ADOPTED - OCTOBER 28, 2008

Agenda Item No. 12

Introduced by the Human Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Resolution defining indigent veterans

and the services provided to them UNDER PA 214 OF 1899

RESOLUTION #08-295

WHEREAS, PA 214 of 1899 provides for the relief outside of the soldiers’ home for honorably discharged indigent soldiers, sailors, marines, nurses and members of women’s auxiliaries and the indigent wives, widows and minor children of such indigent or deceased soldiers, sailors, marines, nurses, and members of women’s auxiliaries; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County has a veterans population of 17,368; and

WHEREAS, the recent redeployments of units from Iraq and Afghanistan coupled with the aging of all era veterans has resulted in an increase of 27% in active cases over the last five years; and

WHEREAS, 75% of the Ingham County Veterans served by the Veterans Affairs Office meet the criteria for the VA Means Test; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners intends to implement a millage of .0302 mills to fund services for indigent veterans; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County Department of Veterans Affairs Committee has determined that the VA Means Test for Free Health Care will be used to determine if a veteran is considered indigent for the purposes of services provided by PA 214 of 1899; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County Department of Veterans Affairs Committee has determined that all indigent veterans and their dependents will receive services including but not limited to counseling, assistance in the completion, filing, and monitoring of all federal, state, and county benefits such as disability compensation, disability pension, emergency financial assistance, health care, death benefits, home loan guaranty, education, insurance, vocational rehabilitation, death benefits, and survivors’ benefits.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that for the purpose of providing services to indigent Ingham County Veterans under PA 214 of 1899, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners defines an indigent veteran by the VA Means Test for Free VA Health Care.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Ingham County’s indigent veteran population and their dependents will receive services including but not limited to counseling, assistance in the completion, filing, and monitoring of all federal, state, and county benefits such as disability compensation, disability pension, emergency financial assistance, health care, death benefits, home loan guaranty, education, insurance, vocational rehabilitation, death benefits, and survivors’ benefits.

HUMAN SERVICES:  Yeas:  Bahar-Cook, Hertel, Soule, Severino, Dougan

      Nays: None             Absent:  Schor        Approved 10/20/08