KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- In many cases, veterans living with disabilities are often confused about the benefits and services they have earned while serving our country. To give them some help, the non-profit Disabled American Veterans brought their mobile office to Kirksville.
The office was parked outside the Kirksville Veteran's Clinic from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday. Workers helped veterans file and check on existing claims. They also helped veterans with pension issues and medical care concerns.
Bill Rieger, a Department Service Officer said it's important to visit rural communities like Kirksville so that veterans stay updated on issues that affect them.
"These guys don't have the ability sometimes, their disabilities prevent them from getting to a facility, and it's to make it more accessible to where they're more informed as to what's going on in the veterans world," said Rieger.
Rieger is also helping unemployed veterans find work.
"There's a new benefit that's just coming out for veterans that are having a hard time with employment," said Rieger. "It's dealing with a vocational rehab benefit that will become available to veterans, if they don't have eligibility to the GI bill, that just came out, a couple of years ago. Now they're letting veterans ages 35 to 60 go to college for a year to retrain them and them employed and back in the workforce. "
Rieger said they are accepting applications for this benefit right now.
If you missed the mobile office Monday, it will be at the Hy-Vee in Trenton, Mo. Tuesday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and then in Chillicothe at the Livingston County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13.
All of their services are free of charge.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO