VA spends $81M in county
Vets urged to apply for benefits
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » The U.S. Veterans Administration spends more than $81 million per year in Saratoga County, about half in direct cash payments for pension and compensation benefits.
Frank McClement, the county’s Veterans Service Agency director, would like to see an even higher figure as former military personnel get the full range of benefits due them.
The county is home to more than 18,000 veterans.
“They don’t even realize they’re eligible for things they’ve earned in the service,” McClement said.
The list runs the gamut from education benefits to burial benefits, in many cases for veterans and their spouses.
McClement updated the Board of Supervisors Veterans Committee about his agency’s activities on Monday.
By law, anytime veterans seek assistance from the Department of Social Services, the department is required to refer them to the Veterans Service Agency as well. The Veterans Agency can direct people to services beyond what Social Services might provide.
“We just want to make sure we’re maintaining that close working relationship,” McClement said.
A state audit of some county Social Services departments, a few years ago, found that some counties weren’t complying with the state law, by failing to refer veterans to Veterans Service agencies, he said.
Of the $81 million the VA spends in Saratoga County annually, $41 million is for compensation and pension benefits. This includes compensation for service-connected disabilities; dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths; veterans’ pension for non-service connected disabilities; and burial and other benefits to veterans.
Another $30 million is spent on medical care, which includes medical services and administration, facility maintenance, and educational and research support.
Almost $8,250,000 goes to education and vocational rehabilitation and employment. This includes automobile and adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance, vocational rehabilitation, post-Vietnam era educational assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Educational Assistance program, and post-9/11 veterans educational assistance.
The VA also spends $3.6 million in the county for unique patients, who obtain care at a VA healthcare facility, and $1.7 million for insurance and indemnities.
In other action, McClement up-
dated supervisors about upcoming events to honor veterans.
At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the late Samuel Johnson, the husband of former Town of Day Supervisor MaryAnn Johnson, will be recognized during Honoring Our Deceased Veterans ceremonies at county offices in Ballston Spa. An Air Force veteran, Johnson belonged to special operations groups and was involved with combat flight activities.
The Honoring Our Deceased Veterans program recognizes veterans from a different town or city in Saratoga County on the third Tuesday of each month.
Yellow Ribbon Day ceremonies are planned for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10 at Halfmoon Town Hall. Army National Guard Lt. Col. (ret.) Paul Fanning is the scheduled keynote speaker. In connection with this event, Saratoga County Clerk’s Office is coordinating a collection of goods for deployed troops, in partnership with Blue Star Mothers of America. Donations of snacks, cookies, candy, trail mix and similar items are sought.
Supervisor Arthur “Mo” Wright of Hadley, the veterans committee chairman, said plans are in the works for a free county-sponsored concert for veterans, tentatively scheduled for Labor Day at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The U.S. Army Field Band is expected to perform.