Services and Benefits

To discuss benefits, call our office and meet with a Veterans Service Officer. Use the left menu for more information.

Phone: 330-740-2450 

DISABILITY COMPENSATION

Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. The service of the veteran must have been terminated through separation or discharge under conditions that were other than dishonorable.

Disability compensation varies based on the degree of disability and number of dependents, and it is paid monthly. This benefit is federal and state income tax exempt. Other payments such as military retirement pay, disability severance pay, or separation incentive payments may affect the amount received.

Application and assistance in preparing your claim is available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

PENSION

Veterans with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for monetary support if they have 90 days or more of active military service, with at least one day during a period of war. The discharge from active duty must have been under conditions other than dishonorable.

The permanent and total disability must not be due to the veteran’s own willful misconduct. Payments are made to bring total income, including retirement or Social Security, to a level set by Congress. Unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce countable income.

A veteran may be entitled to higher income limitations or additional benefits if they are in a nursing home, require aid and attendance, or are permanently housebound. Applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC)

Payments may be available for surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried children under 18, helpless children, or those between 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved school.

Eligibility applies if the deceased veteran died from:

• Disease or injury incurred or aggravated while on active duty for training
• Injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty while on inactive duty for training
• A disability compensable by the VA

Death cannot be the result of willful misconduct. If a spouse remarries, eligibility for benefits may be restored if the marriage is later terminated by death or divorce.

Further information and applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

DEATH PENSIONS

Death pensions are based on need for surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime service. Spouses must not have remarried, and children must be under 18 or under 23 if attending a VA-approved school.

Pension is not payable to those with estates large enough to provide maintenance. The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and must have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a period of war, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability.

If the veteran died in service but not in line of duty, benefits may be payable if they completed at least two years of honorable service. Children who became incapable of self-support because of a disability before age 18 may be eligible as long as the condition exists, unless the child marries or their income exceeds the applicable limit.

A surviving spouse may be entitled to higher income limits or additional benefits if living in a nursing home, in need of aid and attendance, or permanently housebound. Further information and applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

REIMBURSEMENT OF BURIAL EXPENSES

COUNTY:

Mahoning County may provide a burial allowance of up to $600 if the Veteran was a resident of Mahoning County at the time of death

Applications and additional information are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

FEDERAL:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may pay a burial allowance of up to $2,000 if the veteran’s death was service connected. In some cases, the VA may also reimburse the cost of transporting the remains of a service disabled veteran to the nearest national cemetery with available gravesites.

The person who paid the veteran’s burial expenses may apply to the VA for reimbursement. Applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

For non service connected deaths, the VA will pay up to $978 toward burial and funeral expenses for deaths on or after October 1, 2024 and a $978 plot-interment allowance (if not buried in a national cemetery). Eligibility may apply if the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death, or if the death occurred in a VA facility, a nursing home under VA contract, or a state veterans nursing home.

There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims for service connected deaths. For most other deaths, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.

Additional information and applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

HEADSTONES, MARKERS, URNS AND PLAQUES

The VA provides headstones, markers, and urns for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere in the world, as well as for eligible dependents buried in military posts, state veterans cemeteries, or national veterans cemeteries.

Available options include flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite, and upright marble headstones and markers, in styles consistent with the cemetery. Niche markers and urns are also available for identifying and housing cremated remains in columbaria.

Further information and applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Financial assistance is determined weekly on a case by case basis by our five member Board made up of Veterans appointed by the Judges of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

• Applicants for financial assistance must be bona fide residents of Mahoning County for at least 90 days.
• Applicants must demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
• Applicants must not have more than $25,000 in liquid assets.
• Assistance is based on household income.

Financial assistance from the Commission is temporary.

ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS

To qualify for benefits from the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, the applicant or the veteran on whose service is based must have been honorably discharged from active military service performed for other than training purposes. The applicant must have resided in Ohio for three months prior to application and in Mahoning County for three months prior to application.

Applicants must bring:

• Proof of household income for the past thirty days

• Current utility bills

• Proof of rent or shelter payment and payee information

• Proof of any other monthly income

Give us a call and get started today.

Phone: 330-740-2450 

WINTER UTILITY ASSISTANCE

This program is reviewed annually.

To qualify for Winter Utility Assistance, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Household income must fall below established program guidelines
• Liquid assets may not exceed $25,000.
• Utility bills must be in the name of the Veteran or the Veteran’s spouse.
• Applicants must apply for both HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) and the Ohio Energy Credit.
• Applicants must also apply for the Home Weatherization Program.

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

For most veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins with enrollment at a VA health care facility. Veterans with Internet access may apply online at VA.gov by completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits.

Once enrolled, veterans are eligible to receive services at VA facilities anywhere in the country. Further information and applications are available at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Office.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is offered via bus service to the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center and operates Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Seating is limited, and trips are scheduled on a first come, first seated basis, so veterans are encouraged to contact the office as early as possible to secure a spot. This structured approach allows the Commission to serve as many veterans as possible while maintaining safe and dependable transportation.

This service is part of the Commission’s broader commitment to practical, day-to-day support for Mahoning County veterans. By providing consistent medical transportation, the Commission helps veterans keep critical appointments, manage ongoing health needs, and remain connected to essential VA services. Veterans who require transportation are encouraged to contact the office for scheduling details and availability.