Dunn County veterans office reports roughly $1.2 million in retroactive payments; memorial ordered

Jessica Christensen, the benefit specialist with the Dunn County Veteran Service Office, told the Dunn County Health and Human Services Board that the office handled just under 11,000 client contacts over the past year and that retroactive benefit payments brought in about $1.2 million.

"We brought in just in retroactive payment about $1.2 million," Christensen said, adding that the total does not include ongoing monthly benefits. She described one appeals case that has progressed through multiple levels and is expected to result in roughly $300,000 in retroactive and ongoing payments for the veteran involved.

Board members thanked the veterans office for outreach and assistance. Supervisor Steen said while $1.2 million is modest in countywide budget terms, it is significant to the veterans who received the payments. Supervisor Hagen added that multiple veterans had personally thanked office staff for their work.

Christensen also reported holiday-year community support: about $1,500 in donations for food and gas cards and a large number of donated retail gift cards that the office distributed to veterans, surviving spouses and their families. She said volunteers helped address and deliver hundreds of holiday cards to veterans.

The office’s fiscal-year spreadsheet—shared with the board—shows the retroactive payments figure and other outputs; Christensen said exact accounting details are still being finalized. She also noted that a county veterans memorial has been ordered and is expected to be delivered sometime in 2026.

The board heard the report and offered praise; no formal action was required on the veteran services report.