WW2 widow dies,but VA checks still come

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - Ethel Johnson's husband died in World War Two. She never remarried and since that time has received survivor benefits from the Veterans Administration.

She died on August 31, 2012 at the age of 96.

But she keeps getting the VA checks.

That has her son, Glen Johnson, frustrated.

"I called (the Veterans Administration) three times," he told 24 Hour News 8. "I sent a death certificate with a cover letter on the death certificate explaining it."

But so far the VA has paid out nearly $6,000 in benefits since his mother died.  

"When she died, dying on the 31st, Social Security and the VA had both sent their money. Well, it only took Social Security about four days and they took it right back. And I can't get the VA to take theirs back."

He said he's worried that government money might be mistakenly going to other people who might try to keep it and thinks it would be easy.

Where he banks, he said, there are 27 different Glen Johnsons. "A lot of luck finding the right Glen Johnson. If I happen to close that account, change accounts, they'd probably never find me."

He wants two things to happen. Johnson wants the VA to take their money back and get a better system of tracking where they send it.

"If Social Security can take their money back in five days, why can't you?" he wondered.

And he just wants to get this part of his mother's death completed.

"When your loved one dies, you try to get everything in order and this is the last reminder that just keeps coming and coming. I'd like them to (take their money) and I don't have to worry about it anymore."

On Monday, Johnson's wife told 24 Hour News 8 the VA called and will send a form they need to fill out. The Johnsons then will send the filled-out form plus the check for the money sent after his mother died.