Federal Benefits

For veterans and their un-remarried surviving spouse a “Non-Service Connected Pension” may be approved to provide additional monies each month to pay for in home care, nursing home, or assisted living facility. To qualify criteria include:

• household income
• household assets
• household medical expenses
• age
• level of disability
• time period of active duty.

This is not a benefit that every veteran qualifies for. All the same rules apply for a surviving spouse.

Wartime veteran does not mean that the veteran served overseas or in the area of combat, only that he/she served during the period of time established by the VA as qualifying time.

The pension would be provided to those who are “private pay” in one of the facilities. For those who meet the criteria for pension (this must be a single veteran or a surviving spouse), but are Medicaid patients, they may be eligible for $90.00 personal needs money from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This money cannot be taken by Medicaid to pay for the facility services.

Pension is a benefit paid to wartime Veterans who have limited or no income, and who are age 65 or older, or, under 65, and are permanently and totally disabled, or, a patient in a nursing home, or, are receiving Social Security disability payments. Veterans who are more seriously disabled may qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits. These are benefits that are paid in addition to the basic pension rate.

There are a number of criteria that may affect your eligibility to pension benefits. If you are unsure if you meet all criteria, we encourage you to call our office to discuss your unique situation that may qualify you for a non-service connected pension, particularly if you are low income with little or no assets (excluding the home you live in). Unreimbursed medical expenses are expenses you have paid for medical services or products for which you will not be reimbursed by Medicare or private medical insurance, including nursing home, assisted living & in home health care.

Remember, qualifying criteria include: your household income, your household assets, your household medical expenses, your age, your level of disability, and the time period in which you were on active duty. This is not a benefit that every veteran qualifies for.

Important: wartime veterans who are patients in a Nursing Home or live in an Assisted Living Facility may find they are qualified for some type of VA Non-Service Connected Pension.

Wartime veteran does not mean that you served overseas or in the area of combat, only that you served during the period of time established by the VA as qualifying time.

Disability Compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. These disabilities are considered to be service-connected.

Disability compensation varies with the degree of disability and the number of a veteran’s dependents, and is paid monthly. The benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax.

Diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis have a seven year presumptive period and ALS if diagnosed any time after active duty service can become service connected.

The VA rates service connected disabilities on a scale from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. Each increment has a financial amount associated with it and disabilities rated 30% or higher include an additional amount for each eligible dependent.

Filing a claim for service connected compensation is one of the many things that the Lawrence County Veterans Service Office does. Staff are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and must meet annual training requirements.

The first step in filing a claim is to contact the office for an appointment.  We will provide information to the veteran about what needs to be brought into the office; however, some of the usual documents needed include the following:

• original or certified copy of the DD Form 214
• marriage certificate
• birth certificates
• social security numbers for all eligible dependents
• divorce decrees
• name and address of any physicians treating for the disability
• direct deposit information (account number & routing number).

Do not let the absence of any of these documents prevent you from calling for an appointment to file the claim.

Please remember that filing the claim sooner rather than later is always the better choice.

Filing for an increase for a service connected condition is a relatively easy task. The most important piece of information for a successful claim for an increase is medical evidence. The VA will need to be shown with medical evidence that the condition has actually worsened. Keep getting medical treatment for all service connected disabilities and remember that treatment for those conditions are free from the VA Health Care System.

These are conditions that are caused by a service connected condition. For example, you are service connected for a right knee condition which causes you to overcompensate on the use of the left knee. This causes a disability of the left knee. If medical evidence supports that “more likely than not” the left knee condition was caused by the service connected right knee condition, then the left knee can be service connected also and your monthly compensation rate may increase. This is also seen very often for in country Vietnam Veterans who are service connected for Type II Diabetes, a disease that causes many other disabilities to occur.

What is Survivors’ (Death) Pension?
Survivors’ (Death) Pension is a needs-based benefit paid to an unremarried surviving spouse or an unmarried child, who meets certain requirements of a qualified deceased wartime Veteran.

There are a number of criteria that may affect your eligibility to pension benefits. If you are unsure if you meet all criteria, we encourage you to contact our office to discuss your income and assets. Unreimbursed medical expenses may lower your annual income and help provide eligibility. Often surviving spouses use this benefit to assist in payment of an Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home Fees or home healthcare.

DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of one of the following:

• a military service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
• a veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease
• a veteran whose death resulted from a non-service-related injury or disease, and who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for service connected disability that was rated as totally disabling. It must meet one of the following sets of criteria:
  • occurred for a duration of at least 10 years immediately before death
  • occurred since the veteran’s release from active duty for a duration of at least five years immediately preceding death
  • occurred at least one year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999
• a veteran who, in certain instances, has a presumptive condition.

Surviving spouses and or minor children may be eligible for Emergency Financial Assistance.

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. The program is administered by the Veterans Health Administration Office of Community Care (VHA OCC) in Denver, Colorado. In general, CHAMPVA covers most health care services and supplies that are medically and psychologically necessary. Upon confirmation of eligibility, you will receive a CHAMPVA Program Guide that specifically addresses covered and non-covered services and supplies.

For a complete listing of non-covered services and supplies please consult the CHAMPVA Policy Manual.

Veterans who have completed 24 months of continuous active duty and have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or who are currently serving on active duty or in the National Guard or the Reserves, or are honorably discharged from these components, are eligible for guaranteed loans to purchase, repair, or refinance a home. Based on purchase price and local limits, a down payment may not be required. Periods of required service are less for Veterans of earlier wartime service.

The best way to obtain your certificate of eligibility (COE) is to utilize the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense eBenefits Website. On this site you can print off your COE in as little as 24 hours, as opposed to 8 weeks through the traditional paper application route!

The VHA was established to provide medical care to veterans who are determined by the Federal Government to be eligible for enrollment. This is not insurance and does not, under most circumstances, provide payment to private physicians or hospitals.

Veterans must first enroll in the facility of their choice. 

Since 2003 veterans who submit enrollment paperwork are placed in one of eight priority groups based on either the nature of their service or income and assets. The staff at the Lawrence County Veterans Service Office will assist with enrollment and with annual means tests (income) certain veterans are required to complete in order to continue to use the VA Health Care System.

The means test is based on prior year’s income and is done annually. However, you can apply for an exemption from paying those co-payments to avoid a hardship if projections of your income for the current year will be substantially below the applicable income threshold.

My Health eVet Page

 The Ohio War Orphans Scholarship program provides tuition assistance to children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio Veterans who served in the Armed Forces during a period of declared war or conflict. NOTE: DEADLINE IS MAY 15th OF EACH YEAR. Eligibility Criteria:

• Veteran parent must be deceased or severely disabled -level of disability (60% or greater) and financial situation is considered.
• Student must be enrolled for full-time undergraduate study at an eligible Ohio college or university.
• Ohio residence is required and applicant must be under 25.

Location in Ohio Law: Ohio Revised Code 5910.01 Contact and Application Information: Applications are available at CVSOs, high school guidance offices, and college financial aid offices. The Ohio Board of Regents can be contacted by phone at 614-752-9528. 

 Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Website 

The “Helmets to Hardhats” is the fastest way for active military, Reservists, and Guardsmen to transition from active duty to a career in the construction industry.

Contact Phone Number: 866-741-6210

Helmets to Hardhats Program Website

Ohio Means Jobs Website

The VA provides mental health counseling for Veterans and families at seven Vet Centers in Ohio. The VA also operates a 365-day-a-year Veterans Crisis Line for Veterans and families. Vet Center staffs provide individual, group, family, military sexual trauma, and bereavement counseling. Services include treatment for PTSD or help with any other military related issue that affects functioning within the family, work, school, or other areas of everyday life.

Other services include outreach, education, medical referral, homeless Veteran services, employment, VA benefit referral, and coordination with local providers. These services are a critical link in the overall health care available to Veterans. When negative events happen, people can experience a strong stress reaction. People may adapt normally, or they may experience an unusually intense response. This may also overwhelm one’s ability to respond to challenges and it may cause a person to experience significant distress.

Contact the nearest center or visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair Vet Center Program Website. If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, call 800-273-TALK (8255), and press 1 for Veterans.

The Military Injury Relief Fund fund grants a one-time, tax-exempt monetary payment to military service members injured in active service as a member of the armed forces of the United States while serving after October 7, 2001, and to individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress while serving after October 7, 2001.

Eligibility Criteria

• Documentation of the awarding of the Purple Heart in accordance with Title 10, Ch.57 of the U.S. Code, Ch.32 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and other applicable federal laws.
• Documentation of the combat-related injury and documentation showing that this injury resulted in awarding of a Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), or Combat Action Badge (CAB) or its equivalent.
• Documentation of a combat-related injury not covered above, primarily including, but not limited to, traumatic brain injury, injury caused by detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Documentation of PTSD must include medical diagnosis.

Location in Ohio Law: Ohio Revised Code 5902.05

Contact: Applications can be completed at each of the 88 County Veterans Service Offices.

Call 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838), select option 2

 The Ohio Veterans Homes are comprised of three facilities at two locations:

• A home located near Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio(approximately 60 miles west of Cleveland) which offers standard and special care in its licensed nursing home.
• The Sandusky home also offers Veterans Hall, a domiciliary(DOM) for those who are able to function in an independent living situation, and DOM+ for those requiring very limited assistance (supervised care) but who do not require the level of care provided to nursing home residents.
• A home located in scenic, rural Georgetown, Ohio (approximately 45 miles east of Cincinnati), which offers skilled nursing services providing two levels of nursing care: standard care and secure care.

You need to be an Ohio resident for one year, at any time during lifetime.

• Served on active duty during a time of war or armed conflict or be the recipient of the Purple Heart, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy/Marines Corps Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, or Southwest Asia Service Medal.
• Have received their most recent discharge under honorable conditions.
• Be disabled by disease, wounds, or otherwise and, by reason of such disability, incapable of earning a living.
• Individuals who are current drug and alcohol abusers, psychotics, or have active tuberculosis are not eligible for immediate admission.

Location in Ohio Law: Ohio Revised Code 5907

Contact Phone Number: 800-572-7934

Go to the Ohio Department of Veterans Services Website to view and print a pre-admission form and application.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has many military/veteran license plates available to eligible veterans as well as special license offers.

The following benefits are available for license and license plate:

• 100 percent service-connected disabled Veterans are eligible for a free driver’s license.
• Upon renewal of a driver’s license, all Ohio Veterans with a valid DD-214 can receive a free “Armed Forces” stamp on their license, which can qualify them for retail discounts.

Ohio has over 40 varieties of military license plates including:

• Active duty plates
• Reservists plates
• Ohio National Guard plates
• Combat plates
• Gold Star Family plates

These special plates cost the same as a regular plate, and normal vehicle registration fees apply; however, there is no additional charge for these plates if a system-assigned number (not reserved or personalized) is selected.

The following eligibility criteria must be met.

• Veterans must present their DD-214 at the BMV in order to obtain a special military/Veteran plate.
• The DD-214 must confirm the plate type requested (i.e. if you request a Purple Heart plate, your DD-214 must show you received a Purple Heart).

License plates are available at no charge to:

• 100 percent service-connected disabled Veterans.
• Medal of Honor recipients.
• Former Prisoners of War (POWs)
• Purple Heart recipients

Phone: 800-589-8247 (8am – 5pm)

Website Information: Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles OPlates

Veterans who are rated by the VA as 100 percent permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, are eligible for expanded Homestead Exemption property tax relief on their primary residential home. Instead of the $25,000 allowed for other eligible 65-and-older or permanently disabled applicants, eligible Veterans can exempt $50,000 of the assessed value of their primary residential home from property taxes, meaning that a home valued at $150,000 will only be taxed at a value of $100,000. These Veterans are also exempt from the $30,000 limit on annual income applied to other applicants; eligible Veterans have no limit on their annual income.

• Veterans rated by the VA as 100 percent disabled due to a service-connected disability, without regard to annual income, and their surviving spouses who occupy the same home as the eligible Veteran.
• The expanded Homestead Exemption applies to tax years 2014 and forward.

Location in Ohio Law: Ohio Revised Code 323.152

This license is available to 100 percent disabled Veterans (as rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA) or former POWs.

Contact the “Hunting & Fishing Licenses for qualified Veterans” program. Their number is 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).

This license is also available to 100 percent disabled Veterans (as rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA) or former POWs.

Contact the “Hunting & Fishing Licenses for qualified Veterans” program. Their number is 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).

This registration is available to 100 percent disabled Veterans (as rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA) or former POWs, or Medal of Honor recipients.

Contact the “Boating Licenses for qualified Veterans” program at 877-426-2837

This program makes free camping is available to 100 percent disabled Veterans (as rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA) or former POWs. Also, a 10 percent discount on camping, getaway rentals, cottages, and lodge rooms is available to active duty military and Veterans.

Website Information: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Legislation to provide financial relief to active duty military and veterans who apply for a concealed handgun license is now officially in effect in Ohio. Beginning on November 6, 2018, Senate Bill 81 waives the typically required $67 license fee that is otherwise necessary to obtain a concealed handgun license for applicants who honorably served in the United States military.

The following forms are required in order to be eligible:

• A DD-214 Form 4, or equivalent, stating that you were honorably discharged, or your active duty military ID card
• The Sheriff’s application form.
• Your Ohio Driver’s License or Government ID
• 2 inch by 2 inch passport-style photo if applying for the first time

If you have been convicted of the following misdemeanor crimes, you may not be issued a concealed handgun license per Federal law:

• Assault
• Negligent Assault
• Corrupting Another with Drugs
• Disorderly Conduct
• Domestic Violence
• Endangering Children
• Negligent Homicide
• Riot
• Sexual Imposition
• Unlawful Restraint
• Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor
• A minor misdemeanor drug conviction

Additionally, it is required that you contact your local Sheriff’s office or one from an adjoining county to make an appointment prior to arriving. The bill allows anyone who holds a concealed handgun license to renew their license at any time before the expiration date. The measure also makes changes so that an applicant who has been honorably discharged or retired is not required to take additional training if they can provide a firearms competency certification from their time in service. The total amount for fees that can be waived will be capped at $1.5 million dollars each calendar year. Waivers will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

* Under Federal law, a conviction for Disorderly Conduct disqualifies an individual from owning a firearm only if the victim of the offense is an “intimate partner” as defined by 18 USC § 921(a} (32}

Note: This Notice does not prevent you from completing an Application Form for the license and paying your non-refundable fee. The purpose of the Notice is to inform you of the applicable law.