Washington Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the selection of three Counties to receive grant funding, upon successful negotiation of a contract, to hire County Veteran Service Officers. These grants were made possible with the passage and funding of HB 1448 during the 2019 Legislative Session.

Clallam, Stevens, and Pacific Counties were selected after a thorough review of their applications which documented how a County Veteran Service Officer would serve veterans and their families in the respective Counties. A total of $450,000 was made available with a requirement to fund at least two County Veteran Service Officers.

Funding is available through June 30, 2021. The County Veteran Service Officer will assist veterans and family members with claims to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for VA Disability Compensation, Pension, Survivors Pension, and other financial assistance programs. Successful claims often result in the veteran or family member receiving monthly compensation which provides a stable source of income. In Washington State, veterans and their families receive over $3.4 billion each year through VA Disability Compensation, Pension or Survivors Pension. These dollars are often invested back into local communities as veterans and families pay their household expenses, purchase homes, and send their children to school.

The service officers will also help connect veterans and their families to other benefits such as health care, housing, and education. By connecting veterans to their earned veterans benefits, Counties can free up resources for more non-veterans to utilize local programs for housing, health care, and other support services.