SIGN OF THE TIMES: VETS' SERVICES DIRECTOR SEES

MORE REQUESTS FOR HELP -- "They are all turning to

this office to find out what other benefits are available."

All "Sign of the Times" articles are here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/signofthetimes.htm

Story here... http://www.enterprisenews
.com/news/x123570784/Whitman-veterans-se
rvices-director-seeing-more-requests-for-help

Story below:

Your comments accepted at bottom of page.

Share story/email link.
-------------------------

Whitman veterans services director seeing more requests for help

Selectmen add $10K to veterans services budget

By Allan Stein
ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT

WHITMAN — Veterans Services Director Jerry Eaton said he is seeing an increase in the number of veterans seeking benefits through his office as a result of a weakening economy.

“The trend is definitely up. Some have been out of work due to the economy. Some are veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who have been unable to find employment,” Eaton said.

Other applicants are seniors who are facing hard times, he said.

“They are all turning to this office to find out what other benefits are available,” Eaton said.

Recently, the selectmen approved Eaton’s request for $10,189 in reserve funds to supplement his depleted $115,000 budget until May 1.

Eaton said he will request an additional $20,000 at town meeting on May 4. The money would be enough to meet the department’s needs until the end of the fiscal year, June 30, he said.

Eaton said that in some cases, applicants for veterans benefits are people who walked away from a job to serve their country, only to return and find the job market in a shambles.

“For somebody that volunteers, that’s a different situation. They will walk away from a job and do not have the re-employment rights. Some are unemployed when they go,” Eaton said.

                            click for more information -- a disabled veteran owned business

-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
-------------------------

-------------------------
Please post your comments below on Google Friend Connect.  You must sign in.  For larger view and work area, click blue "expand" button in upper right corner of comment box.

-------------------------

Don't forget to read all of today's VA News Flashes (click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
(go back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page)