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Release No. 10-02-07
Oct. 2, 2007
WASHINGTON (AFRNS) -- Veterans Affairs officials are seeking any former prisoners of war or their family members who are not currently using VA benefits and services.
The officials are urging them to contact VA to find out if they are eligible for health care, disability compensation and other services.
“One of VA’s highest priorities is meeting the needs of former prisoners of war,” said Jim Nicholson, former VA secretary. “They are extraordinary men and women who have endured captivity, suffered extreme deprivation and sacrificed their own freedom to preserve the freedom of all Americans.”
VA officials estimate more than 25,000 former POWs are alive today. Officials are trying to contact the remaining prisoners of war not receiving any benefits or health care through an outreach program, including asking citizens to pass the word to veterans they know.
These officials are also seeking surviving spouses and family members of former POWs who may be eligible for certain benefits and services.
In recent years, VA has expanded benefits to all former POWs with strokes and certain common heart diseases. More than a dozen other diseases were already covered.
The government's effort to inform former POWs about improvements in benefits has faced a particular hurdle trying to reach older veterans who may not have been in touch with VA for decades.
A majority of former POWs are veterans of World War II, and their military service was before the use of Social Security numbers. As a result, it has been difficult for VA officials to track down those with military "service numbers" who have not been in contact with the Department in recent years.
Throughout the years, a nationwide outreach campaign including direct mailings and the help of news media and veterans organizations has added hundreds of former POWs to VA’s compensation rolls. These people who had not previously been receiving benefits to which they were entitled are now receiving what is due to them.
People who know a former POW can ask him or her to contact VA at (800) 827-1000. Details about benefits and services available to former POWs and family members are available at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/index.htm
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