by Dave Strowmatt
It has been quite some time since a VAC column has appeared. There have been some major upheavals and issues and changes happening at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs over the last several months. Not much of them have had anything to do with the veteran or his or her family. Most of the issues have had more to do with politics than anything else, so we felt it was not appropriate to comment on any of it.
VAC Vice President Bill Cope and I had the opportunity to meet with US Congressman Rodney Davis and his Veterans Advisory Board. Ohio Congressman Brad Wenstrup, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, was also at this meeting to hear of our concerns and issues regarding benefits and care for veterans. One of the main issues raised was the implementation of the latest law passed regarding health care wait times and distances. Neither had any form guidance on how the law was to be put in action, and noted that VA was in the process of coming up with rules and procedures to make it work. A job fair was happening at SIU Edwardsville at the same time as the Advisory Board meeting, and veterans unemployment and “under employment” were also part of the agenda. Both of the representatives were receptive and attentive and we are hopeful that they act on some of the recommendations that were made.
Even with all of the mess happening, veterans continue to receive the benefits they have earned. We have continued to plug along here at the Veterans Assistance Commission of Montgomery County, and our efforts have netted nearly a quarter of $1 million in retroactive benefit payments just in the last quarter alone. For the fiscal year that began on Dec. 1, 2013, total payments are nearly half a million, with continuing benefits projected to be over $2 million.
We continue to enroll eligible veterans in the Veterans Health Administration, and the Montgomery Veterans Task Force has provided well over 2000 miles worth of transportation during that same nine month period. This past Friday, the van we have been driving for over four years was swapped out for a brand new Ford Flex vehicle. We had nearly 90,000 miles on the van, so the Disabled American Veterans Transportation program exchanged our old faithful with the new vehicle. There will be no change in our transportation service, except maybe a little more comfortable ride for our veterans.
I will be out of the office for training the week of Sept. 8-12. The office will remain open and rides will continue.
As always, we are available for help with any veterans benefits issues, and our hours are the same8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays. Our telephone number is 217-532-9695 and we are located at 201 S. Main Street in Hillsboro.
