Noteboom The Law Firm

New Benefits For Paralympic Veterans

April 6, 2011 - Many disabled veterans train to compete in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seasonal sporting events and many additional veterans train for the U.S. Paralympics. Because training for the Paralympics is such a time demanding and beneficial endeavor, the VA is launching a new program, which will offer a monthly subsistence allowance for qualifying veterans; but not every disabled veteran will qualify. The aim of the program is to give aid to those disabled veterans choosing to compete in competitive, adaptive sports.

The new payment will be part of the allowance the VA pays out to those veterans involved full-time in an institutional program. For veterans without dependents, the minimum amount paid out will be $554 per month. The money will be administered by the U.S. Paralympics, and not the VA.

To qualify for the funds, veterans must:

• suffer from either a service-related or non-service connected disability; and
• Be competing for a place on the U.S. Paralympic team via an invitation from the U.S. Paralympics or living at a U.S. Paralympic training center for the purposes of either competition or training.

Soldiers in combat are expected to push themselves both physically and mentally, and that should not change because of injury. Training and competing in events such as the Paralympics usually helps veterans take strides in their own recovery. The mindset is exactly the same for those veterans competing in the Paralympics. The motivation and competitiveness that drives Paralympic athletes is inspiring and has helped them surpass many people's expectations, often including their own.