A disabled veteran in New Jersey has received a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs saying his benefits would be terminated because he's dead.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I had just spent a month in the hospital, and now I was dead. It just brought tears to my eyes," David Baruk said after opening a Feb 9 letter he thought would contain his $839 monthly disability check, the Asbury Park Press reported.

"We are sorry to learn of the death of David S. Baruk and wish to express our sympathy. ... Any checks received after the date of death or any monies that were electronically deposited in a bank account after the date of death should be returned," the government's letter said.

Mark Bilosz, a veterans' services manager with the department's regional office in Newark, said the error was being corrected.