learn more about affordable housing & home repair services.

GATHER Veterans – 27 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 801 East Front St, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 10am-11:30am 1st Tuesday - Monthly Foster Family Health Center Rm A&B. Former MCHC 550 Munson Avenue, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 6pm-8pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Trinity Lutheran Church 995 James St, Frankfort (231) 882-4865 Facilitator: Janet and Fred Hough 2pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Governmental Center Suttons Bay/ Leelanau Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 2pm-3:30pm Find a Meeting Near You http://district11-aa.org/meetings. html AA Meeting

Schedule

Veterans Build Program We offer programs that improve the lives of local veterans. Learn more about affordable housing & home repair services. habitatgtr.org 231-941-4663

2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 2nd Wednesday - Monthly Marine Corps League 2033 Honor Highway, Interlochen 6pm 3rd Monday - Monthly VFW Cherryland Post 2780 3400 Veterans Dr, Traverse City 7pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Disable American Veteran American Military League, 2423 Sybrandt Rd, Traverse City 1pm 4th Tuesday - Monthly American Legion #35 1231 Hastings St, Travese City 6pm 4th Wednesday - Monthly Traverse Senior Center 801 East Front St, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 10am-11:30am 1st Tuesday - Monthly Foster Family Health Center Rm A&B. Former MCHC 550 Munson Avenue, Traverse City (231) 947-7389 Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 6pm-8pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Trinity Lutheran Church 995 James St, Frankfort (231) 882-4865 Facilitator: Janet and Fred Hough 2pm 3rd Thursday - Monthly Governmental Center Suttons Bay/ Leelanau Facilitator: Hettie Molvang 2pm-3:30pm Find a Meeting Near You http://district11-aa.org/meetings. html at these GATHER Old Mission TM Upcoming Chapter

Meetings

Parkinsons Support Groups AA Meeting Schedule

Veteran, nine-year Navy Corpsman Kyle Monteith and his family moved into their Maple City Habitat home in July 2019. Veterans Build Program We offer programs that improve the lives of local veterans. Learn more about affordable housing & home repair services. habitatgtr.org

231-941-4663 GATHER Veterans – 23