There is an important Veteran Resource Fair on Friday, August 9, 1-3 p.m. at the Salem Senior Center, 1705 N. Shelby St. The fair is free to the public.
The event is organized by Brian Morgan of the CLLB Law Firm. Morgan is a paralegal and former retired U.S. Air Force Security Forces. He is also the director of Advocate Training and Recruiting at Vulnerable Adult Care Advocates (VACA).
There will be over 40 vendors that are ready to support the veterans, including a range of items from medical to mental health. This also includes avenues for help around the home and stipend for helping veterans.
The VA website posted, “Wartime veterans and their surviving spouses, 65 years and older, may be entitled to a tax-free benefit called Aid and Attendance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Out of 19,162,515 veterans in the USA, less than 5% are getting benefits. Most are unaware that these benefits exit. And many are denied by the VA for small errors.”
Listed on the site is that a veteran may qualify for $2300; surviving spouse, $1478; married vet, $ 2727; and two married veterans, $3649, per month. To qualify the veteran’s net worth must be under $155,356. Wage income is calculated in that sum. This excludes house, car, and up to two acres.
To be eligible, veterans must have an honorable discharge or received a qualifying discharge. The veteran must have served during war time, WW2, Korean Conflict, Vietnam (Boots on the ground) August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 for veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam. Gulf War (August 2, 1990, through a future date to be set by law or presidential proclamation.
If you have a group that can help and support the veterans there is still time to join as a vendor. Email