NCJ Number
63801
Date Published
1978
Length
44 pages
Annotation
THIS GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) REPORT EXAMINES VETERANS ADMINISTRATION (VA) BENEFITS PROGRAMS IN THE PHILIPPINES, NOTING PROGRAM ABUSES AND SUGGESTING CORRECTIVE MEASURES.
Abstract
THE VA HAS ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS FOR COMPENSATION, PENSION, AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS IN THE PHILIPPINES SINCE WORLD WAR II. FILIPINO VETERANS AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES RECEIVE BENEFITS WHICH ARE FIGURED ON THE BASIS OF THE PESO EQUIVALENT OF $.50 FOR EACH DOLLAR PAID TO U.S. VETERANS, RESULTING IN MUCH LARGER BENEFITS PAYMENTS TO FILIPINOS THAN THE AVERAGE INCOME IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THAN THEIR AMERICAN VETERAN COUNTERPARTS. BECAUSE THE BENEFITS ARE LUCRATIVE, PROGRAM ABUSES OCCUR, SUCH AS FRAUDULENT CLAIMS BY WIDOWS, ADOPTION AND SIRING OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN TO INCREASE BENEFITS, AND ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL FOR INCOME. CONTRIBUTING TO THESE ABUSES ARE THE AVAILABILITY OF FALSE DOCUMENTS AND THE USE OF CLAIMS FIXERS. TO CURTAIL PROGRAM ABUSES AND TO BETTER EQUATE BENEFIT PAYMENTS TO PREVAILING INCOME LEVELS IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE GAO RECOMMENDS THAT CONGRESS (1) RETAIN BUT NOT INCREASE THE PRESENT LEVEL OF BENEFITS, (2) MOVE VA FUNCTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES, (3) CHANGE THE BASIS USED TO COMPUTE BENEFITS, AND (4) ESTABLISH A TRUST FUND OR NEGOTIATE A LUMP-SUM SETTLEMENT WITH THE PHILIPPINES TO COVER COSTS OF ALL REMAINING BENEFITS. ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE INVESTIGATING CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE ARE NOTED. THE NAMES OF PRINCIPAL VA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES ARE APPENDED. (WJR)