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County veterans affairs reports $66,173 in monthly awards year-to-date, $209,000 in retroactive benefits
Summary
The county’s Veterans Affairs office reported recent casework totals, active records and benefit awards in a monthly update covering August–September; staff noted increased VA disbursements in 2024 versus 2023 and described continued claim backlogs tied to federal staffing and the government shutdown.
Kossuth County’s Veterans Affairs representative reported on Oct. 14 that the office combined August–September reporting after a recent leave and provided counts of contacts, claims and benefits awarded.
For the combined period the office logged 13 telephone calls, 45 messages, 16 walk-ins, 20 scheduled appointments, one out-of-office appointment and one transport. The office reported 69 VA forms processed during the period and currently has 1,013 active records out of 1,270 total records. The representative said there are 26 claims in the VA system awaiting decision, two ready for decision, 10 in development, and two supplemental claims being processed.
The report noted monthly awards year-to-date of $66,173 and retroactive benefits totaling about $209,000. Staff said 2024 VA-disbursement reporting (GEDX) shows the county’s total annual benefits rose to $10.6 million in 2024 from $9.5 million previously, an increase of roughly $1.86 million. The office also reported approval of one Iowa Veteran Trust Fund application and one structural alterations grant for a veteran’s bathroom remodeling; staff said another trust-fund application is in process for home roofing assistance.
The representative discussed operational impacts of a federal government shutdown: benefits processing lanes continue to be developed, but claim adjudication is delayed when federal staff are not working; health-care appointments scheduled before a shutdown should be kept unless the VA notifies otherwise.
Ending: The representative said he will attend state training and follow up with commissioners on notes from a recent training; he will report back with additional information after the next monthly update.
