Veterans Affairs reports rising claims and outreach; plans contingency with neighboring counties

Zach Skelton, speaking for Story County Veterans Affairs on Nov. 4, told the Board that outreach and claim activity increased this quarter. “We have given about $5,069,” Skelton said, and he reported that the office has distributed roughly 44% of its set-aside assistance funds while using about 27% of its annual budget with 32% of the year complete.

Skelton said outreach included county American Legion Auxiliary meetings, the Story County Mental Health Expo and visits to Mary Greeley Medical Center to connect senior-care staff with veterans benefits information. He said the office is reaching younger veterans as the average client age fell from 61 last year to about 58 this year.

On federal shutdown impacts, Skelton said most VA services remain operational and that the VA had only a small percentage of furloughs: “The VA is only furloughed at 3%,” he reported. He said regional offices have limited staff and some communication delays but that benefits and health care are still being processed and delivered.

Contingency planning: Skelton said the office is a department of one with a part-time administrative assistant and is working on a contingency binder and coordination with neighboring counties (Boone, Marshall and possibly others) so callers can be redirected if the local office is temporarily unavailable. He said his initial outreach will continue through winter when client flow slows.

Events and next steps: Skelton said a headstone-setting ceremony funded by community donations and the Story County Memorial will occur this week and that the annual Veterans Supermarket will be Nov. 8 with 24 vendors. The office is testing new mall kiosk advertising developed by staff member Addie Anderson.

Ending: Skelton asked for questions and confirmed no benefits had been interrupted to veterans despite the federal furloughs.