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Clay County VSO proposes veteran ID card pilot to help surviving spouses access VA benefits
Summary
Veterans Service Officer Rich Carey proposed a Clay County pilot to issue 5,000 veteran ID cards to make it easier for surviving spouses and dependents to document service‑connected conditions on death certificates and pursue VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
Rich Carey, Clay County’s veteran service officer, told the Board of County Commissioners on July 9 that a simple, wallet‑sized veteran card could help families preserve access to federal benefits after a service member’s death.
Carey said surviving spouses and dependents often face denials for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation because death certificates omit conditions that might be service connected. "The death certificate is the key to most benefits," Carey said, describing cases where medical history later supported a claim but the original cause recorded on the certificate — for example, blunt force trauma after a fall — prevented benefits until the record was amended, a process he characterized as difficult.
His office proposed a pilot that would distribute 5,000 cards and run outreach at county events, symposiums and the county’s Military Appreciation Day. The card would let attending physicians and funeral directors know a decedent was a veteran and include fields for service‑connection items to guide accurate death‑certificate reporting. Carey said the effort could meaningfully affect family finances: depending on eligibility, DIC awards range widely; Carey cited a monthly tax‑free span from roughly $16.12 up to $2,100.
Commissioners asked about implementation and who would carry the cards; Carey said the veteran or the spouse would keep the card and that outreach and clinician education would be necessary. The board did not take a final vote that night but heard the pilot presentation and fielded questions from commissioners about next steps.
The proposal addresses a procedural gap Carey described in interactions with hospitals, funeral directors and medical examiners. Staff follow‑up would be required to scope printing costs, distribution logistics and partner education with local medical and funeral professionals before the county moves to a formal pilot.
