Veterans Corner When a veteran dies the surviving spouse, children and parents may be eligible for benefits from the Veterans Administration. Family members may be eligible for one or more benefits based upon the circumstances of the death of the veteran. The Veterans Administration may provide Dependents Indemnity Compensation, DIC as it is referred to. This is a monetary benefit that is tax-free and is not income based for a spouse or children. It is also available for parents but is income based. Dependents Indemnity Compensation may be paid to the surviving spouse, children or parents of a service member who was killed on Active Duty, or for a veteran who died from a service-connected disabili- Avenal Chimes • Thursday, November 13, 2014 • Page 3 Death Benefits ty. A Death Pension is available as an income supplement for a low-income surviving spouse and/or children of a veteran. The veteran must have served during a wartime period, and income and net worth must be within specified limits. Burial benefits include at no charge, a headstone, a burial flag, as well as a Presidential letter of recognition of the veteran's service. Burial Allowance monies are available to offset the cost of the burial. Burial Allowance can be paid for a veteran who died from a service-connected disability or was in receipt of VA compensation at the time of death. Finally under the Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, Health Matters By Joe Wright both the surviving spouse and children may be entitled to education and training opportunities. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. The veteran must have died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a serviceconnected disability. The Kings County Veterans Service Office issues Veteran I.D. cards to honorably discharged veterans. Contact Joe Wright if you would like to receive periodic veteran's information by email. There are many state and federal ben- efits and programs available to veterans and their dependents. To find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office. We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms. You can get information on the Web from the Kings County Veterans Service Office webpage at www.countyofkings.com. Joe Wright, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, is the Veterans Service Officer for Kings County. Send your questions to the Veterans Service Office, non-economic damages that can be assessed in medical negligence lawsuits to over $1 million dollars from the current cap of $250,000. This means that the patient would have he right to sue a doctor for anything they were displeased with, which would cause many doctors to resume fewer cases and limit their availability causing a vast decline in physicians. The disadvantages of this proposition have outweighed the advantages, as proven by the polls. Supporters of the this initiative referred to it as the Troy and Alana Pack patient safety Act of 2014, named after two children who were killed by a under the influence driver intoxicated with alcohol and prescription drugs. This is a very important lesson for physicians to be aware of, even though the measure was defeated, physicians should remember the Hippocratic oath they are so Do You Have a Community Event or Announcement You Want to Place in the Avenal Chimes? Call or email us today to get your event in next weeks paper. 559-572-5498 [email protected] • Haircuts • Hair Color • Waxing • Acrylic Nails • Manicures • Nail Art for Kids • Hair Styles for Special Events 400 E. Fresno St. #A (559) 397-5775 By Rina Patel to be devoted to as they pursued their medical career. In summary, supporters of Proposition 46 argued that medical negligence is too common and pain and suffering damage awards are too low. Opponents said the initiative wasn’t about protecting patients, but increasing medical lawsuit payouts to trial lawyers. Joe Wright ted Loca migo nd A Behi rket! Ma Open Monday - Friday 10 am - 8 pm Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 5 pm • Closed Tuesday Services offered for Men, Women and Children! Walk-Ins Welcome • Se Habla Español Highlight: California proposition 46 Election day on Tuesday November 4, many measures were put up to the test for the decision-making across the country. One of which was proposition 46, the medical malpractice lawsuits and cap and drug testing of doctor initiative, was defeated. Even though, this proposition did not receive the kind of votes it was intended too, physicians can now take a breathe of relief. This proposition was initiative would have required drug and alcohol testing of doctors and those who tested positive would be reported to California Medical board who would than take disciplinary action. Health care workers could also report physicians if they suspected any alcohol or drug impairment and medical negligence. This may not be all that bad, so why wouldn’t it pass? Because there’s more, the initiative would have increased the state’s cap on 1400 W. 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