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O ctober 9, 1996 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age A4
(E h e y o r t l a n ò ( D h s c r u e r
Many veterans unaware of benefits
Although over $42 billion were
paid out in veterans benefits last year,
billions more went unclaimed in the
past few years
Every year eligibility for and the
array o f available benefits are
changed and very few veterans or
their survivors keep up with the lat­
est rules. Because ofthis, and chang­
es in their circumstances, many vet­
erans, their families and survivors
are now entitled to money and other
benefits from the government even
though they were not eligible in the
past.
A study group of the Consumer
Education Research Center, a 25-
year-old national nonprofit consum­
er group found that over one-fourth
of the money paid in veterans bene­
fits goes to persons who never served
in the armed forces of the United
States.
Most of these were related by
blood or marriage to veterans but
many were not. Others were mem­
bers of the armed forces of countries
who fourth with us against our ene­
mies.
Each year the Center compiles a
book describing the latest rules on
available benefits and how to qualify
for those benefits. The 240 large-
page Complete guide to federal and
state benefits for veterans, their fam­
ilies, and survivors for Consumer
Center, 1980 Springfield Ave,
Maplewood, NJ 07040 or by calling
1-800-872-0121.
Mr. Robert L. Berko, executive
director of the consumer group, says
that many survivors of veterans are
unaware that they might be eligible
to receive money, medical care, edu-
cational assistance, help in buying a
home or other benefits.
In fact, eligibility and benefits
change constantly and some people
ineligible in previous years are now
able to start receiving money.
The study found that many peo­
ple are unaware that they are consid­
ered dependents or survivors o f vet­
erans.
These include those involved in
illegal marriages, those who remar­
ried after the death or disability of a
veteran, children bom out o f wed­
lock to a veteran, parents of a veteran
and even dependent grandchildren.
Any of these may be eligible for
benefits.
Mr. Berko says that the study ques­
tioned veterans about benefits and
found that the majority were unfa­
miliar with most of the benefits now
being granted under Federal and state
laws. Even veterans now collecting
were unaware of other benefits for
which they were eligible and could
be collecting.
For instance, disabled veterans can
receive apparel allowances if they
use wheel chairs, artificial limbs or
any prosthetic device that can wear
or damage clothing and, if they have
a spouse in need of care, they can
receive an allowance to pay someone
to provide that care.
Few knew that the Bureau of Vet­
erans Affairs is required to send vet­
erans any requests for bids on sup­
plies or labor that are mailed to any
other suppliers.
Other benefits the consumer
found that were little known are:
♦ A veteran (or dependent) can
receive up to $83 7 (40% in advance)
if he or she will assist the VA in a
work-study program while in an ed­
ucational program
♦ Federal agencies are required
to establish affirmative action to fa ­
cilitate employment and advance­
ment o f veterans with any degree o f
disability. In fact some job classifi­
cations must be filled by eligible
vets
♦ Family members o f veterans
buried or mentioned on commemo­
rated on Tablets o f the Missing over­
seas are eligible fo r free passports if
they say they want to visit these sites.
♦ Disabled veterans can obtain
extra compensation o f hundreds o f
dollars per month in addition to their
100% disability if they have certain
specified disabilities.
♦ In addition, the book includes a
complete list o f VA facilities and
help to secure the information need­
ed with VA applications
“Even though the Congress and
the various state legislatures have
provided for money and services to
be given to veterans and their depen­
dents,’’ Mr Berko states, “unless the
people know they are eligible and
apply they will not collect anything.
Especially, now that benefit eligibil­
ities are probably going to be changed
by Congress, it is important to apply
and establish eligibility for benefits
right now.”
As Sen. Bob Dole, a decorated
veteran and one familiar with the
bureaucracy, says in his foreword,
“Mr. Berko’s book goes a long way
in helping America’s veterans cut
through the red tape so they can
receive the benefits they earned and
deserve.”
Gender battle over remote control
Watching television is the domi­
nant leisure activity shared by Amer­
ican couples, but that togetherness
can turn sour with a click o f the
remote control if conflict arises over
whether to watch “Oprah” or Atlanta
Braves baseball.
Now a new study confirms what
most of us have know all along -
when it come to the remote, men are
almost in control.
The study by researchers at Ore­
gon State University found that men
are more likely to dominate use of the
remote control, more likely to annoy
their partners with its use, and more
likely to "graze” - skipping from
channel to channel in the endless
pursuit o f perfect television.
Women, on the other hand, are
more apt to videotape their show to
watch later and, on average, are more
likely to say they are happy spending
the time together as a couple, regard­
ing’ without talking to their part­
ners,” said Alexis Walker, a profes­
sor of human development and fam­
ily sciences at OSU.
“It is,” she added, “a display of
“ The most common complaint among women is
that men not only dominate the remote control,
they engage in ‘unnegotiated channel surfing’
without talking to their partners,”
-Alexis Walker.
a professor of human development and family sciences a t OSU.
less of what is on television.
“The most common complaint
among women is that men not only
dominate the remote control, they
engage in ‘unnegotiatedchannel surf-
power. And it’s annoying to the part­
ner. Watching television is still a
joint leisure activity, but with one
person dominating the enjoyment.
Men complain, too, but their com­
plaints are usually that the women is
talking during a favorite show or that
there isn’t anything good on TV.”
Walker first presented the find­
ings of her study as the presidential
address at the recent National Coun­
cil on Family Relations annual meet­
ing. Holder of the endowed Jo Anne
Leonard Petersen Chair in Gerontol­
ogy and Family Studies at OSU,
Walker says she was surprised at
how little academic research there
was on the effect of television on
relationships.
After delving into the topic, she
found that the dynamics which shape
societal attitudes and behaviors on
gender relations are reflected in the
television viewing habits of couples.
Parents can help improve children’s grades
The first report cards o f the new
school year are just around the cor­
ner. If grades need some work, pa­
rental support can make a differ­
ence.
“Providing structure and express­
ing interest may be the keys to im­
proving a child’s grades,” said Dr.
Lou Ann Todd Mock, a psychologist
at Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston.
The first step: talk with the teacher
and begin to implement changes at
home.
One essential is adequate study
space with good lighting and few
distractions.
Mock also encourages parents to
set a specific study time.
“Allow time for outside play or an
after-school snack, but make televi-
sion off limits until after homework
time,” she said.
It might be necessary to sit with
a young child just starting a home­
work routine, but pull back as soon
as possible so children can learn to
work independently.
Born in 1904 Gladys Knauls is the Mother o f six
girls and one son. Gladys is celebrating her 92nd
birthday, in San Jose Cal. along with Paul and
Geneva Knauls, Jean Stewart Grand Daughter, Robin
Carter and Great Grand Daughter Kassitnira.
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