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Crawford County Veterans Service Office/Commission
OHIO
Crawford County Veterans Service Commission
Veterans Service Office, William E. Bessinger, Veterans Service Officer, Court House, Suite 95
Lower Level, Admin. Bldg., 112 E. Mansfield St.
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820
Phone 419-562-7761 - Fax 419-562-0662
E-mail: billb@crawford-co.org
Commissioners "Veterans Service Commission Yr. 2005"
Herbert Kraft - President VSC (WWII War Vet represents Am.Legion.)
Larry Patton -VP -(Vietnam War Vet represents Army & Navy Union.Inc.)
John Sears - Secretary - (WWII War Vet represents AmVets.)
Charles Christman - Commissioner - (Vietnam War Vet represents DAV)
Donald Diosi - Commissioner - (Korean War Vet represents VFW)
Meetings 1st. and 3rd. Mondays of each month. (meetings are held on the Tuesday following a Monday holiday).
Purpose: The Veterans Service Commission (VSC) was established for the purpose of assisting veterans and their dependents who have met with unexpected hardship as a result of sickness, injury, or disease; or becoming destitute because of a lack of employment; or being unable to find gainful or adequate employment. Applicants must have residency in county for 90 days prior to the date of application. The applicant or the veteran on whose service the application is based must have been discharged under honorable conditions from active duty military service performed for other than training purposes.
Of primary importance to the Veterans Service Commission are the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter and clothing. It is the purpose of the Commission to assist veterans and their dependents temporarily until a permanent solution to their difficulties can be arranged.
For complete info. contact office.
Documents needed: Discharge records, a picture I.D., proof of income, proof of net worth., copies of current bills and proof of residency in Crawford County are required at the time of application.
Please contact office for assistance in making application for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
No residency requirements are specified for veterans service office assistance with claims for benefits with the exception of Veterans Service Commission Financial Assistance as previously outlined.
Transportation is provided to Cleveland and Brecksville VAMC each Monday. For information on VA medical care/treatment contact office - 419-562-7761. - 419 562-7761 - 562-7761 - 562 7761 - 419 562 7761.
Remote Location:
Crestline VFW each Tuesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
419-683-9265 - 419 683 9265 - 683 9265 - 419 683-9265
Galion American Legion each Thursday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
419-468-1208 - 419 468 1208 - 468-1208 - 419 468-1208
Fee charges for services: None
Funded: by Crawford County Real Estate Taxes.
We're Here to Serve: Office Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 p.m.
William E. Bessinger, Veterans Service Officer - Bill Bessinger
Michael C. Amsbaugh, Assistant Veterans Service Officer
Theresa Auck - Administrative Assistant
Randy Vance - Transportation Officer/Driver
William E. Bessinger, ( Bill Bessinger ) the present Crawford County Veterans Service Officer, served in the U.S.Navy, 4 years during the Vietnam War (at Fleet Air Reconnaissance Two (VQ-2) Rota Spain, and two years aboard USS Koelsch (DE-1049)New Port, R.I.)), having been hired August 15, 73. Mr. Bessinger is an accredited Veterans Service Officer, having received accreditation from the following organizations: Governor's Office of Veterans Affairs (GOVA), AmVets, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Military Order of the Purple Heart, Army & Navy Union USA, Inc., American Ex-POW's, Marine Corps League, Veterans of World War I, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Fleet Reserve Assoc., Blinded Veterans Assn., Catholic War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans of America. He was trained to be allowed access to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Benefits Delivery system (BDN) in April 1997 and has served as the Ohio State Association Activities of County Veterans Service Officer (OSACVSO) Committee chairman for 15 years, and as Assistant Sargent at Arms for 11 years and as the 3rd. District Training Coordinator for 5 years. He holds membership in the American Legion, Army Navy Union, USA, Inc., AmVets, the Ohio State Assocation of County Veterans Service Officers (OSACVSO), Ohio State Association of Veterans Service Commissioners (OSAVSC).
Michael C. Amsbauhg, A USN, Gulf War Veteran hired Nov. 14, 2005 is the present Assistant Veterans Service Officer. He is an accredited Veterans Service Officer, having received accreditation from the following Organizations: GOVA, DAV, VFW, AmVets, Am. Legion, Jewish War Veterans, MOPH. He has been trained to be allowed access to the DVA system and received advanced TRIP I and II training for advanced claims development and additional access to VA's computer system. He was employed prior at the Richland County Veterans Services Office as a Service Officer for 8 years.
Theresa C. Auck a U.S. Army, Peactime Veteran currently serves in the position of Administrative Assistant, having been hired Sept. 25, 1989. Ms. Auck is also accredited by the GOVA.
C. Randy Vance a U.S. Army, Peacetime Veteran from Galion, Ohio was hired as driver on April 22, 2002.
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CRAWFORD COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION/OFFICE
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The Veterans Service Commission exercises extreme care in determining those individuals who are to be helped, reduced or denied to assure that no person entitled is inadvertently denied temporary financial assistance. The law governing the Veterans Service Commission is Section 5901.01 through 5901.15 of the Ohio Revised Code, which designates those persons who are entitled to financial assistance. The law is designed to help those persons who have served their country honorably and well, and are now in need of public assistance. It is to this end that the Veterans Service Commission devotes a major portion of its resources.
The entire income and net worth for a household is considered in allowing for financial assistance. If the monthly income of an applicant's household from all sources exceeds the budget, no financial assistance can be administered. If the applicant's household income from other sources (such as ADC, GA, sick benefits, Social Security, VA payments, wages, etc.) is less than the budget amount then the family may be provided with financial assistance.
All applicants for financial assistance who are physically capable of working must be actively seeking employment. Ordinarily, this condition is met by submission of proof, such as statements from prospective employers or a list of various contacts made during the month, indicating that the applicant is seeking employment. If an applicant is incapable of working due to physical or mental disability, refusal to cooperate in providing proof of the incapacity may result in a denial of financial assistance until such proof is provided.
If it is determinated that an applicant for financial assistance has a major problem with drugs or alcohol, he or she will be referred to another agency that deals with treatment and rehabilitation as appropriate. Every effort will be made to see that they are referred to hospitals or clinics on an outpatient basis, or to the closest Drug Abuse Center.
The Crawford County Veterans Service Commission also works closely with other agencies that provide care for needy persons. Some of these are: Jobs and Family Services, (General Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Food Stamps, Medicaid, etc); Social Security Administration (SS, SS Disability, SSI, Medicare) Department of Veterans Affairs (Compensation and Pension, Medical Care, Counseling, etc.) and various other Federal, State, and local agencies. Referrals to an appropriate agency will be made as needed and applicants are expected to carry through with applications for assistant available from these other sources.
Veterans Service Commission financial assistance should never be construed as a pension or compensation type of benefit. It is TEMPORARY in nature and is meant to prevent undue hardship for veterans and their families until other Federal, State or Local benefits can be obtained. However, an applicant may request reconsideration of financial assistance at any time, based upon new and material evidence of the facts or findings in the case, or appeal a decision of the Veterans Service Commission by requesting to appear at the next scheduled meeting of the Commission. Any applicant may, from time to time, be required to appear personally before the Veterans Service Commission before consideration will be given to the applicant's request for financial assistance.
The Veterans Service Commission shall meet on the 1st. and 3rd. Mondays of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Crawford County Veterans Service Office at 112 E. Mansfield St., Suite 95, Bucyrus, Ohio.
Applicants for assistance may be obtained any time, but must be submitted before 12:00 (NOON) on the day of a meeting to be considered.
INFORMATION ON THE VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION - CRAWFORD COUNTY
Realizing the need for speedy financial assistance, the State of Ohio enacted the Soldier's Relief Act of 1886. This law provided that each of the 88 counties in Ohio should have a Soldier's Relief Commission that would be able to care for the needs of veterans, widows and dependents of veterans who were met with financial hardship through no fault of their own. Initially, the Soldier's Relief Commissions were composed of three members and later legislation increased the number to five. In 1945, legislation authorized the commission to hire veterans service officers to assist veterans and dependents in making application for benefits they might be entitled to receive. In 1988 the name was changed to the Veterans Service Commission as it is known today.
The Crawford County Veterans Service Office commenced operation in 1945, with records for the Veterans Services Commission dating to April 1892, showing relief records for assistance to indigent Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. Since being established, it has been charged with the responsibility of providing two distinct type of service to honorably discharged veterans and their dependents. These services are to provide them with financial aid and assistance in securing benefits provided by State and Federal law. Today, the mission of the Veterans Service Commission and Veterans Service Office has not changed.
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Important Phone Numbers
For information on: Call:
VA Benefits--------------------1-800-827-1000
Health Benefits----------------1-877-222-8387
Education Benefits-------------1-888-442-4551
Life Insurance-----------------1-800-669-8477
Debt Management----------------1-800-827-0648
Mammography Hotline-------------1-888-492-7844
Telecommunication Device
for the Deaf (TDD)----------1-800-829-4833
ChampVa------------------------1-800-773-8387
Headstone and Markers----------1-800-697-6947
Gulf War& Agent Orange Helpline1-800-749-8387
Health Elig. Center,Atlanta,Ga-1-800-929-8387
((1644 Tullie Circle -1-404-235-1257
The VA Federal Benefits booklet and other VA info.
is available on VA's World Wide Web Home page at:
http://www.va.gov/
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Local Veterans Organizations Crawford County
AMERICAN LEGIONS
Galion Am. Legion Post 243
Scarbrough Post, PO Box 788
118 S. Market St., Galion, Ohio - 419-468-1208
American Legion Post 405, Carl A. Geiger Post, 211 N. Kibler St.
New Washington, Ohio 44854 - 419-492-2800
American Legion Col. Crawford, Post 181, 123 E. Rensselaer St.,
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820 - 419-562-7311
American Legion Post 488, McWhirter Post, Crestline, Ohio (temp. closed)
ARMY NAVY UNION U.S.A
Army-Navy Club, Garrison 987, 205 H.W.E., Galion, Ohio 44833
419-468-2196
AMVETS POSTS *
AmVets Post #27, 235 E. Galen St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820,
419-562-4571
AmVets 1979, Polk Twp., 420 Harding Way E.,Galion, Ohio 44833
419-468-4464
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
DAV Chapter 100, mail c/o Theresa Auck, 126 S. Highland Ave., *
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820 - 419-562-4232
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS *
VFW 8999, PO Box 1019, 1325 E. Mansfield St.
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820 - 419-562-8301
VFW Post 6355, 5684 SR 103, New Washington, Ohio 44854
419-492-1800
VFW Post 2920 Harley-Helfrich, 100 S. Crestline St., Crestline, Ohio 44827 - 419-683-9265
VFW Post 1079, 330 E. Mansfield St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820
419-562-7916
VFW Post 4329, PO Box 394, 229 S. Market St.
Galion, Ohio 44833 - 419- 468-5191
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WORLD WIDE WEB LINKS
VA home page-----http://www.va.gov
VA consumer affairs-----http://www.va.gov/customer/conaff.asp
VA public affairs & special events-----http://www.va.gov/opa/
VA Benefits & Health Care Information:
VA compensation & pension benefits--http://www.vba.va.gov/bin/21/
VA benefits online application---
---http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp
Health benefits and services-http://www.va.gov/vbs/health/
Burial & Memorial benefits--http://ww.cem.va.gov/
Education benefits & services--http://www.gibill.va.gov/
VA HOME LOAN GUARANTIES--http://www.homeloans.va.gov/
Board of Veterans Appeals--http://www.va.gov/vbs/bva
Benefits & services outside the U.S-http://www.va.gov/hac/
Tricare--http://www/tricare.osd.mil/
Champva--http://www/va.gov/hac/
FORMS:
VA forms-----http://www.va.gov/forms/
Additional government forms---
--http://www.opm.gov/veterans/index.htm
Veterans" hiring preference---
---http://www.opm.gov/veterans/htm/vetguide.htm
Federal government job openings-- http:'www.usajobs.opm.gov/
Dept. of Labor Employment & Training-- http://www.dol.gov/do/vets
Business Assistance:
Small Business Administration--- http://www.sba.gov/vets/
Small & Disadvantaged Businesses-- http://www.va.gov/OSDBU/
Other usefull sites:
Burial in Arlington National Cemetery--
---http://www.mdw.army.mil/fs-a02a.htm
Department of Defense---http://www.defenselink.mil
Bill Bessinger
OSACVSO
Crawford Co.
CCVSO
Crawford County (OHIO)
Veterans County
Send E-Mail to: billb@crawford-co.org
Copyright © 2005 Bill Bessinger. All Rights Reserved