Veterans' Bonus & Public Assistance

Rutherford, Deputy Attorney General,

You ask to be advised whether bonus payments under the World War II Veterans’ Compensation Act of June 11, 1947, P. L. 565, 51 PS §455.1 et seq., should be treated as an asset or resource and public assistance payments discontinued until the resource is exhausted.

Authorization of a debt of $500,000,000 for payment of bonus to certain persons (veterans) for “service of such persons to their country” was provided for by a constitutional amendment passed by two legislatures (1947 and 1949) and approved by the electorate by an overwhelming majority.

Governor…