On February 17, 2009, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Section 1002 of the ARRA established the FVECF to issue one-time payments to eligible Filipino veterans who aided American troops during World War II. To receive the one-time payment, an eligible veteran must file an application with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) within one-year of enactment (02/17/09 through 02/16/10) of the ARRA. A surviving spouse may receive the FVECF payment if the eligible veteran filed for it but did not receive the payment prior to death. Filipino veterans who are citizens of the United States (U.S.) are eligible for a one-time payment of $15,000, and veterans who are non-citizens are eligible for a one-time payment of $9,000.

The one-time FVECF payment is excluded from income for SSI eligibility and payment purposes.

Interest earned on an unspent FVECF payment is excluded from income. For the policy on the treatment of dividends and interest, see SI 00830.500C.

Verify the date of payment, amount paid, and that the source is the FVECF by:

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  Reviewing the VA documents in the claimant’s possession, or

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  Calling the VA toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000, or

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  Faxing a request for information to the appropriate VA regional office (VARO). Use form SSA-L1103-U4, Supplemental Security Income Request for Information.

Document the amount of the FVECF payment, date it was received and the determination that the payment is from the FVECF and is excluded from income by following the procedures in GN 00301.000 General Evidentiary Standards, see sections GN 00301.285 through GN 00301.289.

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  SI 01130.684, Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund (FVECF) Payment

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  VB 00205.105, Determining What is Other Benefit Income

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  SI 00830.500, Dividends and Interest

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  SI 00830.320, Form SSA-L1103-U3, Supplemental Security Income Request for Information

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  GN 00301.000, General Evidentiary Standards

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  SI 00830.099, Guide to Unearned Income Exclusions