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Home ▸ Departments ▸ Veterans Service Center

Recent Figures and Statistics

Claim Work

In Fiscal Year 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made payments directly to Lake County Veterans or their Dependents in excess of $86.9 Million for Compensation and Pension (yes, including Aid & Attendance, sometimes referred to as the ‘little known benefit’). Overall, the VA spent more than $194.4 million for Veterans in Lake County, including $102.2 million for Healthcare alone. That is a lot, and the Veterans Service Commission (VSC) recognizes that its staff played a crucial role in securing a significant portion of those funds for our Veterans and Dependents.

In 2024, the staff filed more than 3,440 VA-prescribed forms and over 1,400 claims. The major claims included 572 for compensation, 204 Decision Review/Supplemental Claims, 61 Claims for DIC/Survivors Pension, 73 for Burial Benefits, 14 Pensions, and numerous healthcare-related forms. On the Appeals side, we filed 60 appeals directly with the Board of Veterans Appeals and 42 higher-level reviews.

Financial Assistance

20242023202220212020
Financial Assistance429,226267,339214,945205,118259,655.11
COVID Cash62,56041,303107,23900

Financial Assistance has been somewhat unusual since the COVID-19 pandemic. Lake County has trended very similarly to the rest of the counties in the state. Historically, the most Financial Assistance ever granted in one year was $749,998.51. Pre-COVID, in 2019, the Commission granted $577,885.11 in Financial Assistance, and then in March of 2020, “it” hit. Since then, applications dropped, but have started trending up again.

In 2024, the VSC approved 280 (out of 291) applications for Financial Assistance, totaling $429,226, with an additional $62,560 approved from the Federal Government’s Emergency Rental Assistance Programs. What we call COVID Cash was intended to prevent evictions. This program is now in its final stages for most agencies.

Burial Markers Flags

The Commission also provided 90 Gross of Burial Marker Flags to Lake County’s Veteran Organizations, as well as 7 Gross of smaller Parade Flags. This is a good time to point out that Burial Marker Flags should be used on Veterans’ graves, while the Parade Flags are, well, just that – ideally suited for waving at parades. The Commission is proud to assist with the flags. If your post has not received our letter regarding flags, please contact us.

Memorial Day Reimbursement

We have also reimbursed 8 Lake County Veteran Service Organizations for expenses associated with Memorial Day. All Congressionally Chartered Veteran Organizations are entitled to be reimbursed for up to $500 in costs associated with Memorial Day activities. This might be flags, flowers, or wreaths (sorry, no candy). Every Winter, we send the Memorial Day letter to each post, but only 8 of 24 posts responded with requests for reimbursement. If your post has not received this letter, please contact us.