[Vision2020] Lesbian widow of soldier to get full VA benefits

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Army Times

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Lesbian widow of soldier to get full VA benefits

The gay widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has received word from the Veterans Affairs Depart­ment that she will receive the same full benefits given to heterosexual widows and widowers.

Even more significant, said Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Tracy Dice Johnson, the benefits will be retroactive to her wife’s death in October 2012, before the Supreme Court overturned parts of the Defense of Marriage Act.

“It was a long, drawn-out process, but at the end of the day, hearts and minds prevailed,” Johnson said.

With VA’s recognition that she is the legal spouse of the late Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Donna Johnson, she is entitled to, among other benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, gener­ally paid to spouses and children and some parents of troops who die on active duty.

The monthly DIC rate for 2014 is $1,233.23. Johnson, who changed her name legally after her wife died, will also receive medical, edu­cation and other benefits.

Donna Johnson, 29, was one of three soldiers killed Oct. 1, 2012, in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber. As far as is known, Tracy Dice and Donna Johnson are the first same­-sex married military couple to have suffered a casualty after the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” They married Feb. 14, 2012, before Johnson’s deployment.

Tracy Dice Johnson announced VA’s decision May17 at the inaugu­ral National Gala Dinner of the American Military Partner Asso­ciation, which presented her with its 2014 Community Hero Award.

Stephen Peters, association president, said there is still “a great amount of uncertainty” sur­rounding federal law regarding benefits for legally married gay veterans. “But for the sake of our families, we hope this is signaling a change in policy by VA,” he said.

Peters noted that AMPA has ac­complished much in the five years since partners of gay troops began coalescing into a support group.

“Tonight is about recognizing you for your sacrifices and your ser­vice,” Peters told the group of more than 300 people packed into the Li­aison Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Challenges remain, he said, such as lack of access to in-state tuition for spouses, and burdens for gay couples who want to adopt.

“It’s clear we have a long journey ahead of us, but it’s also clear we’ve come a very long way,” Peters said.

Rosemary Williams, deputy as­sistant defense secretary for mili­tary community and family policy, praised the group for its work, not­ing that its input helped guide DoD in implementing benefits for same­sex military couples.

Johnson said her most important goal has yet to be accomplished — getting the Army to change Donna Johnson’s death certificate to rec­ognize their marriage.

The certificate says Johnson was single.

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
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