The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs reminds Pennsylvania veterans they have until Aug. 31, 2015, to apply for a special one-time payment to honor their service and sacrifice if they served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations between Aug. 2, 1990 and Aug. 31, 1991.

New applications are required to reopen a claim.

The bonus pays $75 per month for qualifying, active-duty service members, up to a $525 maximum.

For personnel whose death was related to illness or injury received in the line of duty in Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm, there is an additional $5,000 available to the surviving family.

Service members who were declared prisoners of war may also be eligible for an additional $5,000.

In each case, the service member must have:

·Served with the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Pennsylvania National Guard.

·Served on active duty in the Persian Gulf theater of operations during the period from Aug. 2, 1990 until Aug. 31, 1991, and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

·Been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active duty service.

·Been discharged from active duty under honorable conditions, if not currently on active duty.

Individuals who re- ceived a bonus or similar compensation from any other state are not eligible for the Pennsylvania program.

For instructions on how to apply, visit persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us.