MERCER COUNTY Temp worker updates area veterans' records

Veterans can miss out on benefits if they are not registered in the county.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- The U.S. Veterans Administration has approved a temporary worker for Mercer County to update veterans' records and assist in outreach.
Mercer County commissioners said last week the VA is paying for a temporary intern to work 20 hours per week in the county veterans' office from Monday until sometime in May.
The student is an ex-Marine Corps sergeant major who is a full-time college student. The position will not cost the county anything.
What will be done
Gary Solander, director of the Mercer County Veterans' Affairs office, said the intern's work will be to update the 38,000 records of living and dead county veterans and check them for accuracy.
Of the 38,000 veterans, about 17,000 are still living.
Solander said updating the records is important because the number of veterans in a county listed by the U.S. Census is often inaccurate because many veterans fail to report their status. He said this affects statistics that are used in VA funding and staffing.
Veterans who want to register should bring their original discharge document to the veteran's office at the courthouse. The intern also will go to veterans' posts and clubs and distribute information.
Benefits
Solander listed some benefits veterans could miss if not registered.
These include medical benefits for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities and for those with qualifying incomes with nonservice related conditions; education benefits which differ for each wartime period; veterans' home loan programs in which the VA underwrites 37 percent of a loan, in effect qualifying the veteran for a larger loan; pensions for veterans and their spouses living in nursing homes who are below the HUD poverty level; monthly disability compensation for former prisoners-of-war for cardiovascular and hypertension problems; and grave markers and recording of every veteran's grave.
Veterans who wish to register with the county or apply for any programs can visit the veterans' office at the courthouse from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or call (724) 662-3800.