by Dan Starcher | Aug 10, 2023 | Blog
Note: The following information was sent directly from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to the veteran community regarding complications that have arisen recently with administering PACT Act compensation. As a service to those on our distribution list, the Ohio Department of Veterans Services is relaying this important message. If you have further questions about claims for PACT Act, you can call the VA Benefits Hotline at (800) 827-1000.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Due to the extremely high volume of submissions, some veterans and survivors are receiving error messages when submitting their “intent to file” PACT Act claims. As of 10:30 pm (Aug. 8, 2023), this has impacted about 18% of individuals who submitted their intents to file.
Despite these messages, every veteran or survivor who received an error message on Aug. 8 while applying for PACT Act benefits can consider their intent to file complete. We are working to contact these individuals to confirm directly to them that their intent to file will be honored and their effective date protected.
While we take steps to resolve this issue, we are putting an emergency banner on the VA website to reassure veterans and survivors that their intent to file will be honored. We are also changing the intent to file error message (below) to confirm that, despite the error message, the intent to file has been saved.
While we work to resolve these technical difficulties, we continue to encourage veterans and survivors to file their PACT Act claims — or submit their intent to file — now at VA.gov/PACT. Veterans who do so on or before Aug. 9, 2023, may be eligible to receive benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022. Please know that VA.gov/PACT is not down, and we continue to collect intent to file submissions despite the outgoing error messages.
Additionally, we have experienced an extremely high call volume on 1-800-MyVA411. Wait times for these calls, which are normally 10-30 seconds, have reached 10-15 minutes at times throughout the day. We are taking immediate steps to minimize these wait times for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
We at VA are working to resolve this problem immediately, and we will make sure that no veteran or survivor misses out on their earned benefits because of these technical difficulties.
— Intent to File Error Message —
Due to the high volume of submissions we are receiving, you can’t continue with this claim form at this time – but we have received your intent to file and saved your effective date for benefits.
Here’s what this means for you:
• You have 1 year from today (Aug. 8, 2023) to complete your claim.
• If we determine that you’re eligible for disability compensation, we’ll backdate your benefits to today (Aug. 8, 2023) as your claim effective date.
• If you’re filing a claim based on the PACT Act, you may still be eligible to receive benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022.
Note: If you come back to this form in the next few days and continue to get this message, don’t worry. Your intent to file date is set for today (Aug. 8, 2023).
by Wayne Ohio | Aug 16, 2021 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Aug. 16, 2021 — Are you a veteran that needs to obtain a copy of your records? The Ohio Department of Veterans Services has discharge papers from the early 1800s for veterans who enlisted from Ohio and who requested a copy be sent back to the state. ODVS also has wartime bonus records prior to 1993 and records for the Ohio Veterans Bonus enacted in 2009. For additional information click HERE to be redirected to the Military Records & Honors division of the ODVS.
by Wayne Ohio | Oct 22, 2020 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Oct. 22, 2020 — The Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS), the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Executive Committee, and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation will honor the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame 2020 Class during its annual Induction Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. In lieu of a traditional public ceremony, this year’s event will be conducted virtually and will feature a compilation of individual recognitions of all 20 members of the class.
Due to safety measures in place during the current pandemic, ODVS reached out to all of the honorees and their families to determine the most meaningful way to safely present them with their Hall of Fame medals and plaques and to allow the newly inducted members to help share their stories before loved ones. During those recognitions, a video with congratulatory remarks by Governor Mike DeWine was shown, and ODVS Director Deborah Ashenhurst served as emcee. The ODVS staff recorded these memorable and very personal ceremonies, and highlights of those moments will be evident throughout the approximately hourlong induction program.
The unveiling of the official 2020 Hall of Fame Induction will occur online on both OhioVets.gov and the Ohio Channel website, OhioChannel.org. See below for details.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
2020 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony
viewable at OhioVets.gov and OhioChannel.org
Thursday, November 5, 10:00 a.m.
The complete list of 2020 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Inductees follows:
Paul G. Butler, Navy, Clinton County
David W. Chilson*, Navy, Wood County
Richard D. Ellsworth, Army, Licking County
Timothy A. Espich, Army/OHARNG, Clark County
Kimberly D. Frisco, Air Force, Greene County
William C. Graybill, Army, Brown County
Glenn H. Grismere, Army, Warren County
Kenneth P. Jakubec, Marine Corps, Mahoning County
Thomas J. Jenks, Army, Cuyahoga County
James D. Kaster, Army, Cuyahoga County
Daniel R. Kirkpatrick, Air Force, Greene County
Babe Kwasniak, Army, Cuyahoga County
David C. Lange, Navy, Carroll County
Jane M. Lengel, Army/OHARNG, Franklin County
David G. Meyer, Ph.D., PE, Air Force, Montgomery County
Carolyn E. Nagy, Army, Lucas County
Connie Pillich, Air Force, Hamilton County
David M. Ridenour, Army, Wood County
James P. Schear, Navy, Stark County
Alan R. Wallace, Navy, Fairfield County
*Awarded posthumously
Bios for all 20 class members, additional information on the Hall of Fame and past inductees – able to be sorted by class, county, and alphabetically – can be found at OhioVets.gov.
The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame was established in 1992 by former Gov. George Voinovich to recognize outstanding professional achievement, service to the community, and selfless acts of veterans following their military service. Charter members of the Hall’s Class of 1992 include the six Ohio military veterans elected President of the United States and all Medal of Honor recipients from Ohio. Honorees include astronauts, volunteers, community leaders, safety officers, veteran advocates, and former government officials.
The Class of 2020 was chosen from among 136 nominations. The inductees, who range in age from 44 to 95, span 16 different Ohio counties and four major branches of the United States Armed Forces – the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. This year’s class joins 895 Ohio veterans who have been inducted since inception and represent all eras, branches of service, and walks of life.
More information is available at OhioVets.gov, or you can contact our department at HallOfFame@dvs.ohio.gov.
Posted by By Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
by Wayne Ohio | Jan 31, 2020 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OH, Jan. 31, 2020 — The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame is accepting nominations to recognize those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and continue to contribute to our communities, state, and nation through exceptional acts of volunteerism, advocacy, professional distinction, public service, or philanthropy.
Each year, the Hall of Fame inducts up to 20 former service members based on recommendations from an Executive Committee of veterans from throughout the state and approval from the Governor of Ohio.
To be considered, the veteran must meet the following criteria:
• Be a past or current Ohio resident
• Have received an honorable discharge
• Be of good moral character
This Hall of Fame sets the standard for recognizing Ohio’s veterans for accomplishments beyond their military service. In addition, it is a fitting way to say “thank you for your service to our nation and thank you for your continued service to our communities.” Chances are you know a veteran who deserves to be inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. You are encouraged to nominate that deserving veteran today.
The nomination deadline is June 1, 2020. Guidelines, a sample nomination, and more information are available at http://dvs.ohio.gov/main/veterans-hall-of-fame.html.
Useful links:
• Ohio Veterans HOF Nomination Form
• Ohio Veterans HOF Rules
• Ohio Veterans HOF Sample Nomination Form
• Ohio Veterans HOF 2019 Induction Ceremony
Posted by Dan Starcher, Public Communications Specialist for the Wayne County government.
