The following definitions shall apply sections 27-102l

1. (d)-302 through 27-102l

2. (d)-319 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, for the Office Of Advocacy and Assistance and the activities therein.

   1. (a) "Applicant" means the person who initiated the Department's involvement.
   2. (b) "Benefit" means any payment, service, commodity, function, status, or waiver which may be available to a veteran in part or in full because the beneficiary is or was a veteran or a dependent.
   3. (c) "Child" means any child for whom the veteran admits paternity or legally adopted and is under 18 years of age, or a full time student for whom the veteran took a deduction on his most recent federal income tax filing.
   4. (d) "Claim means" an application made by or on behalf of a veteran of a dependent for a benefit which has not yet been accepted or finally rejected by the party who may confer that benefit on the veteran or a dependent, including appeals from adverse intermediary decision makers.
   5. (e) "Dependent" means a spouse, child, or parent of an eligible veteran.
   6. (f) "Parent" means a biological mother or father, regardless of marital status at the time of birth or application for benefit, and any person who has legally adopted the veteran.
   7. (g) "Widow" and "widower" means a surviving spouse of a valid marriage, as determined by the law of the place where such a marriage was made and at the time of the death, to a veteran as defined in Section 27-103 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(Effective January 19, 1996)