Page 15 - Scene Magazine 46-03 March 2021

For Your Health
BY AARON D. EDLEFSON, MPA
Director, Calhoun County Veterans Affairs
Calhoun County Veterans Affairs as- sists Veterans and their families with numerous bene- fits. To assist with financial emer- gencies, we have
our Veterans Relief Fund and Michigan Veterans Trust Fund programs. Both programs are available for Veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses and can help with a variety of financial emergencies including, but not limited to, paying rent, mortgages, utilities, and vehicle repairs. The key differences between the two programs are service eligibility and funding sources. Funding for the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund comes from the State of Michigan, whereas funding for the Veterans Relief Fund comes from a voter-approved special millage. Regarding eligibility, Veterans applying for the Michigan Vet- erans Trust Fund must have at least 180 days of wartime service (or an Armed Forces or Navy/Marine Corps expedi- tionary medal). Veterans with less than 180 days of wartime service can apply if their service was limited due to a service-incurred disability. The Veterans Relief Fund is available for all Veterans regardless of when they served, if they completed their initial training period, and do not have a dishonorable, bad conduct, or other than honorable dis- charge. Those who served in the Guard and reserves are also eligible. Through
a grant from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (the County Veterans Service Fund Grant), we also have Meijer food vouchers available to assist Veterans with purchasing food and basic needs items. Our office can be contact- ed to discuss income limits and eligi- bility to receive a food voucher. New this year, and through the same grant, we will be paying for four Veterans to receive their scuba certification as a
part of their treatment for PTSD. These are great programs and we are proud to offer them, but these benefits are only a portion of what we do. Most of our time is spent filing compensation and
Veterans Compensation & Pension
pension claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs. There are four basic kinds of compensation and pension claims that we file: Disability Com- pensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Veteran’s Pension, and Survivor’s Pension. Disability Com- pensation is a tax-free, monetary benefit (as are the others) paid to Veterans who have a disability that is the result of their military service. This includes Veter- ans who are presumed to have come in contact with Agent Orange. DIC is paid to the surviving spouse or dependents
training, or for Veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities. There are several exceptions to DIC eligibility so please call our office if you believe you may be eligible. Veterans are eligible for Pension if they served
of a service member who died while on active duty, active or inactive duty for
If you have questions regarding the above benefits, or any other benefits for Veterans, please contact us. Calhoun County Veterans Affairs can be reached at (269) 969-6735. If you would prefer to reach us by e-mail, you can do so at va@calhouncountymi.gov.
at least 90 days on active duty with one day of wartime service (before Sep- tember 8, 1980) or served at least 24 months, or their full active duty orders, with one day of wartime service (after September 7, 1980). The Veteran must also have better than a dishonorable discharge and meet certain income and net worth criteria. One of the following must also be true: Over age 65; have a permanent and total disability; reside in a nursing home or long-term care facility; or are receiving SSDI or SSI. Survivor’s Pension is similar to the Veteran’s Pension but is available for the surviving spouse or dependents of an eligible Veteran. Please contact our office for more information.
Providing services for veterans and their families.
Federal Benefits Emergency County Burial and Programs Assistance Benefits Benefits
(269) 969-6735 • 190 East Michigan Avenue, Third Floor, Battle Creek, Michigan calhouncountymi.gov/departments/veterans_affairs/index.php
HEALTH ISSUE I SCENE 4503 15