PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has made significant strides over the past year in connecting veterans to their deserved compensation and pension benefits. Through its efforts, the DMVA has managed to handle more than 1,000 veteran inquiries per month and facilitated nearly $1 billion in benefits.
Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA, expressed his pride in the department’s work. “DMVA is proud to serve our veterans by connecting them to the programs and services they earned while serving our nation,” he said. He further emphasized the DMVA’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of Pennsylvania veterans and their families.
Joel Mutschler, director of the Bureau of Veterans Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration, and Outreach, highlighted the remarkable increase in the benefits secured for veterans. “Reaching the $971 million mark in Fiscal Year 2022 is an 18 percent increase for DMVA from the previous year,” he said. Given that Pennsylvania hosts the fourth largest veteran population in the country, with over 700,000 veterans, this has been a significant accomplishment by the DMVA and county veterans affairs partners.
In addition to linking veterans with their benefits, the DMVA also assists veterans or family members in locating lost or misplaced military paperwork, a common requirement for filing claims or receiving benefits. The department has averaged over 700 such requests annually for the past three years.
The recent increase in queries and claims work can be attributed to the new federal Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This legislation expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
Mutschler credits the DMVA’s success in submitting benefit applications, including those related to the PACT Act, to a knowledgeable staff and extensive outreach. The department has hosted five veteran discussions throughout the commonwealth this year.
PA VETConnect, an outreach program that focuses on services within the communities where veterans reside, has also contributed to the DMVA’s success. The program’s outreach team covers the entire commonwealth, connecting veterans to the best possible resources. Over the past year, the PA VETConnect network, which includes more than 2,000 resources, has assisted approximately 1,400 veterans.
To request assistance, or for more information about PA VETConnect or other DMVA programs and services, visit www.dmva.pa.gov.
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