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The Mills County Veterans
Affairs office is here to help veterans and their dependents receive the
services and benefits they earned while serving our country in the military.
The most basic criteria for consideration as a “ war time veteran” is based upon
the character of the discharge, the war period, and minimum period of active
federal duty. Discharge papers are the key document needed in order to apply for
all veteran services and benefits.
Besides the main Veterans Hospital at 4101 Woolworth Ave in Omaha, NE Mills
County Veterans can elect to go to either Shenandoah, IA or Bellevue, NE
Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). You can also receive all of your care
at the Omaha VA Hospital; whichever is easiest for you to drive to. You may call
1-800-451-5796 extension #4197 to go to the Shenandoah
or Bellevue Clinic or 1-800-451-5796 to go to the
Omaha VA Hospital.
The difference is the CBOC is for
outpatient care but they refer you to the Omaha VA Hospital for more extensive
tests or inpatient care. If you are enrolling in the VA Healthcare system for
the first time you will need to submit an application along with a military
discharge and insurance information. If you would like to submit an application
it is available at the Mills County Veterans Affairs Office. Please call
712-527-5621 for assistance on this benefit or any other Veterans services you
may be eligible for.
VETERANS PROGRAMS:
The Mills County Commission of Veterans Affairs currently offers two
comprehensive programs for military veterans and their dependents. One program
is administered by the Mills County Commission of VA and the other is
administered by the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
VETERANS RELIEF PROGRAM
The Mills County Veterans Relief program is funded by the county, with
oversight by a Commission made up of three local veterans. The purpose of the
program is to assist eligible veterans with basic emergency needs as listed
below.
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Food and provisions |
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Rent |
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Utilities |
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Medical |
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Transportation |
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Burial for indigent |
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Grave Markers |
VETERANS SERVICE PROGRAM
The Mills County Veterans Affairs Services program provides assistance
to eligible veterans, spouses and their dependents in applying for federal
benefits and other related matters concerning the federal government. These
include but are not limited to those listed below.
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Compensation for a service connected issue |
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Non-service connected pension |
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Death pension for surviving spouse and dependent children |
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Aid/attendance and housebound veterans |
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Application for veterans healthcare |
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Application for Iowa Veterans Home |
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Application for burial benefits or headstone |
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Military discharge, records, award, ribbons |
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Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) |
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Severely injured veterans leaving military |
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Educational benefits |
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Eligibility for home loans |
In addition to the County Veterans Relief program there are real estate tax
exemptions and credits for honorably discharged war veterans, or disabled
veterans. See the
Mills County Assessors office for applications and details.
Discharge
papers (DD-214) will be needed when making application and
the application has to be made on or before July 1 of the claim year.
The property tax exemption of $1850.00 is off the assessed value
of the home, if you served in a conflict or war era on active duty, Reserves or
National Guard, and if under Title 10 U.S. code, federal duty for 90 days or the
period of time ordered, and honorably discharged.
Other county officials who can help you with Veterans benefits or services are:
| William G Blackburn |
Mills Co. Veterans
Affairs Commission |
624-9051 |
| Quentin Johnson |
Mills Co. Veterans
Affairs Commission |
824-7558 |
| Paul Hathaway |
Mills Co. Veterans
Affairs Commission |
624-8872 |
| Richard Crouch |
Board of Supervisor Rep
to VA Commission |
527-4729 |
| Vicki J McClintic |
Mills County Recorder
(Discharge, Hunting License) |
527-9315 |
| Janette Blackburn |
Mills County Treasurer
(Prop Tax, License Plates) |
527-4419 |
| Sheri Bowen |
Mills County Public Health
(Home Health Care) |
527-9699 |
ELIGIBILITY for VETERANS RELIEF PROGRAMS:
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Be veteran of a war or conflict with an honorable discharge (DD-214) between the
following dates of service: |
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 WW I 4/16/1917 – 11/11/1918 |
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Occupation of Germany 11/12/1918 – 7/11/1923 |
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Siberia 11/12/1918 - 4/30/1920 |
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Haitian Suppression 1919 -1920 |
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WW II 12/7/1941 – 12/31/1946 |
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Korea 6/25/1950 – 1/31/1955 |
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Vietnam 2/28/1961 – 5/7/1975 |
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Lebanon/Granada 8/24/1982 – 7/31/1984 |
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Panama 12/20/1989 – 1/31/1990 |
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Persian Gulf 8/2/1990 – No end date set |
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Reserve or National Guard member who completed or was activated for a period of
ninety (90) days of federal service other than training |
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Former member of the Merchant Marines serving during WW II |
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Former member of the Women’s Air Force Pilots and other persons |
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Conferred as veterans based on WW II civilian duties |
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Be a widow or minor child of a wartime veteran, honorably discharged
between the prior list of dates |
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Be a resident of Mills County |
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Meet certain income guidelines |
Apply for any other benefits available:
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West Central Development, utilities |
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DHS for Food Stamps, Mills County Storehouse |
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Iowa Workforce Development |
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Social Security Administration |
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Salvation Army |
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American Red Cross |
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Interfaith Response |
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Department of Veterans Affairs |
State of Iowa Benefits
There are veterans benefits available directly from the State of Iowa, enacted
by State Legislation. It is of paramount importance to ensure our states
returning veterans, who make their home in Iowa, receive the benefits they are
deserving. See the Iowa Dept. of Veterans Affairs website
www.iowava.org ,
E-mail info@icva.state.ia.us or telephone 1-800-838-4692 or the Mills County
Veterans Affairs office at (712) 527-5621.
The benefits range from lifetime hunting/fishing license for service connected
disabilities, veterans license plates, property tax exemptions, Iowa Vets Home
for Veterans and their spouse /widows, home ownership grants, educational
assistance for veterans and war orphans, veterans cemetery for qualified
veterans and their spouse and most recently an Iowa Trust Fund and the $10,000
Grant to members or former members of the military who are presently residents
of Iowa and who were seriously wounded in the theater of operation of Iraq and
Afghanistan. For specific questions please contact one of the above listed
offices. |
Address of
Veterans Affairs office:
Glenwood Resource
Center Campus
Building 106 - Room 102
Glenwood, IA 51534
Hours Office is open:
Monday - Friday
08:00 AM to 04:30 PM
(Closed at lunch hour -
Appointments Preferred)
Phone Number:
(712) 527-5621
FAX Number:
(712) 527-5674
Office holder name:
James M. Goos
4 year veteran of the USAF
Veterans Affairs Forms:
Downloadable forms,
news releases and resource information from the Veterans Affairs office
Veterans Affairs Links:
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
Resources for Veteran Assistance for Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related
Diseases
Other Related Links:
Veteran's Voice
(Newsletter from the Mills County Veteran's Affairs
Office)
Veterans NewsThe Department of Veterans Affairs has launched its new
"Returning Veterans" web site to welcome home Veterans of the
Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, veteran-centric web site focusing
on their needs and questions.
Check it out
at www.oefoif.va.gov
The VA Recognizes "Presumptive" Illnesses in Iraq,
Afghanistan -
Click Here to Read the Full Story
Help our
states Veterans if you are inclined to play the state lottery games. There are
two scratch off and two pull tab tickets that do benefit our Veterans and their
families. This is a first for the state of Iowa to commit a steady stream of
principal income to a specific cause. All the interest generated from a trust
fund is available to assist Veterans in need if they qualify for the specific
provisions.
The Dept.
of Veteran Affairs has established Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS--Lou
Gehrig’s disease) as a presumptive compensable illness for Veterans. There is
limited and suggestive evidence because of the rate of incident, that there is a
link to military service. Currently, the cause of ALS is unknown, and there is
no effective treatment. The secretary of the DVA on September 23rd, 2008 decided
it was appropriate to take action in the interest of Veterans suffering with
this deadly disease. The VA will work to identify and contact Veterans with ALS
including those who were previously denied a claim for ALS. There are many
provisions published on this regulation in the Federal Register but for sure you
need to have had an honorable discharge and had 90 days or more of active duty
military service.
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