WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that on-line applications are now being accepted from veterans, survivors and other claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without the need to submit a signed copy of the application.

The VA will now process applications received through its on-line application web site (VONAPP) without the claimant’s signature. The electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant’s application for benefits. Normal development procedures and rules of evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications.

VONAPP (www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm) is a Web-based system that benefits both internal and external users. Veterans, survivors and other claimants seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation benefits can apply electronically without the constraints of location, postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery.

VA VET CENTERS COMING TO 39 COMMUNITIES

WASHINGTON - Combat veterans will receive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 39 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans Affairs will develop Vet Centers by fall 2009.

One of the new Vet Centers is schedules for New Jersey in Ocean County, with the exact location to be determined.

The existing 232 centers conduct community outreach to offer counseling on employment, family issues and education to combat veterans and family members, as well as bereavement counseling for families of service members killed on active duty and counseling for veterans who were sexually harassed on active duty.

Vet Center services are available at no cost to veterans who experienced combat during any war era. They are staffed by small teams of counselors, outreach workers and other specialists, many of whom are combat veterans.

The Vet Center program was established in 1979 by Congress, recognizing that many Vietnam veterans were still having readjustment problems. The centers have hired 100 combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as outreach specialists, often placing them near military processing stations, to brief servicemen and women leaving the military about VA benefits.

Yellow Ribbon increases grant amounts

In 2007, New Jersey established the Yellow Ribbon program to help returning Operations' Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom veterans.

One facet of this program was to provide relief, in the form of grants, for a range of veteran/family emergencies and business “Re-Start” assistance. The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is responsible for implementation of the program.

In the midst of difficult economic times for our state and nation, the Governor and legislature deemed it a priority to extend a helping hand to veterans returning from the present conflicts. The Yellow Ribbon program was therefore extended for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Any OEF or OIF Veteran is eligible to apply for a grant. Family members are eligible if the grant will directly or indirectly aid or provide care for the veteran.

Since the first grant was awarded, our experience indiindicates that the number of veterans requiring assistance and the magnitude of the need is much greater than originally anticipated. As a result, we have adjusted our available resources to allow an increase in the Individual Grant amount from $2,500 to $5,000, and the Business Re-Start Grant from $5,000 to $10,000. We have endeavored, through these grants, to express the appreciation of the State of New Jersey to veterans for their service, and have been humbled by the unsolicited and heartfelt responses of gratitude for help in time of need.

All grant requests must be made on a Yellow Ribbon Grant Application, include a “need” statement, a Family Budget Worksheet, and all requested or appropriate documentation. All forms and program information can be obtained from: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Attention: Carl Lang, P.O. Box 340, Trenton, NJ 08625-0340, or by e-mail at carl.lang@njdmava.state.nj.us.