色花堂

@Calif-Native

Thank you so much for this detailed post ^^

I am sure it will be useful to our members.

All the very best

Bhavna

Update on the U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) process for my baby!

I arrived in California the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023.聽 Was one of the first in line Thursday morning, Oct 12, 2023, at my local Southern California Social Security Administration (SSA) office (I did not have an appointment).聽 Doors opened at 9, was called to the window by 9:18 am,聽 and I presented my baby's official U.S. Birth Certificate (CRBA).聽 After a few questions and the staff coping the CRBA, I confirmed my FRA amount, confirmed the monthly benefit amount for the baby and was out by 9:22 am.聽

Note: The SSA's FRA calculation is what is used to pay minor child benefits; not the monthly amount a person may receive.

Fact 1 - Total time to submit application for SSN was ~12 minutes vs. 6 -12 months in Manila.

Upon retunring home I waited the few days for the phone interview previously scheduled by Manila SSA (for Oct 17, 2023), to add my baby to my account.聽

Note:聽 The application for the SSN is considered a seperate process from the step to add a child to the qualified parent's account.

Of course, US Embassy Manila SSA failed to call so I called the local office where they were able to see the appointment with no results.聽 The local Southern California SSA office confirmed the new SSN for my baby had been issued the afternoon of Oct 12, 2023.聽

Fact 2 - Total time to issue actual SSN was ~8 hours vs. 6 -12 months in Manila.

However, since the process was not complete and since Manila failed to call me, the local office made another phone appointment for attaching my baby to my account, the next day (Oct 18, 2023).聽

This phone interview was for about 15 minutes and ended with both acceptance of the assignment to my account and the following confirmations:

• The benefits will be paid into my same SSA Retirement account, starting November 2023.
• Since SSA allows for up to 6 months of retro pay prior to the date of the application, based on starting with the next month after birth, all back pay and the month of October will be paid in the next 15 days, for the past 7 months (in my case), plus this month of October.

Since all of my retirements are direct deposited to my US Bank, there are no additional action for me to take.聽 I was informed that if I was using a foreign bank account, the delay could be 3-4 months to get the payment and 4-6 months to get back pay resolved.聽 It seems all SSA benefits identified as "direct deposit" thru a foreign bank,聽 go thru one third-party entity and clearing process, for over 40 countries.

My views:聽 This has been well worth the return to the USA to get the important benefits confirmed and started.聽 My stress levels/PTSD are now at the lowest going back before the birth of my baby.聽 If others are in a similar situation, it is note worthy that a process in US Embassy Manila SSA that takes 6-12 months has been completed here in California in less than 6 calander days (including a weekend).

Now, all ChampVA, DEERS, VA Dependent and SSA Dependent updates are Done!聽

@Calif-Native

How to get or applied this VA dependent medical coverage in the P.I.? Where I contact? Who can advise me? What are requirements to cover me this VA -dependent medical coverage in the Philippines , who assist me?

@Calif-Native

Sir my problem is this my father suffering of cerevascular Accedent or stroke and trombosis in 1980 and 1983 hypertension cerebrovascular Accedent trombosis, bronchitis and in 1985 the ultimate couse of his life end of veterans cardiovascular arrist trombosis cerebrovascular Accedent, pneumonia this聽 service connected disability not rate at VA Manila from 1980 up to the the death of my mother in 2002 the VA reply to my mother聽 My father not died on service connected not service of 90 days USAFFE and Guerilla and New Philippines scout are not compensable at least service of 90 days and or died service connected, Malaria it is not compensable. My parents both decease both never to receive any benefits only denied.

During the illness of my father I was聽 16 year old at times suffering of hearing lost from 7 Year old in 1970 up to now, I am a member of veterans house hold before 18 year old in 1980 up to death of my mother in 2002? I am indigent below income from 1980 up to now.

How to apply SSN living in Philippines as dependent son of wwII veterans? How to apply Deers or whatever application and benefits that I get or available for me?

@mcreybarraquias8

As I understand your situation, you father was never considered "service connected" for any of his medical issues.聽 My expereince and background does not cover the special process non-US citizen vets from the PI must step thru.聽 I am aware that there is a special section called the WWII Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC), but have near zero knowledge about it.聽 Start here:聽

Another VA source is found here: [link under review]

Therefore, I am not thinking that this post will be that helpful, in your case.聽 So I will just share a few points that I followed:

In general, family members have a very intense battle ahead to process any post-death claims and most likely, you will be told to prove and provide documents that have long been lost.聽 In my case, when Manila VARO first claimed they did not find or have certain records, I simply uploaded my copy of the needed records; since I kept all documents during my 5+ years of service.聽

Having possession of my own original records was key, since I processed all of my claims without any help from others or service organizations.聽 My status as a "Pro Se" means I was 100% on my own to collect, research, prove and provide all records and documents to support my claims.聽 This also means I represented myself in all calls and meetings, in addition to the documents I submitted.

When a vet takes the step to fight alone, he/she must be ready and willing to endure many years of uncertainity and deep research.聽 All document I generated were submitted electronically (i.e., no faxing or mailing) with a style similar to a legal brief used in a U.S. Court.聽 This clearly means the claim statements must be prepared in a way that the vet lists the VA rules and or federal laws that the VA RO failed to follow, while articulating the claim.

The vet just can't tell a story, the vet must identify the VARO failures involved that pertain to each of the claims made while clearly stating the claim(s) with as little as possible "feelings".聽 Let the ending summary paragraph be used to display emotions.

Example:聽 If there was a U.S. law of VA mandate that required all Filipino veterans to be screened for certain exposure(s) that later manifest in sicknesses or diseases (i.e., Agent Orange or radiation exposures), and VA failed to do this, you would have to research and hope to find that link and a "nexus" that connected your dad.聽

Remember, the VA has a task to disqualify as many as possible earily on in the claim review process.聽 You must find all related VA policies on how the members from the PI with claims were to be handled.聽 You may be stuck if there is no history of your dad making a claim or his claim being denied.聽

I am unaware of any local sources that can assist in this process as most in the PI and the USA do not understand the claim and appeal processes.聽 Unless a person has been granted a service connected status, or are confirmed qualified dependents of a vet with said status, things related to DEERS and other services will never apply.聽

Best wishes to you!

@Calif-Native

That's your your reply but I am already applied at VA Manila聽 and VA veterans intake Janesville Wisconsin USA last聽 Aug 13,2023 and Manila lat August 30,2023 Under Pact act and Equit law both of them not yet reply service connected disability not rate at VA Manila? How long I wait sir?

@mcreybarraquias8

Thanks your your reply

Sir, how can avail community Care program Under VA or champva how to apply and what聽 are the requirements? I am already applied for equity and PACT act at VA Manila last August 31 2023 up to now no reply and I always applied at VA Janesville Wisconsin u.s.a. for DIC and聽 pension accrued benefits including service connected disability not rate at VA Manila Under Pact act up to now no reply yet.

Please advise

@mcreybarraquias8

I will try to give out general info and each person must look as deeply as possible to understand.聽 I am not a VA employee or representative of VA.聽 Lastly, I am not an expert by any means and you must be able to deeply research this matter and gain the understanding you seek.

Therefore it is impossible for me to give any dates or exact response answers that can only come from the VA.聽 All that I give here are my opinions, based on my service experiences and those from assisting my dad, a WW2 vet that passed at 91, in 2005.

Do not take the following as your path, or the set of answers for your situation. It is also my opinion that a person must learn the different programs and offerings from VA as they select what they feel is needed.聽 It is highly recommended that all persons first understand the following facts, opinions and or experiences, prior to processing various applications within VA:

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 When any person completes a VA application, it only means it has been submitted.聽 It does not mean VA has approved it and benefits have started.聽 Expecting otherwise is not realistic.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 It will be very hard going to process any VA application if the vet鈥檚 SSN or service number is not used.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 When a person signs up for various VA programs before any status is granted, it does not mean programs will be granted prior to the qualifying VA status being confirmed.聽 Expecting otherwise is not realistic.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 Applying at both VA Manila and sending documents to Janesville may cause a conflict and result a very long delay because VA has not already confirmed a status for the applicant.聽 It is rare to get a response in less than 30 days from VA.聽 Expecting otherwise is not realistic.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 Pact Act starts with the vet that was exposed, as confirmed by SSN, service dates and locations listed on the DD214.聽 Dependents just don't sign up for it without the vet!聽 Expecting otherwise is not realistic.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 If a person鈥檚 relative served prior to August 1949, they would not have received the DD214.聽 The family must understand this and be prepared for this reality.

Example; If the WW2 vet was in the Army, it will be a 鈥淲D AGO Form 53 - 55鈥� also known as: "War Department Adjutant General's Office Form 53, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation."聽 This is the form my dad had from WW2.聽

Note: It is important to pay attention to Boxes 2 and 4 of this WW2 form.聽 Box 2 contains the vet鈥檚 ASN.聽 Most records of that time were filed by by Army serial number (ASN). The ASN was coded to also identify what state the veteran was from & which Service Command area he was inducted in. Box 4 contains Arm or Service where abbreviations were used such as: ASF = Army Service Force; FA = Field Artillery; CE =Corps of Engineers; CMP = Corps of Military Police.聽 ALL 57 Boxes of this form need to be reviewed and understand first!!!聽

聽 聽 聽 聽 This will be very important to make your claim have a link to certain locations and or duties that have now been confirmed to form a basis or nexus for a claim.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 Processing a new claim under the PACT ACT can cause a legacy vet/claim to be abandoned. One must be careful what they ask for when not understanding the elements of the claim in VA.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 Community Care is for the vet and is focused on US locations.聽 This is not for dependents.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 CHAMPVA is for the dependents of the confirmed vet that must be 100% disabled (in the PI) to get such benefits.

聽 聽 鈻�聽 聽 DIC is for the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness.聽 If your dad has not been confirmed as a vet that died from service-related injury or illness, your applying for DIC is very premature. Expecting otherwise is not realistic.

My opinion summary:聽 It is very possible that questions and form being processed with a focus on 鈥渁pplied for equity鈥澛� and 鈥淧ACT act鈥� with submission of documents to Janesville on a deceased Filipino vet (where ASN or equivalent are missing) and there is no records of a prior claim or a confirmed service connected disability, VA may just ignore it, or consider it a scam.

Please understand I am not qualified to advise you and all of the above represent my sharing of the path I took.聽 None of the above represents possible outcomes for others.

Good Luck!

@Calif-Native

Good Day

Thank you , for your information regarding my claim聽 of my father my mother and I both denied due none information.