Section 5-1502J. Construction--benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service

In a statutory short form power  of  attorney,  the  language  conferring  general  authority  with respect to "benefits from
  governmental programs or civil or military service," or in  a  statutory
  short  form  power  of attorney properly executed in accordance with the
  laws in effect at the time of its  execution,  the  language  conferring
  authority  with respect to "military service," must be construed to mean
  that the principal authorizes the agent:
    1. To execute vouchers in the name of the principal for allowances and
  reimbursements payable by the United States, or a foreign government  or
  by  a  state  or subdivision of a state, to the principal, including but
  not limited to allowances and reimbursements for transportation  of  the
  principal  and of the principal's spouse, children and other dependents,
  and for shipment of household effects, to receive,  to  indorse  and  to
  collect  the proceeds of any check payable to the order of the principal
  drawn on the treasurer or other fiscal  officer  or  depositary  of  the
  United  States  or  a  foreign government or of any state or subdivision
  thereof;
    2. To take possession  and  to  order  the  removal  and  shipment  of
  property  of  the principal from a post, warehouse, depot, dock or other
  place of storage or safekeeping, either  governmental  or  private,  and
  execute  and  deliver  a  release,  voucher,  receipt,  bill  of lading,
  shipping ticket, certificate or other instrument for such purpose;
    3. To  enroll  in,  apply  for,  select,  reject,  change,  amend,  or
  discontinue a benefit or program on the principal's behalf;
    4.  To  prepare,  file  and  prosecute a claim of the principal to any
  benefit or assistance, financial or otherwise, to  which  the  principal
  is,  or  claims  to  be,  entitled,  under  a  statute  or  governmental
  regulation, including any benefit or assistance which arises from or  is
  based  upon military service performed prior to or after the creation of
  the agency by the principal or by any person  related  by  blood  or  by
  marriage  to  the  principal, to execute any receipt or other instrument
  which the agent shall  think  to  be  desirable  or  necessary  for  the
  enforcement or for the collection of such claim;
    5.  To  receive  the  financial  proceeds  of  any  claim  of the type
  described in this section, conserve, invest, disburse or use anything so
  received for a lawful purpose;
    6. To prosecute, defend, submit  to  alternative  dispute  resolution,
  settle,  and  propose or accept a compromise with respect to any benefit
  or assistance described in subdivision four of this section;
    7. To communicate with any representative or employee of a government,
  governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality on  behalf  of  the
  principal;
    8. To hire, discharge, and compensate any attorney, accountant, expert
  witness,  or  other  assistant  or assistants when the agent shall think
  such action to be desirable for the  proper  execution  of  any  of  the
  powers described in this section; and
    9.  In  general,  and  in  addition  to  all the specific acts in this
  section enumerated, to do any other act or acts, which the principal can
  do through an agent, and which the agent shall think to be desirable  or
  necessary,  to  assure  to  the  principal, and to the dependents of the
  principal, the maximum possible benefit from  governmental  programs  or
  from  civil or military service performed prior to or after the creation
  of the agency by the principal or by any  person  related  by  blood  or
  marriage to the principal.
    All powers described in this section shall be exercisable equally with
  respect  to any benefits from governmental programs or civil or military

  service existing at the giving of the power of  attorney  or  thereafter
  accruing, and whether accruing in the state of New York or elsewhere.