San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs is the initial point of contact for veterans who seek benefits earned through their military service. Despite a challenging year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, department staff worked diligently for veterans and their families securing a variety of benefits, such as disability, compensation, VA pensions for wartime service, and college tuition/fee waivers.
Due to the hard work of Veteran Service Officers, San Bernardino County Department of Veterans Affairs ranked highest in the state of California for total new cash awards obtained in Fiscal Year 2020-21, with more than $45 million in new monetary benefits for veterans.
San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Legal Institute (VLI) have partnered to conduct Veterans Free Legal Clinics in Fiscal Year 2020-21. The purpose of the Veterans Free Legal Clinic is to provide outreach for transitioning service members, veterans (including those attending California Community Colleges), and their families to remove legal barriers preventing access to or maintenance of mental and physical health care, and empowering veterans and their families to realize their potential for full, self-sufficient, and connected lives.
In 2021, San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs and VLI were able to serve 216 veterans as of December 31, 2021. Thirty percent of VLI clients were served through its mobile clinics, with requests including veterans benefits, estate planning, housing, family law, consumer law, and expungements. Ages ranged from 19 to 103 with an average of 51 years of age. And quality of life was improved for over 350 dependent children.
Having access to legal advocates during the COVID-19 pandemic has been life-changing and life-saving for veterans who have been experiencing even greater levels of anxiety, confusion, and isolation from the complications of losing income, confusion with eviction protections, interruptions to healthcare, court and government agency closures, and more.
These veterans have been at increased risk of homelessness, hopelessness, and suicide. VLI is halfway through its second successful year in partnership with San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs.
Clinics are booked several months in advance. VLI has managed over 572 matters for San Bernardino County veterans to date.
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