HARRISBURG – State Sen. John Wozniak is reminding Pennsylvania veterans that veterans of the early 1990s conflict in Iraq qualify for special one-time payments in honor of their service.
The payments are for veterans who were on active duty during Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm between Aug. 2, 1990, and Aug. 31, 1991.
“This benefit was aimed at rewarding these soldiers for their service but many still don’t know about it,” Wozniak said. “I urge friends and family members who know of a veteran who served during this time to urge them to apply. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is also asking veterans who might have previously been denied the bonus to reapply. New applications are required to reopen a claim. So far, some 11,000 Persian Gulf veterans have applied for the bonus program since its start in 2008.
The program pays $75 per month for qualifying, active-duty service members, up to a $525 maximum.
For personnel whose death was related to illness or injury received in the line of duty in Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm, there is an additional $5,000 available to the surviving family. Service members who were declared prisoners of war may also be eligible for an additional $5,000.
To qualify, the service member must have:
- Served with the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the PA National Guard,
- Served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations during the period from Aug. 2, 1990, until Aug. 31, 1991, and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal,
- Been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active duty service,
- Been discharged from active duty under honorable conditions, if not currently on active duty.
- Received the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
For detailed instructions on how to apply, visit www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us.