Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.

Fill out a financial assistance form without leaving home. It’s one of the ways your Veterans Service Commission is helping you stay safe and supported in response to COVID-19.

VA Medical Center Transportation Program

Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission is excited to announce the VA Medical Center Transportation Program. Metro passes are available at no cost for VAMC Cincinnati medical appointments. Eligibility: Honorably discharged veteran and Hamilton County resident. Requirements: One-time office visit to establish eligibility and appointment verification (available from VAMC). Ask about Metro Access. Call 513-946-3300.

VA Benefits

The Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission has Service Officers to assist in filing for VA benefits.

County Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) are accredited through the Ohio Department of Veterans’ Services.  VSOs are also accredited through various congressionally chartered veteran service organizations.

By appointment only, call 513-946-3300 to speak with a Service Officer and to schedule an appointment.

FAQ

Do you provide emergency financial assistance?

Emergency funds for food, housing and utilities may be provided to veterans and/or their dependants. The following factors will be considered when determining financial need: proof of veteran status (DD-214 or other separation or discharge record), proof of household income, and current bills. Unemployed veterans are required to be actively seeking employment or must provide medical evidence of the inability to work.

Where can I get information about my late father’s military career?

Call our office at 513-946-3300 for details pertaining standard form 180.

What can I do to upgrade my bad conduct discharge, if possible?

Call our office at 513-946-3300 for details about an upgrade discharge packet.

How does a veteran become enrolled in the “direct deposit” program for VA compensation or pension benefits?

We can assist in completing this form and faxing it to VA Regional Office.

I was on active military duty from 1959 through 1960. I recently became disabled, not from any service-connected cause, and may not be able to return to work. Am I eligible for nonservice-connected pension benefits from VA since I now have a limited income?

Veterans’ entitlement to nonservice-connected disability pension is premised on three basic criteria: the individual must have a minimum of 90 days of active military service, one of which must have been during a designated wartime period; the veteran must be permanently and totally disabled or so disabled that it would be impossible for the average person to pursue substantially gainful employment; and the veteran’s countable income must be within limits defined by statute. Because your active service was entirely during peacetime, you do not meet the service eligibility requirement for pension benefits.

My ex-spouse was a veteran.  Am I entitled to benefits?

Generally, the answer is no.  The end of the marriage normally means the end of eligibility for benefits.

I am a veteran. Will VA pay for my funeral and burial expenses?

No.  Only veterans who are receiving monetary benefits at the time of death qualify for the payment of burial and/or funeral expense.  Even in those cases, VA payments will not come close to paying for the average funeral and burial expense.

I got hurt when I was in the service.  Does that mean I am service connected?

No – you are not service connected until the VA adjudicates your formal claim and grants service connection.  It is a formal, legal process.

I was told I cannot file a claim for service connection because I have been out too long.

Not true.  It may be harder to get your claim approved, but there is no time limit for filing a claim for service connection.  We recommend you file as soon as possible after release from active duty  because the effective date of your claim is determined by when you file.  The start payment date is the same.  If you got out in 1958 and your claim is approved in 2010, you will be paid only from the date you filed your claim – not back to your discharge.

Do you have to serve in a war to be considered a Veteran?

No. There are different requirements based on which benefit is sought. Generally a Veteran is a member of the Armed Forces that has served on Active duty for other than training purposes or who was disabled due to their military service. Please call for more information.

Can I get a copy of my discharge paper?

Yes. We can assist in obtaining a copy of your military discharge (DD-214). Please call for more information.

My father/mother is now a patient in a nursing home. Medicaid says I have to apply for VA Pension, what do I do?

You will need to file an application for VA Pension. You will need to bring in an original or certified copy of DD 214, Separation Paper, all monthly income received from all sources, amount of Assets, Marriages, Divorces, Death Certificates, Social Security Numbers of Veteran and Dependents.