P.O.W. Benefits

 

Also many states offer more benefits to POW's on top of the Veterans adminstration.

Facts About POW/MIA Benefits & History
VADEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Office of Media Relations
Washington, D.C. 20420
(202) 273-5700		[skip navigation]Fact Sheet
VA Benefits for Former Prisoners Of War

Former American POWs are eligible for special veterans benefits, including medical care in VA hospitals and disability compensation for injuries and diseases associated with internment. These benefits are in addition to regular veterans benefits and services to which they, as veterans, are entitled.

More than a fourth of the Americans held prisoner in the last five U.S. conflicts are now living. Records show that 142,233 Americans were captured and interned during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Somalia and Kosovo conflicts. This includes 81 women seized on Guam or in the Philippines during World War II, and two during the Gulf War.

Of that total, an estimated 42,781 were living as of Jan. 1, 2002. This includes 39,719 from World War II, 2,434 from the Korean War, 601 from the Vietnam War, 23 from the Gulf War, one from Somalia and three from the Kosovo Conflict.

American Prisoners Of War
  TotalWWIWWIIKoreaVietnamGulfSomaliaBosniaKosovo
Captured & Interned142,2334,120130,2017,14074523103
Returned to U.S. Military Control125,2083,973116,1294,41866123103
Refused Repatriation21002100000
Died while POW17,00414714,0722,701840000
Alive Jan. 200142,781039,7192,43460123103

Statistical information on American POWs courtesy of Charles A. Stenger of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Association.

Congress defines a prisoner of war as a person who, while serving on active duty, was forcibly detained by an enemy government or a hostile force, during a period of war or in situations comparable to war.

Compensation
As of November 2001, there were 15,118 former POWs receiving compensation benefits from VA.

Studies have shown that the physical hardships and psychological stress endured by POWs have life-long effects on health and on social and vocational adjustment. These studies also indicate increased vulnerability to psychological stress.

The laws on former POW benefits recognize that military medical records do not cover periods of captivity. For many diseases, unless there is evidence of some other cause, VA disability compensation can be paid on the basis of a presumption that a disease present today is associated with the veteran's captivity or internment.

For POWs detained for 30 days or more, such eligibility covers any of the following illnesses that are found at a compensable level (at least 10 percent disabling): avitaminosis; beriberi; chronic dysentery; dysthymic disorder, or depressive neurosis; helminthiasis; irritable bowel syndrome and malnutrition, including associated optic atrophy. Also covered are: organic residuals of frostbite; pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency; peptic ulcer disease; peripheral neuropathy, except where directly related to infectious causes; post-traumatic osteoarthritis; psychosis and any of the anxiety states. For former POWs who suffered from swelling of the legs or feet during captivity, ischemic heart disease (sometimes known as "wet" beriberi) is also covered.

The base rate of VA monthly compensation, according to degree of disability, ranges from $103 to $2,163 per month. Veterans rated as 30 percent or more disabled qualify for additional benefits based upon the number of dependents. Dependents of those rated 100 percent disabled may qualify for educational assistance.

Spouses of those veterans who die as a result of service-connected disabilities are eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation. Spouses of former POWs who were rated 100 percent disabled and who died of a condition unrelated to their service also may be eligible, depending on the date of death and how long the veteran held the 100 percent disability rating. Those non-service-connected deaths prior to October 1999 are covered if the former POW had been 100 percent disabled for at least 10 years. More recent non-service-connected deaths are covered under a law that requires former POWs to be 100 percent disabled for a year or more.

Medical Care
As with any veteran with a service-connected disability, former POWs receive special priority for the treatment of their service-connected illness or injury in VA facilities. Former POWs are exempt from making means test copayments for inpatient and outpatient medical care and treatment received, but they have the same copay rules as other veterans for medications and for extended care.

Former POWs may be exempt from the medication copayment if they are rated service-connected 50 per cent or more, are receiving medications for a service-connected condition or their income is below the maximum annual pension level. If they do not meet one of these exemptions, they will be assessed a medication copayment for each 30 day or less supply of medication dispensed on an outpatient basis. Former POWs may also be responsible for long term care copayments if the care is for a nonservice-connected condition and their income is above the single veteran pension level. Detailed financial information is also required to determine if the veteran may be exempt from long term care copayments based upon their individual financial situation.

Free dental treatment is available to any veteran for a service-connected dental condition, and POWs held for more than 90 days additionally are eligible for free dental treatment any dental condition. Those whose captivity was for less than 90 days with no service-connected dental condition should contact VA for more details about criteria for dental care.

Additional Resources
POW coordinators are assigned to each VA regional office and medical center and are available to provide more information. Former POWs may contact VA regional offices with general benefits questions at 800-827-1000. Callers are automatically connected to the nearest VA regional office. Medical eligibility questions may be directed to 877-222-8387. Additional information for former POWs also is available from VA's Web site at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/.

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