Veterans Services is here to help
Phillip Whitten of Tuscarawas County Veterans Services gets a passenger ready for travel.
Tuscarawas County Veterans Services is a local government office dedicated to serving veterans or veteran family members who may need assistance determining their eligibility for VA benefits.
The office is located at 393 16th St. SW in New Philadelphia, although veterans are advised to avoid using the address in a GPS. Rather, the office is near Job and Family Services, marked with a flag pole in the front of the building.
Director Debra S. Cook explained that the variety of services offered at the local facility includes transportation, understanding benefits, filtering through received government documents, and assisting with pending claims and pension compensation.
Cook and her staff also have trained individuals come to the office to advise financially and psychologically by offering free counseling and financial coaching.
“Our goal is to help veterans get any VA benefits they may qualify for and to help them work through the VA system without getting overwhelmed,” Cook said.
Transportation services are especially important for veterans to travel to and from their VA medical appointments in Cleveland, Parma, Akron and Canton.
The county’s Veterans Services office provides free transportation for veterans who are enrolled in VA health care.
“All of our drivers are veterans, and they utilize VA services themselves. They will be sure to guide them in showing them where to go once at the appointments,” Cook said.
Cook said the transportation services are not ambulatory services, and when family members are needed to accompany disabled veterans or those needing more attentive care, they are able to ride as well.
To access transportation services, veterans are encouraged to call and schedule an appointment. Those who have not yet received transportation services are asked to schedule an appointment, bringing his or her DD-214 to determine eligibility.
Cook said those wishing to utilize transportation services are not limited in the recurrence of using service; however, the services are typically offered five days a week.
For peace of mind and ease of process, all the staff members including drivers are veterans themselves who empathize with incoming veterans.
While transportation is of high importance for veterans looking to go to and from medical appointments, other services also are offered.
“We are here to answer any questions about VA benefits, and we also offer education for those holding events to educate about benefits,” Cook said.
The Veterans Services facility is funded by the county, and it is state mandated to follow VA guidelines.
“We work on Memorial Day as well,” Cook said. “The flags seen throughout the community, we place.”
Cook and her staff try to stay current on veteran deaths to commemorate by leaving decorative flags on their grave sites.
“We have about 14,000 veterans buried in Tuscarawas County,” Cook said. “Be sure to contact us about passed loved ones who have served so that their graves can be marked.”
The office has been helping the community since the 1940s, although the office used to be located elsewhere.
Cook is asking that any veteran or affiliate of a veteran who is eligible to contact the office to discover further eligibility for VA benefits.
To contact the Tuscarawas County Veteran Services office, call 330-3s39-1163, email cookd@co.tuscarawas.oh.us or go online at www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us.