FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1716

C 111 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing income assistance benefits to qualified World War II veterans living in the Republic of the Philippines.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Veloria, Mielke, Buck, O'Brien, Conway, Talcott, Hunt, Crouse, Clements, Murray, Schoesler, Miloscia, Benson, Tokuda, Santos, D. Schmidt, McDermott, Lovick, Cody, Campbell, Haigh, Keiser, Ogden and Dickerson; by request of Governor Locke.

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Background:

Subtitle B of the federal Public Law 106-169 of 1999 permits the payment of 75 percent of federal social security retirement (SSI) benefits to World War II veterans who live outside the United States.

To be eligible for this benefit, the veteran must have served in the United States Armed Forces, served under the command of the Armed Forces of the United States in the military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, or served in organized guerilla forces in the Pacific Area.

Washington pays a state-funded supplement to eligible federal SSI beneficiaries.  The state supplement monthly benefit varies with the recipients= location and  living situations.

Summary:

A one-time lump sum payment of $1,500 is provided to certain veterans of World War II who are recipients of the SSI state supplement as of December 14, 1999.

The veterans must have been in the service of the United States as members of the Commonwealth of the Philippines military forces, or a Regular Philippine Scout or Special Philippine Scout.  The veterans must move to the Philippines and establish and maintain a residence.

The lump sum payment is in lieu of the SSI state supplement benefit.

Votes on Final Passage:

House940

Senate470

Effective:  July 22, 2001