Sen. Pat Vance recently participated in a news conference marking the occasion of the first payments made as part of the Pennsylvania Persian Gulf Veterans Benefit Program. The program was approved by Pennsylvania voters through referendum. It allows eligible veterans or beneficiaries to receive a one-time benefit of $75 for each month of active service, up to $525. Survivors of veterans who died as a result of service-connected wounds, diseases or injuries may be eligible for an additional $5,000.