090610 Wayne County Clerk of Courts supports Ohio veterans through free bonus notarization

  • By Sharon Haught
  • August 28, 2010
  • 297
                        
For thousands of Wayne County veterans eligible for benefits under Ohio’s new veterans’ bonus program, the process for applying for those benefits just got a little easier thanks to a joint initiative just announced by Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and Wayne County Clerk of Courts Tim Neal. “Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan or Iraq wars are now able to apply for the statewide veterans’ bonus, which was approved by Ohio voters in November. Now the clerk’s and attorney general’s offices will offer free notarization services to make this application process simpler for local veterans,” said Neal According to Cordray, “the process of providing these bonuses began a few years ago in Iraq, when an Ohioan serving as an Army captain there wrote to my office on behalf of the servicemen and women in his unit. Working together, Ohioans responded in a big way, making these bonuses a reality.” “In November, the voters of Ohio resoundingly supported Issue 1,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland in an August 24 press release adding “Ohioans wanted to extend a small measure of our thanks and offer a tangible sign of our profound respect for our veterans of recent conflicts and their survivors.” “Of course no payment is adequate reward for the sacrifices made on our behalf. But these checks will help make a mortgage payment, or put food on the table or start a savings account. And what’s more, these payments will say something clearly and directly to our veterans ‘thank you’,” said Strickland. According to Neal the bonus program offers eligible veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Iraq or Afghanistan wars $100 for each month of active duty service up to $1,000. Eligible veterans serving on active duty elsewhere in the world during these wars may receive $50 per month of service, up to a maximum of $500. An eligible veteran may combine their service bonuses for a maximum payment of $1,500. The families of those killed during these conflicts may also be eligible for compensation. According to Strickland, an estimated 200,000 Ohio residents are eligible for the Ohio Veterans Bonus. Veterans who wish to participate in the program must complete a state application, which must be notarized. To simplify the application process, Neal and Cordray’s office will both offer free notarization services. “We are proud to have the opportunity to perform this small service for our brave men and women in our armed forces. We owe them a great debt and this is the least we could do,” said Neal adding “our intent is to help simplify the process for these veterans when submitting their bonus applications.” There are a variety of ways eligible veterans can submit an application for benefits under the program. Veterans who wish to complete an on-line application may do so by logging on to Ohio Department of Veterans Services web site at www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov, which also contains a convenient on-line eligibility tool which alerts veterans to the types of supporting documentation they may have to submit to complete their application along with the ability to track the status of their application once it has been submitted. Paper copies of the application are also available by calling 1-877-OHIO VET or by visiting the county’s Veterans Services Office, both of which are standing by to assist with the application process. While veterans can begin the process on-line, the application is not complete until the application is printed, signed, notarized and mailed along with the required supporting documentation. For a list of participating notaries, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/VeteransBonus.


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