Military widows pension rethink call

[Stealhead]

To answer Jimbuna currently in the US if a military widow or widower marries again they loose the benefits.Unless they marry another person with the VA benefits they get nothing and then they would receive the benefits of the new spouse which could be lesser.

I think this only applies until the widow/widower reaches a certain age 65 I think.Audie Murphy's wife is one who lost her benefits because she re-married before she reached the cut out age.Of course they know this will happen so it is a choice between possibly loosing any benefits or living a full life not to say that such a choice is fair.Personally I think its a load of crap they should get the benefits no matter what.If they happen to marry another former military they then should have to choose either to receive the benefits of the current spouse or the former.In other words only one set of VA benefits.

I have a feeling that sometime in the next few years that law will be changed to be more fair especially if more recent widow/widowers get involved and expose this to a wider audience.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

To answer Jimbuna currently in the US if a military widow or widower marries again they loose the benefits.Unless they marry another person with the VA benefits they get nothing and then they would receive the benefits of the new spouse which could be lesser.

I think this only applies until the widow/widower reaches a certain age 65 I think.Audie Murphy's wife is one who lost her benefits because she re-married before you reached the cut out age.

Ah, right...thanks for the explanation.

Not sure if Audie Murphy's widow would be in need of the money mind, unless he died destitute

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Ah, right...thanks for the explanation.

Not sure if Audie Murphy's widow would be in need of the money mind, unless he died destitute

He died broke actually.I may be incorrect about her getting remarried but I recall seeing on the news talking about the benefit removal for windows choosing to remarry so she must have been using her husbands fame to draw attention to the issue I must have misunderstood that she was one effected.

Well she passed away in 2010 it seems.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/04...-and-advocate/

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

He died broke actually.I may be incorrect about her getting remarried but I recall seeing on the news talking about the benefit removal for windows choosing to remarry so she must have been using her husbands fame to draw attention to the issue I must have misunderstood that she was one effected.

Well she passed away in 2010 it seems.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/04...-and-advocate/

Thank you...that clarifies things a lot

[August]

I don't mean to sound callous here, heck my mother is collecting a military widows pension, but I'd think it's actually fair that benefits should expire if she were to remarry.

After all these benefits are given to replace the lost earning power of the deceased veteran. If the veteran were alive then any alimony they were paying would also cease upon the remarriage of his ex wife so why not survivor benefits as well?

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by August

I don't mean to sound callous here, heck my mother is collecting a military widows pension, but I'd think it's actually fair that benefits should expire if she were to remarry.

After all these benefits are given to replace the lost earning power of the deceased veteran. If the veteran were alive then any alimony they were paying would also cease upon the remarriage of his ex wife so why not survivor benefits as well?

I think at least in the case where the spouse was killed in action they should still get something even if they remarry.

@Aktungbby right I got your first story that does not mean that everyone does that kind of thing.To much Hamms will have you paying a childwite.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

@Aktungbby right I got your first story that does not mean that everyone does that kind of thing.To much Hamms will have you paying a childwite.

The Hamm's beer will be for her...the defibrillator will be for me!

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Of course they know this will happen so it is a choice between possibly loosing any benefits or living a full life not to say that such a choice is fair.

Of course living without benefit of matrimony and keeping the benefit in a 'secondary' relationship can be verrrry zesty and avoid the pitfalls of 'community property' by an aggrandizing swain, lothario or other opportunist of the bereaved's boudoir.