On April 24, 2006, Governor Edward Rendell signed House Bill 1820 into law as Act 29 of 2006. This Bill establishes the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Act. On November 7, 2006, Pennsylvania voters gave overwhelming approval to a ballot question to fund the program. The bond issue created a fund for the payment of compensation to, or on behalf of, eligible current and former members of the United States Armed Forces, a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces, or the Pennsylvania National Guard. For more info go to www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us

The deadline for submitting applications for the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Program is August 31, 2015.

Active Members or Veterans

The program allows for compensation to be paid to eligible service members (current and former) as well as certain surviving relatives of deceased veterans. In each case, the service member/veteran must have:

• Served with the United States Armed Forces, a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Pennsylvania National Guard
• Served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations during the period from 8/2/1990 to 8/31/1991 and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active service (8/2/1990-8/31/1991).

Service members, veterans or their surviving beneficiaries are not eligible for the program, if a bonus, gratuity, or compensation similar to that provided by this Act has been received from any other state or if the service member or veteran has renounced his or her US citizenship, or at any time during the Persian Gulf Conflict or thereafter, been separated from the armed forces under less than honorable conditions.

Beneficiaries or Individual Filing on Behalf of Veterans Unable to Complete Process

The program allows for compensation to be paid to former service members as well as certain surviving relatives of deceased veterans. In each case, the veteran must have:

• Served with the United States Armed Forces, a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Pennsylvania National Guard, and
• Served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations during the period from 8/2/1990 to 8/31/1991 and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and
• Been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active service (8/2/1990-8/31/1991).

Service members, veterans or their surviving beneficiaries are not eligible for the program, if a bonus, gratuity, or compensation similar to that provided by this Act has been received from any other state or if the service member or veteran has renounced his or her US citizenship, or at any time during the Persian Gulf Conflict or thereafter, been separated from the armed forces under less than honorable conditions.

Eligible beneficiaries of deceased veterans include, in the following in order of precedence:

• Surviving spouse.
• Surviving children.
• Surviving parents.

Eligible veterans deemed incompetent -- so declared by a court of competent jurisdiction, may have applications submitted for consideration on their behalf from one of the following representatives:

• Court-appointed guardian
• Spouse
• Children
• Parents
• Facility

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