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Wabasha County veterans service officer reports 304 contacts, $209,000 in annualized veteran compensation
Summary
Veterans Service Officer Bill told the Wabasha County Board the office handled 304 veteran interactions since July 1, secured nine claim awards yielding an annualized $209,000 in compensation, provided 23 rides to VA medical care and is helping veterans access home-improvement grants and local veteran-owned contractors.
Bill, Wabasha County Veterans Service Officer, told the county board Tuesday that his office recorded 304 veteran interactions since July 1, including phone calls, walk-ins and appointments, and that nine claims submitted by the office were awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Those nine awards represent an estimated $209,000 in compensation the veterans are expected to receive over the next 12 months, Bill said. "That's significant because that's money that's brought back to our veterans that need it, but ultimately back here to our county," he said.
The office also provided 23 rides to the Minneapolis VA hospital since July 1, supported by eight volunteer drivers, and recorded two new enrollments in the VA medical system. Bill said three surviving spouses were approved for dependent indemnity compensation (DIC), which he estimated at about $1,800 per month. The office also secured five burial benefits and continues to work on individual claims.
Bill credited training with a regional VA director for helping expedite claims and said he worked hand-in-hand with his predecessor, Tracy, to learn the position. "I was very privileged to be able to work with her hand in hand since February until she retired in June," he said.
He described ongoing work to help a veteran secure a Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs home-improvement grant for a walk-in shower and said he is trying to connect veterans who need services with veteran-owned small businesses in Wabasha County, citing one local contractor already lined up for a project.
Board members asked clarifying questions about veteran demographics and the grant program. Bill said he did not have an exact age for the county's oldest veteran but that many were Vietnam-era and Korean War veterans; he was unsure whether any World War II veterans remain in the county. On the home-improvement grant, he said the program covers a substantial portion of eligible costs but that a veteran may need to cover any remaining balance.
"I've got an open door policy," Bill said, adding that many veterans are coming into the office for assistance. Commissioners praised the outreach. One commissioner said the county has had "two amazing VSOs in a row" and thanked Bill for community involvement beyond the office.
Bill concluded by offering to answer further questions and reiterated his goal of connecting veterans with benefits and local service providers.
