Marion County Veterans Service Officer Dewey Blansett is offering tips to help make signing up for VA benefits easier for both the veterans and their spouses.
When it is time to apply for the benefits to speed up the process the VA will need to see:
• Original certified copy of all Certificates of Discharge (DD214s) for all periods of active duty service;
• Social Security numbers and birth certificates for you, your spouse and all dependent children;
• Marriage license to your current spouse;
• Copies of divorce decrees, death certificates and marriage licenses of former spouse(s);
• Service-connected disabilities (diabetes mellitus II, PTSD, etc.). Also make sure your family is aware of any service-connected disabilities. If this disability is a cause of death or a contributing cause, your spouse is may be eligible for additional benefits. However the disability has to be on the death certificate;
• Copies of all insurance policies with phone numbers of the companies;
• A list of all income and all out-of-pocket medical expenses.
There are also two veterans’ cemeteries in the state: one in Newton and the other in Kilmichael. The veteran, spouse and dependent children may be buried in these cemeteries at no cost. There are also four VA nursing homes with reduced costs for veterans.
For further information or if you have any questions, you can contact Blansett. His office is located in the Marion County BusinessPlex at 124 McGeehee Drive and his number is (601) 736-0740.
