(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person receiving benefits under Section 12200 on December 14, 1999, and who meets the requirements of subdivision (b) shall be eligible to receive benefits under this chapter although he or she does not retain a residence in the state and returns to the Republic of the Philippines, if he or she maintains a permanent residence in the Republic of the Philippines without any lapse of his or her presence in the Republic of the Philippines for a period of more than 30 consecutive days in any period of 12 months and without a lapse of his or her presence in the Republic of the Philippines for two periods of 30 consecutive days during a period of three years.
(b) A person subject to subdivision (a) shall be eligible to receive benefits pursuant to this chapter if he or she was receiving benefits pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) of Section 12200 on December 14, 1999, and meets both the following requirements:
(1) He or she is a veteran of World War II.
(2) He or she was a member of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines military forces who was in the service of the United States on July 31, 1941, or thereafter.
(c) Benefits under this chapter shall be calculated the same as those benefits paid under subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) of Section 12200, as appropriate.
(d) Benefits paid under this chapter shall be in lieu of benefits paid under Section 12200 or any other provision of Article 1 (commencing with Section 12000) of Chapter 3 for the period for which the benefits are paid.
(e) Benefits shall be paid under this chapter for any period during which the recipient is eligible to receive benefits under Title 8 of the federal Social Security Act as a result of the application of federal Public Law 106-169, subject to any limitations imposed by this section.
(f) This section shall apply only to any individual who returns to the Republic of the Philippines for the period during which the individual establishes and maintains a residence in the Republic of the Philippines and shall cease to apply to any individual who, after receiving benefits pursuant to this section, leaves the Republic of the Philippines and establishes a residence outside the Republic of the Philippines.
(g) To assist the state in administering this chapter, the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency shall seek an agreement with the federal government to administer this chapter in conjunction with benefits under Title 8 of the federal Social Security Act.
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 143, Sec. 3. Effective July 19, 2000.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018