U.S. still paying survivor benefits to children of Civil War vets

[DonViejo]

By Shan Li
March 19, 2013, 12:17 p.m.
The U.S. government is paying billions to war veterans and their families, including monthly payments to the children of Civil War veterans.

More than $40 billion annually is being paid out to soldiers and survivors of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War in 1898, both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq war and the war in Afghanistan, according to an analysis by the Associated Press.

Two children of Civil War veterans -- one in Tennessee and the other in North Carolina -- are each receiving $876 a year. Another 10 are getting benefits, averaging about $5,000 a year, connected to the 1898 Spanish-American War.

The spouses of soldiers who die in wars can qualify for lifetime benefits, while children who are under 18 can also receive payments. Kids who are disabled before the age of 18 may also get those benefits extended through their entire life.

The government is still paying survivors of World War I about $20 million a year, which is dwarfed by the $5 billion per year paid out to World War II veterans and their families, the AP reported.

-snip-

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-civil-war-veteran-payments--20130319,0,2765137.story

[JI7]

1. they must be really old by now

[HockeyMom]

2. lol

I am the Great-Granddaughter of a Civil War Vet. Great-Grandpa enlisted at 16 years old. I am now 64 years old. CHILDREN of Civil War Vets?????

[enlightenment]

3. Only one left, apparently.

The gentleman in Tennessee died not long ago, leaving the woman in North Carolina. Her father was in his 80s when she was born (mother was in her early 30s); there was also a younger child, a boy, who did have children before he died. The daughter lives in an assisted care facility; she never married. She is 83 and her name is Irene Triplett.

This information from today's (yesterday's) Daily Mail - a mostly nasty gossip rag, but this time they seem to have been interested enough to do better research than the LA Times . . .

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297522/Pictured-Americas-living-link-Civil-War-83-year-old-woman-autism-father-fought-Unionists-Confederates.html