Veterans Affairs
The Susquehanna County Veterans affairs office proudly serves the Veterans of our County and their families.
Anyone with questions about the vast array of benefits available is encouraged to contact the County VA office, and we will be happy to answer your questions and provide assistance. The office is located in the County Courthouse at 31 Lake Ave. Montrose, Pa. and the office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. except for scheduled holidays or required Certified Veterans Services Officer (VSO) training.
Individuals may also find complete information on veteran's federal benefits by visiting the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs web site at www.va.gov and state benefits at www.dmva.pa.gov/veterans/pages
Veterans in crisis or contemplating suicide may call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 option 1 or text at 838255 for help
Finally to all our veterans, “thank you for your service” we look forward to serving you.
Veterans Corner
The Susquehanna County Veterans Affairs office writes an article once each month that is published in the “Weekender”. These articles called “Veterans Corner” provide information related to veteran’s issues and benefits. The articles are published once per month and can be found in one of the editions of the weekender which is distributed each Friday of the month. The weekender has a wide distribution in Susquehanna County. For your convenience we also make the articles available here on the County website.
Anyone with any questions about the benefits available to Veterans and their family members can call the Susquehanna County Veterans Affairs Office at (570) 278-5955.
VETERANS CORNER
Changes to 100% VA service-connected disabled, Wartime Period, Veterans Real Estate Property Tax Exemption & other State Veterans Programs
Submitted By: Jeffery Mead
Susquehanna County Director of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Service Officer
Disabled vet pay excluded from state aid limits
Disabled veterans in Pennsylvania no longer have to claim their monthly benefits as income when applying for state aid programs.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill June 17th 2024, excluding disability payments from eligibility calculations used for property tax exemptions, the Education Gratuity Program, Veterans Temporary Assistance Program and the Military Relief Assistance Program.
“This bill would ensure more disabled veterans can access important programs and services,” said prime sponsor Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Chambersburg. “Our disabled veterans made significant sacrifices for our country and this bill would make sure their disability payments do not disqualify them from other state benefits.”
Roughly 638,000 veterans live in Pennsylvania, of which 30.5% are disabled, according to U.S. Census data. Three-quarters of veterans are over the age of 55 and 6.1% live below the poverty line.
During a veterans assistance event in November, Mastriano said although the General Assembly is at odds on most issues, supporting former servicemembers is not divisive.
“We’re taking small steps here to improve life for each of you,” he said.
On June 7, the upper chamber passed legislation, which goes into effect on August 16th, that would exempt federal aid and attendance payments from calculations for tax relief. In Pennsylvania, veterans with a 100% disability rating that also fall within the income eligibility guidelines don’t pay property taxes.
Most states grant property tax breaks for veterans. Pennsylvania is one of 22 states and the District of Columbia to do so for 100% disabled veterans (as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Another 16 states give property tax breaks to veterans who are less than 100% disabled, and eight others give property tax breaks without a disability requirement. (Christen Smith | The Center Square)
State Veteran Programs
Real Estate Tax Exemption for 100% service-connected disabled, Wartime Period Veterans *change effective August 16th-VA service-connected disability compensation no longer counted as income toward the $108,046.00 income cap.
Veterans Temporary Assistance Program (need of one-time financial assistance-$1600.00 maximum)
Veterans Homes, operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, exists to care for, honor and respect residents for serving our country and protecting our freedom; Veterans with a 70% or greater service-connected disability rating can keep their entire compensation payment while residing in a Veteran Home.
Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans’ Pension- service connected injury/disease resulting in the loss (of use) of two or more extremities with a 40% compensation rating or higher in each limb as determined and by the VA. May be eligible for a monthly pension of $150.00.
Blind Veterans Pension of $150.00 per month. Service-related loss of vision 3/60 or 10/200 or less normal vision in the better eye, or widest diameter of vison in better eye is contracted to the extent is subtends an angular distance of not greater than 20 percent.
Educational Gratuity Program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have 100% service-connected disabilities and served during a period of war. Must be receiving the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA), Chapter 35 benefit.
Military Family Relief Assistance Program (PA service members in need who are still serving in, or four years after a medical discharge from Active Duty, Reserves or National Guard).
Upcoming Veteran Events:
- August 5th and every, first Monday of Month at 5:30 PM- Gulf War/Global War on Terror Veterans’ Support Group at Lenox VFW.
- July 15th & August 5st and every 1st and 3rd Monday at 10:30 AM-Vietnam Support Group at Lenox VFW.
Second Anniversary of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act
Submitted By: Jeffery Mead
Susquehanna County Director of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Service Officer
On August 10th, 2022 the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act became law. The PACT Act was the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed Veterans in more than 30 years.
The PACT Act expanded access to VA health care services for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins during their military service. For post-9/11 combat Veterans, the bill extends the period of time they have to enroll in VA health care from five to ten years post-discharge. These expansions mean that more Veterans can enroll in VA health care without having to demonstrate a service-connected disability. (www.whitehouse.gov)
The PACT Act removed the need for certain Veterans and their survivors to prove service connection if they are diagnosed with one of the additional specific conditions.
Burn pit /particulate matter exposure conditions presumptive (no need to prove service connection for condition) prior to PACT Act:
- Chronic Rhinitis
- Chronic Sinusitis
- Asthma diagnosed after service
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea
- Adenocarcinoma of the trachea
- Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea
- Large cell carcinoma of the lung, Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung
- Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung
The PACT ACT 2022 added the following presumptive conditions for burn pit /particulate matter exposure:
- Brain cancer
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
- Emphysema
- Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
- Glioblastoma
- Granulomatous disease
- Head cancer of any type
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Kidney cancer
- Lymphatic cancer of any type
- Lymphoma of any type
- Melanoma
- Neck cancer of any type
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pleuritis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Reproductive cancer of any type
- Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
- Sarcoidosis
Plus, three new presumptive conditions added 6-14-24:
- Male breast cancer
- Urethral cancer
- Cancer of the paraurethral glands
The PACT Act expanded presumptions for Veterans exposed to Agent Orange, a chemical the U.S. military used during the Vietnam War. American Samoa, Cambodia, Guam, Johnston Atoll, Laos and Thailand would all be added to the list of locations where Veterans are presumed to have been exposed to the chemical. (tuckerdisability.com via va.gov)
Agent Orange presumptive conditions prior to PACT ACT:
- AL Amyloidosis
- Bladder Cancer
- Chronic B-cell Leukemias
- Chloracne
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
- Hodgkin's Disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Parkinsonism
- Parkinson's Disease
- Peripheral Neuropathy, Early-Onset
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
- Prostate Cancer
- Respiratory Cancers including lung cancer
- Soft Tissue Sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma)
PACT ACT Agent Orange presumptive conditions:
- High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Part of the PACT Act was the Camp Lejeune Justice Act eliminates burdensome red tape to ensure that those exposed to toxic chemicals, including service members, Marine dependents, civil servants, and contractors, can receive their day in court. (gregmurphy.house.gov)
NOTE: This is totally separate from a Veteran applying for VA compensation due to exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Any Veteran Service Officer can assist with applying for VA compensation at no charge to the Veteran or the Veteran can file a claim online through va.gov. To be eligible for a presumptive service connection, Veterans must have served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and later developed one of the following eight conditions:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease (va.gov)
Upcoming Veteran Events:
August 5th and every, first Monday of Month at 5:30 PM- Gulf War/Global War on Terror Veterans’ Support Group at Lenox VFW.
August 5th & August 19th and every 1st and 3rd Monday at 10:30 AM-Vietnam Support Group at Lenox VFW.
August 16th New Pennsylvania State law takes effect in which Veterans and spouses receiving VA Compensation or Pension will no longer have those benefits counted as income toward Pennsylvania State benefits including Real Estate Tax Exemption for 100% VA rated wartime Veterans or surviving spouse, and Veterans Temporary Assistance for unforeseen one-time expense.
At Veterans Affairs of Susquehanna County, we have two Veteran Service Officers who are here ready and willing to assist any Veterans who are seeking to file for VA Compensation for any of the presumptive conditions mentioned in this article and applying for State Veteran benefits.
Contact Information
Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs
31 Lake Avenue (PO Box 218)
Montrose, PA 18801
Telephone: (570) 278-5955
Fax: (570) 278-5977
Jeffery Mead, Director / VSO