Policy Directive                                                             Issuance Number: TEA PD 03-06

Transitional Employment Assistance Manual      Issuance Date: 12/31/03

From: Joni Jones, Director                                           Expiration Date: Until Superseded

Subj: Income and Resource Disregards for Certain Veteran's Benefits.

Federal law, PL 106-419, effective December 2001, authorized veterans benefit payments for natural children of women Vietnam veterans who were born with one of the birth defects covered under the law.  However, federal law also prohibits these payments from being considered for the purpose of determining eligibility for public assistance.  Therefore, they are disregarded as resources under TEA 2272, # 10 and as income under TEA 2331, # 14.

 In addition, veterans benefits paid to the biological child of any Vietnam veteran for a disability resulting from spina bifida are disregarded as income and resources when determining TEA eligibility under the same policy sections.

 Any time the county has a question as to whether a Veterans Administration benefit may be disregarded as one of these payments, the pertinent documents regarding the payment should be sent to the Office of Program Planning and Development, Slot S333, for a determination.

Inquiries to:  Lorie Williams, TEA Policy Unit, 682-8256

                        Gerry Reed, TEA Policy Unit, 682-8253

                        Paula Gentry, TEA Policy Unit, 682-8182

                        Renee Green, TEA Policy Unit, 682-8266