Sat Feb 11 2012
by Marc Kovac
Capital Bureau Chief
Columbus -- The state began accepting applications Aug. 24 from veterans of recent military conflicts for bonus payments that were approved by voters last November.
The Ohio Department of Veterans Services launched an online application site (www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov) and encouraged veterans without Internet access to visit any of the state's county veterans services offices to complete the process.
Officials expect checks to be ready within about eight weeks of the time certified applications are submitted.
"Of course, no amount of compensation is an adequate award for the sacrifices that they made in our behalf," Gov. Ted Strickland told reporters in announcing the launch of the program. "But these checks will help perhaps make a mortgage payment or put food on the table or start a savings account."
In November, voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing the state to borrow up to $200 million to pay cash bonuses to Ohio military men and women who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq -- those serving in current conflicts in the area, plus those involved in Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s.
That would include those who served from Aug. 2, 1990, to March 3, 1991; since Oct. 7, 2001, in Afghanistan; and since March 19, 2003, in Iraq.
Eligible veterans will be paid $100 per month, up to $1,000, for time served in those areas or $50 a month, up to $500, for those serving in the military at the time in other locations. Families of veterans who died in action will be eligible for a $5,000 death benefit.
Similar cash bonuses were approved by voters and paid to veterans of other wars and conflicts, dating back to World War I.
The state estimates that about 200,000 Ohio residents will be eligible for the new bonus payments.
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