YORK COUNTY, S.C. - The York County Veterans' Affairs Office launched the beginning of a series of training opportunities and forums designed to educate local leaders of Veterans Organizations on the eligibility standards for various Veterans benefits.  The first session kicked off on January 21, 2021, and focused on Planning Your Legacy, a topic designed to help inform Veterans and their loved ones on Veterans Affairs benefits available to their survivors. 

Matthew Webb, a York County VA Veterans Service Representative provided the instruction.  The attendees included Leaders from State Chapter of Rolling Thunder, local Chapter 1 Rolling Thunder, DAV District Leader, VFW District Leader, representation from American Legion Post 34 Auxiliary, spouses of deceased Veterans, and representation from both Right at Home In Home Care & Assistance and from Winthrop University Social Work Program. 

The attendees were hand-picked to test this forum and their feedback confirmed the need to provide this information to a wider population of York County Veterans and their families. The York County Veterans' Affairs Office intends to designate a topic per month to ensure all Veterans in York County are both registered for Veterans services and understand eligibility standards for a myriad of benefits offered by Veterans Affairs.

The training was modeled from the Veterans Affairs topics consistent with the VA’s Survivors and Burial Benefits Kit. Access the link below for more information.

https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/docs/factsheets/Planning_Legacy_Booklet.pdf