WASHINGTON, June 27 (UPI) -- The bureaucracy doesn't seem to make it easy for some survivors of U.S. military personnel killed in wars to collect their survivor benefits.
The New York Times reports some families must constantly battle problems such as lost files, long delays, monumental paperwork and misinformation about a myriad of laws and regulations dealing with such benefits.
The Times report says it not known how many families are affected, but that scores seem to have lost out on the various benefits they thought they were eligible to get. The consequences are harsh such as running up credit card bills, being forced to move in with relatives, withdrawing their children from private schools, hefty lawyer fees and spending an untold amount of time dealing with the bureaucracy.
Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, who is sponsoring legislation to close the loopholes that adversely affect war widows, told The Times, "It seems to me we ought to err on the side of compassion for families."
The Army for its part is also trying to help by setting up call centers to guide surviving families through the system.
