A May 8, 2009 letter from Clark Dyrud, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, to Cook County Board Chair Fritz Sobanja offered some enlightening statistics on the benefits received by Cook County veterans and their dependents.
“Many veterans and dependents are not aware of the range and scope of benefits available to them, including programs that provide income, medical care, and nursing home care,” Dyrud wrote.
In 2008, Cook County’s veteran population was 576, and those vets received a total of $1,577,917 in veteran benefits — $2,739.44 per veteran.
One hundred three, or 18%, of Cook County’s vets used $409,202 in Veteran’s Administration (VA) medical services, both inpatient and outpatient – an average of $3,973 for each person who used the services.
Benefits from the regional office totaled $1,151,000, an average of $1,998 among all 576 vets, for compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and education.
In 2008, $1,815 was also paid out by the Minnesota Department of Veterans for subsistence.
Commissioner Dyrud encouraged Sobanja to support training for its county veterans service officer and to apply for grants provided by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Your County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) is an incredible asset to the economy of your county,” Dyrud wrote.
Veterans interested in finding out about benefits and services can contact Cook County’s new veterans service officer, Richard McKenzie, by calling (218) 370-9726, emailing veteran. services@co.cook.mn.us, or writing VSO Richard McKenzie, PO Box 246, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
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