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Veterans Affairs reports nearly $500,000 in federal benefits helped veterans over quarter
Summary
Veterans Affairs staff reported outreach and benefit activity, saying staff helped secure almost $500,000 in federal dollars over three months and described increased healthcare and pantry usage in September.
Yolando Loveless, of Veterans Affairs, told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 7 that county veterans services brought in nearly $500,000 in federal dollars during the most recent quarter and that staff are seeing increased demand for some services.
"Almost a half million dollars in 3 months of federal dollars coming in," Loveless said, attributing the total to staff work securing benefits for veterans and surviving spouses. He described a recent community effort assisting unclaimed veterans and noted outreach events and increased use of the office's food pantry, which recorded 38 visits in September.
Loveless outlined service numbers and benefit rates used to calculate financial impacts, noting typical monthly tax-free amounts tied to disability ratings: about $175 at 10 percent, about $1,300 at 50 percent and about $4,200 at 100 percent disability. He said staff averaged about 33 pension/compensation and appeals claims in the quarter and had helped veterans facing financial stress, including a mortgage issue for a veteran laid off from John Deere.
On operational matters, Loveless said the office changed its mission statement to emphasize assisting veterans to obtain entitled benefits, and highlighted increased outreach: staff and commissioners participated in multiple community events and a recent trip to Des Moines to support a final salute for unclaimed veterans. He also reported modest county-fund expenditures for services (approximately $300 in utilities for the month) and small donation and expenditure totals (about $270 in donations taken in; about $140 in donated-fund expenditures during the period). Loveless closed by thanking staff and commissioners for participation in community events and offering to answer questions.
