SEE NOTE IN PARAGRAPH 4. In all my years as a Veterans Benefits Counselor, I have never had a experience of fulfillment and joy like the last 72 hours.
The article I posted about the new VA findings regarding the now service-connected aspect of ALS and the consequent benefits that can be gained by the widows, resulted in calls from California, Arkansas, Texas, New York. and Florida from the spouses of now deceased veterans who passed on from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The sense of completion and use of talents has never been as rewarding as it has been to direct these women to the proper channels to get those benefits. I am overwhelmed at the power and reach of the Internet. If there are others, I can be reached at 520-808-3907. God speed to the widows.
Notice to all readers. I am a disabled Veteran myself, and have become a bit overwhelmed with the volume of calls to my cell phone. I love helping, but this is a bit much for one ole Marine. I have now answered 144 calls and loved talking to all of you fine folks. Yet I am going to request of any future callers to try the following first, and then call or email me with any problems you may have.
Call the VA line at 1-800-827-1000 and waltz through the voice promptings to Disability Benefits, then hit ‘0’ for an operator and they will answer in your area. Tell them you want a package for widows, DIC benefits for ALS/ Lou Gehrigs’ Disease,and they will get a package to you right away. It is self explanatory. I would then take the claim package to a local American Legion and have them submit it for you, as you then have a local advocate to check on the status your claim.
Should you have problems, you can email me at “pointmanchaplain@aol.com”
God Bless you all. Mike Brewer/USMC
my dad died of this how can i help my mom get this help
My mother would really appreciate having this information. She is 80 and lost her 2nd. husband to ALS in 1983.
Thank you in advance, Clayton
My husband died of AlS is there any help out there….I would apprciate having this information……
My husband died Jan. 1, 2002 of ALS. How do I file for the pension?
How can I apply for this pension?
I know of at least two ladies who live in the Anniston/Gadsden area of Alabama whose spouses were combat veterans (one US Army/one US Navy). Each of those veterans died several years ago after being diagnosed with Lou Gerhig’s disease. I have just learned that each of these ladies may be eligible for a widow’s pension. Is this possible??? How do I go about directing them to the appropriate VA agency to submit their applications??? What qualifies a person for such a widow’s pension??? Jim
The way to get the package for the benefits is to call the VA universal phone number that will ring into a Regional Office near you. It is 1-800-827-1000. Waltz through the voice promptings until you get to Disability Benefits. Then hit O for an operator and tell them the reason for your call; “Widows Benefits for ALS/Lou Gehrigs’ Disease. They are on top of the whole issue. They will send you a package that is self -explanatory. It may help to take the package to a local Veterans Service Officer with the American Legion, and have them send it in for you, so then you have a local advocate to check on the status for you.
God Bless you all. Mike
Mike,
I enjoyed talking to you yesterday, and am in the process of sending your information to several ALS support groups to suggest they publicize the VA benefit for ALS widows. I shall also send that e-mail to the person you suggested to add a little impetus to this project.
Thanks so much for all you do, and have done. I’ll let you know when my packet arrives.
Alice
Do you of anybody who already started getting the benefits?
How long does it take to start receiving benefits? My mom applied Aug 09.
I just called the 800-827- 1000 number and was told by one of the CPC that the ruling for ALS apply to only the veterans that were affected by agent orange. I have been getting the run around since Jan 2003.
My husband, a Vietname veteran, was diagnosed with ALS 1/13/2004, died 9/8/2005. I’ve been receiving survivor’s benefits since 06/2009. I went through my local Paralyzed Veterans of America whom served as an advocate on my behalf. You might also be eligible for other benefits (i.e. VA home loan(s), ChampVA insurance, etc.)
My father served in both Korea and during the Vietnam Wars. He was diagnosed with ALS in Feburary of 1997 and died May of 1998. My mother applied for benefits in July of 09 and was approved and began receiving benefits in March 2010. She receives about 1200.00 a month in widows pension and was backpaid to September of 2008. We applied for benefits through the Paralyzed Veterans of America. That I know of my father was never subjected to Agent Orange. I believe that whomever told you that is incorrect. I would get in touch with the ALS Association and have them direct you to the agency in your area that is helping spouses to apply for these benefits. Good Luck.
My husband was diagnosed in 2000, he served two terms in viet nam and came home in 1971. He died in 2004. I filed in September of 2009, I have been told that it can take up to 5 years before I hear anything back by a veterans representative from the DAV. Anytime I hear anything its that the claim is in backlog, meaning they have not even looked at it yet. My representative has requested I secure a letter from one of Bob’s doctors or any doctor stating his death was directly linked to ALS, that his death certificate is not enough and that the pulmonologist’s notes detailing the loss of lung function was due to ALS was still not good enough that I needed a doctors letter stating plainly and simply that ALS contributed to his death. The death certificate states cause of death in this order Neuromuscular Disease and Respiratory Failure. It would be nice to hear that someone is at least looking at his file its been almost 8 months and in that time I have received 2 letters from them one stating they received it and a second stating it was in back log I was placing phone calls to them once a month I stopped when we got an advocate. Got one letter from him which was a copy of the letter sent to the VA on my behalf…so maybe if someone who filed in July the same year I filed in September, has heard back and will be receiving benefits in June…maybe I will hear something sooner than 5 yrs.