--- title: "Part X, Subpart i, Chapter 4, Section A General Information on Philippine Cases" document: "M-21-1" section: "Part X, Subpart i, Chapter 4, Section A" canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/x.i.4.a-general-information-on-philippine-cases" source: "https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000177944/M21-1-Part-X-Subpart-i-Chapter-4-Section-A-General-Information-on-Philippine-Cases" updated: "2026-09-06T14:37:26.870669Z" --- May 7, 2026 ### X.i.4.A.1.a. Determining Jurisdiction Based on the Type of Service Use the table below to determine which regional office (RO) has jurisdiction over claims that are based on service in the Philippines.| **If service was in the …**| **Then …** * regular or “old” Philippine Scouts (enlisted prior to October 6, 1945) * Insular Forces of the U.S. Navy, or * Armed Forces of the United States | jurisdiction is determined geographically, based on the claimant’s current address of record. * Special or “new” Philippine Scouts enlisted between October 6, 1945 and June 30, 1947, under _Public Law (PL) 79-190_ * Commonwealth Army of the Philippines while such forces were included in the Armed Forces of the United States (The United States Armed Forces of the Far East or USAFFE), from July 26, 1941, through June 30, 1946, or * guerrilla groups prior to July 1, 1946 | jurisdiction is determined based on the following conventions: * the Manila RO for disability compensation rating claims * the San Diego Benefit Eligibility Support Team for non-rating disability compensation claims * the Philadelphia Pension Management Center (PMC) for all original Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims, all burial claims, and any claim with service-connected (SC) death as an issue * the Milwaukee PMC for DIC claims where SC death was already granted, and * the Milwaukee and St. Paul PMCs for pension claims. _**Important**_ : Add the _Philippine Service_ flash to the corresponding corporate record for any claim that falls under these periods of service._**Note**_ : The Philadelphia PMC has jurisdiction over burial benefits, and both the Philadelphia and Milwaukee PMCs have jurisdiction over DIC benefits at the full-dollar rate under _PL 106-377_ and _PL 108-183_.**Reference:** For more information on jurisdiction, see [M21-1, Part II, Subpart ii, 3.1.b](). ### X.i.4.A.1.b. Jurisdiction Over Accounts Payable The Manila RO has jurisdiction over all accounts payable at the * half-dollar rate, which is $0.50 for each dollar authorized under the applicable law, and * full-dollar rate under _PL 106-377_ and _PL 108-183_. **Reference:** For more information on the payment of benefits at the half-dollar rate and full-dollar rate, see [M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 4.B]() and [D](). ## 2. Exhibit 1: Eligibility for VA Benefits Based on Service in the Philippines April 28, 2015 ### X.i.4.A.2.a. Eligibility Table Eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits based on service in the Philippines is shown below.| | **Disability Benefits**| **Death Benefits** **Type of Service**| **Compensation**| **Pension**| **Clothing Allowance**| **DIC**| **Pension**| **Burial Allowance**| **Burial Flag**| **Income Limit and Dependency Determination** Regular or “Old” Philippine Scouts - enlisted prior to 10/6/45 **_or_** Insular Force of the U.S. Navy| Yes, at the full rate| Yes, at the full rate| Yes, at the full rate| Yes, at the full rate| Yes, at the full rate| Yes, at the full rate| Yes| Income: full rateDependency: half of the full rate Special or “New” Philippine Scouts - enlisted between 10/6/45 and 6/30/47 under _PL 79-190_| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 05/27/46), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No| Yes, at _half_ of the full rate| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 05/27/46), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No| Yes (since 12/16/03), at the full rate| Yes (since 12/16/03)| Half of the full rate Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, while such forces were included in the Armed Forces of the U.S. (USAFFE) from 07/26/41 to 06/20/46| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 10/27/00 | No| Yes, at _half_ of the full rate| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 04/25/51), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 11/1/00 | Yes (since 04/25/51)| Half of the full rate guerilla service prior to 07/01/46 (Reconstructed Roster closed 06/30/48)| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 10/27/00 | No| Yes, at _half_ of the full rate| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and * at the _full rate_ for U.S. residents effective 12/16/03 | No| Yes * at _half_ of the full rate (since 02/18/46), and * at the full rate for U.S. residents effective 11/01/00 | Yes (since 04/25/51)| Half of the full rate