§ 5-1502J — Construction--benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service

§ 5-1502J. Construction--benefits from governmental programs or civil\nor military service. In a statutory short form power of attorney, the\nlanguage conferring general authority with respect to "benefits from\ngovernmental programs or civil or military service," or in a statutory\nshort form power of attorney properly executed in accordance with the\nlaws in effect at the time of its execution, the language conferring\nauthority with respect to "military service," must be construed to mean\nthat the principal authorizes the agent:\n 1. To execute vouchers in the name of the principal for allowances and\nreimbursements payable by the United States, or a foreign government or\nby a state or subdivision of a state, to the principal, including but\nnot limited to allowances and reimbursements for transportation of the\nprincipal and of the principal's spouse, children and other dependents,\nand for shipment of household effects, to receive, to indorse and to\ncollect the proceeds of any check payable to the order of the principal\ndrawn on the treasurer or other fiscal officer or depositary of the\nUnited States or a foreign government or of any state or subdivision\nthereof;\n 2. To take possession and to order the removal and shipment of\nproperty of the principal from a post, warehouse, depot, dock or other\nplace of storage or safekeeping, either governmental or private, and\nexecute and deliver a release, voucher, receipt, bill of lading,\nshipping ticket, certificate or other instrument for such purpose;\n 3. To enroll in, apply for, select, reject, change, amend, or\ndiscontinue a benefit or program on the principal's behalf;\n 4. To prepare, file and prosecute a claim of the principal to any\nbenefit or assistance, financial or otherwise, to which the principal\nis, or claims to be, entitled, under a statute or governmental\nregulation, including any benefit or assistance which arises from or is\nbased upon military service performed prior to or after the creation of\nthe agency by the principal or by any person related by blood or by\nmarriage to the principal, to execute any receipt or other instrument\nwhich the agent shall think to be desirable or necessary for the\nenforcement or for the collection of such claim;\n 5. To receive the financial proceeds of any claim of the type\ndescribed in this section, conserve, invest, disburse or use anything so\nreceived for a lawful purpose;\n 6. To prosecute, defend, submit to alternative dispute resolution,\nsettle, and propose or accept a compromise with respect to any benefit\nor assistance described in subdivision four of this section;\n 7. To communicate with any representative or employee of a government,\ngovernmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality on behalf of the\nprincipal;\n 8. To hire, discharge, and compensate any attorney, accountant, expert\nwitness, or other assistant or assistants when the agent shall think\nsuch action to be desirable for the proper execution of any of the\npowers described in this section; and\n 9. In general, and in addition to all the specific acts in this\nsection enumerated, to do any other act or acts, which the principal can\ndo through an agent, and which the agent shall think to be desirable or\nnecessary, to assure to the principal, and to the dependents of the\nprincipal, the maximum possible benefit from governmental programs or\nfrom civil or military service performed prior to or after the creation\nof the agency by the principal or by any person related by blood or\nmarriage to the principal.\n All powers described in this section shall be exercisable equally with\nrespect to any benefits from governmental programs or civil or military\nservice existing at the giving of the power of attorney or thereafter\naccruing, and whether accruing in the state of New York or elsewhere.\n