Mary Dever 2019-06-15 00:28:33
Chapter volunteers and national service officers provide information seminars and claims assistance directly to veterans and their families
In 2018, DAV benefits counselors helped service members, veterans and their families receive more than $20 billion in benefits. With more than 100 national service offices around the country and nearly 4,000 total service officers, DAV is leading the way in providing the best counseling and claim filing assistance.
But accessing that assistance may not be convenient for some veterans, so in order to reach deep within the community, DAV offers information seminars to educate disabled veterans and their families on specific benefits and services.
Information seminars are driven by DAV chapters, members and volunteers and are often requested in areas where veterans services are sparse or when new information regarding the claims process becomes available.
James Spencer, a past chapter commander and Benefits Protection Team leader for Chapter 11 in Alexandria, Va., requests information seminars each year for his area, located on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. He said the events gather so much attention that he automatically requests one from National Service and Legislative Headquarters every spring.
“First of all, veterans just have questions that need to be answered,” said Spencer. “Others have never filed a claim before, but we’re able assist them. We occasionally have situations where veterans can’t stay for the whole day or the veteran needs to gather more documentation, so we get contact information and follow up with them later.”
At the 2019 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Spencer took the opportunity to invite Cheryl Mason, chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, to the April information seminar. Spencer said appeals modernization is a complex topic and having the expert come speak directly to local veterans could help get the most current information out effectively.
“As a military spouse myself, married to a veteran, I understand how important it is that the veterans get the most recent information,” said Mason, who is also a DAV Auxiliary member. “I think it’s very important that veterans know about appeals modernization and all the changes that are happening so that they can make the right choices and take control of their appeal.”
The information seminar outreach program generates considerable claims work on behalf of veterans and their families. Members, volunteers and national service officers conducting these workshops reach out to local vendors to provide as many resources on-site as possible. DAV’s national organization promotes the events on behalf of local chapters to encourage the highest possible involvement. However, a key piece to an event’s success is the ability to follow up with participants to be sure they received the assistance they needed.
“After these seminars, we hear back from veterans that it’s never enough time, because we also offer actual hands-on claims assistance,” said National Service Officer Esther Yangas, who volunteers for Chapter 11. “We’re limited on time and veterans want more, which is nice, and we follow up.”
“This service is available free of charge, and you don’t need to be a DAV member to take advantage of this opportunity—though we often see veterans who receive assistance at these events join our organization,” said National Service Director Jim Marszalek. “We encourage any of our members or our staff that can see a need in their area to reach out and request an information seminar in your community.”
Learn More Online
Find out more from your local national service office by reaching them at dav.org/veterans/find-your-local-office.
Published by Disabled American Veterans. View All Articles.
This page can be found at http://digital.dav.org/article/Bringing+service+to+the+community/3409294/595939/article.html.