New resource available for Yuma County veterans

ADVS launches online appointment portal

In response to the pandemic in 2020, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services (ADVS) set up a phone appointment system for Arizona veterans and their families. Four years and a lot of phone traffic and double bookings later, a new portal has been opened up for Arizona veterans and their families to schedule appointments with Veterans Benefits Counselors (VBC).

“On average, there were 200 calls per day,” said Veronica Padilla, public information officer of ADVS, noting “this new online system is meant to alleviate the scheduling problems.”

With the launch of Calendly by the Veterans’ Services Division (YSD), Yuma County veterans can skip the hold on the phone and the line in the office to schedule appointments. Here are the steps to scheduling an appointment using the new portal:

• Start by going to ADVS’ website (https://dvs.az.gov).

• Once there, click the “Services” tab at the top of the page.

• Then click “Benefits Counseling”.

• And right under the video highlighting the federal and state benefit opportunities for veterans, the first two hyperlinks spelled “HERE” in big, blue letters take you right where you need to be to schedule your own appointment, either virtual or in-person.

• If virtual, the first hyperlink takes you to where you can select the counselor to meet with, and then the available day and time.

• If in-person, the second hyperlink takes you to where you can select the location, followed by the counselor.

• And under those two hyperlinks, is the third option.

“We understand older veterans, such as Vietnam veterans may not be as familiar with online systems like the new Calendly appointment portal,” Padilla said.

The Benefits page has the phone number (602-535-1215) to call for older veterans, or their families, or any veterans having trouble scheduling their own appointment using the new portal.