Northumberland County Veterans Affairs reports rise in approved VA claims, highlights local support programs

Ryan, director of Northumberland County Veterans Affairs, told the County Commissioners on July 1 that his office helps veterans access federal and state benefits and honors veterans after death and that the office has increased successful claims in recent years.

The county proclamation approved unanimously by the board designates July as Veterans Recognition Month.

The update outlined services the Veterans Affairs office provides. "We help veterans get services and benefits that they're entitled to and or eligible for," Ryan said, summarizing the office's three priorities as care, benefits and honor. He described assistance with VA compensation and pension claims, state programs administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and local emergency supports.

Ryan described the Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) program, noting it can provide up to $1,600 from a state fund that is funded in part by optional donations at driver’s-license offices. He said the county also assists veterans seeking the state real-estate tax exemption for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans and helps file related paperwork with the assessment office.

Anthony, a Veterans Affairs staff member who Ryan said handles the office's numbers, joined the presentation with program statistics. Ryan said Northumberland County’s veteran population is about 6,107 and that approved VA claims brought $8,613,428.31 into the county through the most recent reporting period cited by staff. He told commissioners the office filed 280 claims since January and that the county has seen a roughly 67.37% increase in benefit dollars compared with the referenced earlier period. "We have filed 280 claims for veterans so far as of the end of yesterday," Ryan said.

Ryan also described local supports: a military food-share box program housed at American Legion Post 44 that serves roughly 145–150 veterans monthly, a county veterans emergency fund used for rent, security deposits and emergency needs, and cases where the county paid cremation costs using that fund. He said the county had distributed $12,811.54 from the veterans emergency fund from January through the date of the meeting and that five VTA applications had been approved with others pending.

Commissioners thanked Ryan and Anthony for the work. The chairman said the county had designated the entire month of July as a veterans and armed forces month last year and reiterated county appreciation. The board concluded the meeting by reading and adopting a proclamation recognizing July as Veterans Recognition Month, which the proclamation text states was "signed unanimously by the board of commissioners." A public photo and the playing of the national anthem followed the proclamation.

Discussion versus action: the presentation was an informational program update. The formal action by the board that related to veterans was the adoption of the proclamation recognizing July as Veterans Recognition Month; the minutes record the proclamation as read and adopted with the board's unanimous signature.

Clarifying details presented at the meeting included the approximate veteran population (6,107), the figure staff reported as approved VA claims ($8,613,428.31), the number of claims filed by county staff since January (280), and the veterans emergency fund disbursements since January ($12,811.54). The VTA program was described as a one-time-a-year, state-funded program that can provide up to $1,600 for eligible veterans.

Officials and staff urged veterans or family members to contact the Veterans Affairs office for appointments and assistance.