VA Declares Living Korean War Veteran Dead; Stops Benefits
A Korean War veteran’s much-need disability benefits and medical insurance were cut off when he was inexplicably declared dead, his family said.
William Maroney, 82, is still alive but not doing well and needs coverage while he is bound to his bed at a nursing home in Henry County, Ga., WSB-TV reported.
His health deteriorated after his wife of 65 years passed away on June 9 but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs thought he died, according to his granddaughter Bridgett Maroney.
“They think he’s dead. They told me this man is deceased,” Maroney told the local ABC affiliate. “I said, ‘No ma’am, he is not deceased, he is sitting right here in front of me.'”
She says she reached out to Veterans Affairs many times but there was no evidence that steps were being taken to correct the error.
I called a hundred different numbers, (and) everybody rerouted me to other numbers and stuff,” she said.
So she contacted WSB-TV who ran a story on the mix-up Thursday night. Afterward, the Veterans Affairs’ Atlanta regional office sent a statement to the station saying that the issue has been resolved.
“The Atlanta Regional Office has reviewed the matter and taken corrective action to resume Mr. Maroney’s compensation benefits,” the statement reads. “We regret any inconvenience to Mr. Maroney. We have contacted the Veteran’s family and advised them of our actions.”
Tags: Veterans News
