HSLDA News	February 11, 2002

Veteran Loses Benefits for Home Schooling Son After Age 18

HSLDA has filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, challenging a discriminatory policy that limits benefits for parents who teach their children at home past the age of 18.

After Home School Legal Defense Association member George Theiss' son turned 18, the family's veterans benefits were reduced because the son was still being home schooled. A decorated Vietnam veteran, George Theiss is entitled to disability benefits due to being wounded in combat-some of these benefits are designed to help him support school-age children. But a new Veterans Administration (VA) policy states that parents of students who are being home schooled above the age of 18 are not eligible for these extra benefits.

HSLDA believes this policy is unconstitutional. When the Veterans Administration Regional Office reduced Mr. Theiss' benefits, we filed an appeal on his behalf. The Board of Veteran's Appeals denied our petition. We recently filed a second appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to end this discriminatory practice. Click here to read our brief.

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