Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. The service of the veteran must have been terminated through separation or discharge under conditions that were other than dishonorable. Disability compensation varies with the degree of disability and the number of dependents, and is paid monthly. The benefits are not subject to federal or state income tax.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a small pension to eligible widows of deceased veterans. This program is similar to the non-service connected disability pension for veterans, as it is a program that is based on income and net worth. This program is commonly referred to as “Widow’s Pension”.

Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and Veterans who are totally disabled may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active military service, at least one day of which was during a period of war.

The Knox County Veterans Service Office provides temporary financial assistance to qualifying veterans who meet the eligibility requirements. Assistance requests must be documented, along with proof of need. An appointment must be made with our financial coordinator, Melissa Wheeler to determine what assistance can be given. All applications for assistance have to be submitted to our commissioners for approval. Our commissioners meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Below is a list of documents that are required to be brought in with you for your appointment.

1. Wages for the past 30 days for all family members.
2. Receipts for bills paid over the past 30 days.
3. Current and past due bills.
4. Copy of DD214 or Report of Separation.
5. Copy of birth certificate for child/children.
6. Current bank statement.
7. Proof of assistance from other agencies Failure to provide the necessary documents can delay the application approval process.

The Knox County Veterans Services Office provides transportation services to veterans within our county for medical appointments to approved VA medical clinics. We have 4 vans that travel to clinics located in Cleveland, Sandusky, Columbus, Dayton, Chillicothe and Cincinnati. Veterans need to either call or come into our office to schedule their appointments for the following week. Please try to give as much advance notice to our office regarding your appointments as possible, this will help our office and the other veterans riding our van. Due to the increases in gas prices we no longer pick up /drop off veterans at their residences, unless ordered by your VA doctor and documentation is provided. We have several designated pick up points around the county to meet our vans. We understand that there might be circumstances when a veteran is physically unable to get to one of these pick up points, please indicate this when making your appointment and we will pick you up at your residence.

The Knox County Veterans Services Office will reimburse the cost of fuel going to or coming back from VA hospitals or clinics with provided proof of an appointment. You must come into our office with a valid drivers license or state ID before funds can be issued. Failure to consistently provide proof of appointments could result in a 1 year suspension of gas card privileges.

Copies of service records and medals may be obtained through the National Personnel Records Center by coming into our office and completing VA form 180, Request Pertaining To Military Records. The copies are sent to you free of charge and may be requested by dependents and family members of the veteran.

We will assist the widow/widower and dependents of the deceased veteran with help in obtaining grave markers and headstones as long as the veteran was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. We also provide assistance with other services that may be due to surviving spouses and dependents. Please check with www.va.gov to see what you may be eligible for. A link to that website can be found under “Links”.

DIC is a benefit paid to dependents of veterans who died of a disease or injury while on active military duty or who died as a result of a service connected disability.

VA home loan guaranties are issued to help eligible service members, veterans, reservists and unmarried surviving spouses obtain homes, condominiums and manufactured homes, and to refinance loans. For additional information, and to obtain VA loan guaranty forms, visit: www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/