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News for Seneca County Veterans
When you call our office - Sarah will normally pick up the telephone. If she is unable to answer, you will get our voicemail. We do not answer phone calls when we are working with claimants. Please understand that we are giving our clients our total attention for the time needed to work their claims. We will do the same for you when you come into our office. When you get the voice mail of the staff member you want to speak with, leave a message with your phone number and they will call you back!
Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
The Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Program awards tuition assistance to the children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio veterans who served in the armed forces during a period of declared war or conflict. To receive War Orphans Scholarship benefits, a student must be enrolled for full-time undergraduate study and pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree at an eligible Ohio college or university. Ohio residency is required. Applicants must be under the age of 25. Scholarship benefits cover a portion of instructional and general fee charges at two and four-year public institutions and a portion of these charges at eligible private colleges and universities. The application deadline is May 15th of every year. The deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is May 15, 2025. A complete application MUST be received or postmarked by May 15th in order to be considered for the scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Transportation to VA Medical Appointments
This office transports veterans to the VA clinics in Findlay, Toledo and Sandusky and to the VA Medical Centers in Ann Arbor and Cleveland, Monday through Friday. We do ask you to make every effort to schedule your appointments between 9:00 until 1:00. You must allow 48 working hours in order for office personnel to coordinate your pick up time and allow for communication of details for your trip. The drivers are on the road daily. You will need to leave a message for them with the following information, your name, telephone number, date of appointment and time and which clinic it is scheduled for. A driver will call you back before your appointment to coordinate your pick up time. Transportation is dependent upon driver availability and driver availability is limited at this time. This office is working on a solution.
SCAMS
With our daily lives becoming almost completely digital, scammers are working overtime trying to steal your personal information!! Remember that The Social Security Administration, your banking institution, Unemployment and The Department of Veterans Affairs will all send you information by USPS, or an e-mail you have established with them. They normally don't call on the phone however, C&P exams may be scheduled over the telephone. Please be aware of any suspicious inquiries regarding your personal information and NEVER give out your information. If you are in doubt, HANG UP and call them back, on a published number. Do not call the number that shows on caller ID.
Remember the adage "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". Practice caution and seek help from your banking institution immediately if you think you may have wrongly disclosed your banking information. Better to be safe than sorry.
The Social Security Administration will not suspend your social security number (this example is from an actual call my spouse received twice).
When a real financial institution identifies what it believes are suspicious and unauthorized charges on an account, it will text or email the account-holder and ask them to verify the purchases not call on the telephone! If the account-holder says any of the charges are illegitimate, the old card will be immediately canceled and a new one will be issued. The financial institution has no need to ask for the CV2 security code on the card because it already has the information.
If a caller from the bank tells you they need the CV2 code to freeze the card, you can bet it's a scam. Just hang up the phone!!
If you have any doubts, please hang up and call your bank, the SSA, or the VA directly!
Suspicious online activity
If you receive a suspicious email from the Department of Veterans Affairs, DO NOT open the email or click on any attachments or links. VA does not send emails asking for personal information, threatening emails, or emails claiming to take adverse actions on claimants or beneficiaries (jail or lawsuits). If you receive any of these emails or are in doubt about any communications appearing to be from VA, please contact VA directly at 1 (800) 827-1000.
Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where the attacker sends a message designed to deceive a person and convince them to reveal sensitive information to the attacker. It is the most common means attackers use to gain unauthorized access to a device to obtain sensitive information.
Phishing emails can come from an unfamiliar sender or familiar looking sender with an email address that is off by a few letters. Additionally, phishing emails can include large or “too good to be true” offers or attachments.
The VA takes the security of Veterans seriously. Always reach out to our office if you have questions about correspondence from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
DONATION SCAMS
Not to knock any particular agency or organization - but, be very careful with your donations. You should NOT be coerced, or subject to forceful solicitation. You have every right to ask for information regarding their home office locations, points of contact, and annual reports that are required by law and which show where the money has gone. You are free to donate to whomever you choose - but, you are also free not to donate. Always do some investigating into how much the intended recipients may receive from your donation and how much will be applied to the "overhead" costs of the non-profit you may be donating to.
Our recommendation would be this - keep your donations LOCAL. Swanton based H.O.O.V.E.S. is a wonderful non-profit that assists veterans, during a weekend retreat, in their journey navigating PTSD. It costs the veteran nothing. The Seneca County United Veterans Council and Fostoria United Veterans provide funeral details for veterans locally and are funded only by donation and reimbursement. You might also consider the Fostoria Honor Bus or Flag City Honor Flight.
H.O.O.V.E.S.
Here in Northwest Ohio, there is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping veterans and their families in healing from trauma with the interaction of horses and other animals. There are 5 day, non-clinical healing intensives offered. We encourage veterans, their caregivers and children who have been dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event to visit hooves.us to find out more information or you can contact our office. If you are looking for a place to donate and you want your money to go to a noble cause for veterans, you can donate through their website! They also are looking for volunteers! If you have extra time, love animals and veterans this may be a perfect fit for you!
The Seneca County Honor Bus is a wonderful organization that provides no-cost trips for veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Here are some additional details:
*Mission:* The Seneca County Honor Bus aims to honor and thank veterans for their service by providing an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the national memorials.
*Trips:* The organization typically plans multiple trips per year, with each trip accommodating around 50-60 veterans. The trips are usually 3-day, 2-night excursions.
*Eligibility:* The trips are open to veterans from Seneca County and surrounding areas, with priority given to World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans.
*Itinerary:* The trip itinerary typically includes visits to:
1. National World War II Memorial
2. Korean War Veterans Memorial
3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
4. Arlington National Cemetery
5. Other notable memorials and landmarks
*Accommodations:* Veterans are able to take with them a blood relative or spouse for a small fee ( funds collected for seneca county veterans) this trip is enjoyable for veterans of all ages and abilities.
*Cost:* The trips are completely free for veterans, thanks to donations and fundraising efforts like the Annual Motors and Music Car Show.
*Application:* Veterans interested in applying for a trip can contact the Seneca County Honor Bus through:
Email: SenecaCountyHonorBus@gmail.com
Phone: 567-245-3272
*Support:* The organization relies on donations and community support to continue providing these meaningful experiences for veterans.
The Seneca County Honor Bus is a heartwarming example of community spirit and appreciation for those who have served.
Flag City Honor Flight
Flag City Honor Flight is continuing to take veterans to Washington DC for a one day visit to the National Mall. Please be sure to submit an application if you would like to travel along with a group of veterans who served just like you, to visit the memorials and monuments in your honor. You may obtain an application online!
2024 Seneca County Veteran of the Year
James Alt, of Bellevue, OH was selected as the 2024 Seneca County Veteran of the Year. The presentation of his award took place at the Social Hall on the Attica Fairground, on November 6, 2024. A social hour started at 5:00, dinner was served at 6:00 followed by a short program.
WASHINGTON — On March 5, 2024, VA announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military – at home or abroad – are now eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 may be eligible to enroll in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States may be eligible to enroll. Call our office to set an appointment to enroll!
You can still file claims for conditions added under the PACT Act. The period of time to file a claim or an Intent to file and receive benefits based upon an earlier effective date is over. It ended at midnight on Monday, August 14, 2023. This office tries to focus on what we can do to help veterans rather than focusing on what we cannot do. If you receive a future diagnosis of any condition listed under presumptive on the PACT Act please call us. We will help you file your claim.
The Seneca County Veterans office wants an opportunity to investigate the possibility of assisting you with VA claims filing for free before you pay an attorney. The Service Officers are VA Accredited Representatives. Their accreditations are listed on the OGC website.
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Have you recently been contacted by a company aggressively seeking to legally represent you in filing presumptive VA claims authorized by the PACT Act? If so, be wary as the company might be seeking a portion of your VA benefits.
Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act) represents the biggest expansion of Veteran benefits in history, and many Veterans may be eligible to receive compensation for their service. The PACT Act adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension, with the expansion of presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure by including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure.
While this legislation brings great promise to Veterans, it’s also a monumental opportunity for fraud. VA has received multiple reports of unaccredited law firms or companies targeting Veterans to offer their services to file claims for presumptive conditions. Unaccredited law firms and companies are reaching out to help for a fee as high as 40% of the Veteran’s retroactive payment and 40% of the Veteran’s first year of entitlement payments.
VA is committed to help protect Veterans from predatory entities, by educating Veterans, their families, and all partners about the types of activity and tactics being used against them.
To avoid being a victim of these schemes, here are some helpful tips to remember:
See a Veterans Service Officer in the county you live in for help filing VA claims.
- Or apply directly to VA. You may submit your application securely online via VA.GOV or in person at any regional office. You may file your claim directly with VA, and VA will help you gather the necessary evidence to support it. There are no costs or hidden fees to apply. Do not agree to pay an unaccredited individual or organization a percentage of your disability compensation payment or retroactive entitlement. If you need help filing a claim, there are accredited representatives (Veterans Service Officers) to assist you.
- Be cautious of aggressive law firms or companies. Firms may use frequent communications (phone, text, and media messages) to establish a sense of urgency.
- Be cautious of for-profit companies that use VA’s name. They may alter their name to create a false association with VA and establish legitimacy. Examples include a website such as VAclaimsassistance.com that incorporates VA into its name.
- Review all legally binding documents thoroughly. Never sign a blank form someone else will fill out later or give them full discretion to act on your behalf. See the contents before you sign and keep a copy for yourself.
- Be wary of media advertisements regarding legal representation for presumptive VA claims. Companies advertising legal services may be predatory and financially motivated to obtain your VA benefits.
- If a company or individual is projecting misinformation or has questionable business practices regarding VA entitlements, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau.
- To report suspected fraudulent activity, please contact the VA Office of Inspector General.
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National Parks Lifetime Pass
On Veterans Day 2022, the National Park Service will unveil a lifetime pass providing free entrance to national parks for Veterans and their families. The Interagency Military Lifetime Pass waives entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites for current military service members and their dependents, Veterans and Gold Star Families.
Veterans and their families have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle—from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping, and much more.
The Military Pass has been expanded to include a pass that does not expire for Veterans and Gold Star Family members. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 authorized a free lifetime pass to national parks and other federal recreational lands for eligible Veterans and Gold Star Families. In recent years, they were able to receive annual passes.
It is recommended you reach out to the National Park office you intend to visit prior to traveling to ensure passes are being issued by that office and follow the instructions given and be sure to verify the documentation to bring with you.
Amendment to Dates of In Country Vietnam Service
SEC. 2001. REVISION OF DEFINITION OF VIETNAM ERA FOR PURPOSES OF THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 101(29)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “February 28, 1961” and inserting “November 1, 1955”.
For veterans who served in the country of Vietnam during this newly established time period it opens eligibility for VA benefits they may not have been eligible for previously.
Please reach out to this office for direction when dealing with claims issues regarding this change as there are VA laws regulating the application of this change.
VA Dental Care
In the office we often hear the question "Why can't I receive dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system?" This is the answer; All Veterans are not eligible for dental services per Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§1710(c), 1712 and Title 38 Code of Federal Regulation (C.F.R.) 17.160 – 17.166. Eligibility includes, Prisoners of War, Veterans rated 100% service-connected disability, or Veterans who received dental injuries due combat or service trauma. The good news is if you are not eligible, Veterans enrolled in VA health care may purchase dental insurance at a reduced cost through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). Insurance providers include Met-life and Delta Dental. Contact your clinic to inquire about enrollment.
PREPARE YOUR LOVED ONES
Sometimes difficult conversations are very important to have with your loved ones. No one wants to think about it, let alone discuss it, but helping your loved ones to be better prepared for when you die is one of the most important conversations you can have. Ensure your loved ones know where to locate your discharge papers and any insurance policies you may hold. Talk about your burial wishes and possibly pre-arrange for your burial. When the day does come, your loved ones will probably not be thinking clearly and this type of preparation could reduce some of the stress during this time for them. Also, please be sure to instruct them to contact this office to investigate any benefits they might be eligible for based upon your military service.
Flag Cases
The Seneca County Veteran Service Commission tries to ensure that spouses of deceased veterans of Seneca County receive a flag case for the burial flag. Cases are not provided to other family members, however cases are available for purchase at various merchants in the area.
MILITARY RETIREES –
Two things going on right now that affect retirees. First, know that even if you (and/or your spouse) continue working beyond the age of 65, you MUST sign up for Medicare Part B at age 65 or you will lose TRICARE benefits. TRICARE benefits end at age 65, and you are converted to TRICARE For Life ONLY if you have Medicare Parts A and B. So, if you want, keep working, but get hold of Social Security and get signed up for Medicare B at age 65.
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