Veterans Service Office is there to help veterans in any way possible
By Victoria Frank
March 4, 2010
649
The Holmes County Veterans Service office began 2010 with one goal in mind: to do a little bit more. With more than 1,800 veterans in Holmes County, the office hopes to reach as many servicemen and women as they can, while acting as a liaison to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Often, the veterans service office is easily confused with the federal VA office. However, Jason Brooks, Holmes County Veterans Services officer, wants to get the word out that although they are not the VA, they are there to serve any veteran from all branches of active military service in any way possible, particularly by answering important questions about benefits and compensations.
Were the local county veteran services center. We get the ball rolling for the types of benefits the veterans may be looking for, Brooks said. And were here to help the veterans get everything they need and everything in order to send to the VA.
And that everything will likely require some paperwork, which the service office does daily to assist veterans in need. Assistance from the service center includes applying for Veterans Affairs benefits, supportive documentation of claims and pertinent data, service connected compensation, proper submission of claims to the VA, non-service pension, widows pension, VA home loans, military history, which can include discharges and decorations, and enrollment in VA health care, as well as burial benefits.
The service office also provides emergency assistance to veterans and their families in the form of mortgage payments, rent, utilities, food, car payments, repairs and insurance, as well as propane and fuel oil assistance. An individual must go through a process to qualify for this assistance, with their application being approved by a five-member Veterans Service Commission Board.
They are very good people, Brooks said of the acting board, and they really look out for the veterans of the county.
Brooks also explained that 2009 was the busiest year to date for the service office, especially for the financial assistance program. He credits this to the poor economy and unfortunate job loss rates, but noted that the office did have the necessary budget to carry them through the year and to help the veterans in need. As for 2010, Brooks believes it is hard to foresee what will happen next.
Its month-to-month, he explained. Its all based on jobs and the financial situations that some of the veterans and their families are in.
There have also been some important national changes for 2010 as far as compensations go for veterans, including additional illnesses added to the list of 12 associated with exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Now on the list are Ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease), Parkinsons disease, and B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia. What this means is that any veteran who was active and served in Vietnam and develops one of these diseases may be entitled to disability compensation from the VA.
Brooks also hopes that by the end of the year, the service office will have all of the necessary paperwork required for the bill that was passed in November 2009 regarding compensation for service in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.
We have already had calls about when that bonus is going to happen, Brooks explained. But it might take a year to 18 months for everything to get settled, all paperwork to be filed, and all finances figured out before any type of application can be accepted.
Brooks added that the service office attends quarterly meetings, as well as summer and fall schooling to remain current on the changes from the VA.
The most important thing is to keep up-to-date because we need to know how to do our jobs properly. Were here to serve the veterans, Brooks said.
This year, Brooks hopes to reach those veterans who may not be using the service office to its full potential or even at all. There are plenty of benefits out there and, according to Brooks, the whole purpose of the office is to help the veterans and the widows of veterans in any way possible.
Were a place to turn, and not just in a time of need, but if they have any questions about anything available to them, he said. I hope every year we can expand a little bit further and reach those 1,800 veterans. And even if its just reaching one veteran in need, then its worth it, because you know youre helping someone.
