The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) encourages veterans to meet with an accredited veteran service officer to ensure they are receiving or maximizing the benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice while in unform. Veterans should not hesitate to apply or double-check to see if new laws and regulations have changed their eligibility, especially with the new PACT Act, which expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

Safeguarding military paperwork, especially the DD-214, which is used to verify military service, is an important first step for securing benefits. The easiest way to manage military documents is to make sure they are filed in a safe place immediately upon leaving the military. Veterans often find that filing their documents for free at their county courthouse of record is an easy way to secure them until needed, which can often be decades into the future. Anyone needing assistance locating their military documentation may contact the DMVA at 800-547-2838 or RA-REQ@pa.gov.

Another key step is for veterans to apply for federal health care and state benefits by visiting their local county director of veterans affairs or area veteran service officer to look at what benefits they may be eligible for and to get help applying for those benefits. A complete list of accredited county directors of veterans affairs and their contact information is available by visiting http://www.dmva.pa.gov and clicking on Contact Your County Director. Contact information for accredited veteran service officers is available by visiting the aforementioned website and searching for Veteran Service Officers.

In addition to connecting with a county director or a veteran service officer, the DMVA recommends that every Pennsylvania veteran sign up for the DMVA Veterans Registry. The registry is a free tool that electronically delivers timely information about the many state benefits, programs, and services available to veterans. Veterans, family members, and people who work with veterans can sign up by computer or mobile device at http://www.register.dmva.pa.gov.

The DMVA noted that veterans should never pay for help applying for their benefits. If a veteran seeking help is asked to pay, they should immediately decline and find one of the more than 200 accredited veteran service officers in Pennsylvania for no-cost assistance. Free assistance is available through the DMVA, county offices, and several veteran service organizations.

To learn more about the DMVA, visit http://www.dmva.pa.gov or http://www.facebook.com/padmva.