Benefits
215 Straight NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone: (616) 336-3492
Fax: (616) 336-4193
Benefit Eligbility
The term "war-time era" refers to service between certain dates that have been established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
For this office to help a veteran or their spouse; the veteran must have at least one day of active military service during the dates listed below and a honorable discharge. This service cannot be for training with the National Guard or Reserve but must be active duty service.
| Wars and Dates | |
|---|---|
| WORLD WAR II: | December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 |
| KOREAN CONFLICT: | June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955 |
| VIETNAM ERA: | February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 |
| PERSIAN GULF ERA: | August 2, 1990 to (No End Date Yet) |
|
Individuals holding Expeditionary Force Medals may qualify for service between the listed dates. If you have any questions or need to schedule a appointment please call (616) 336-3492. |
|
Honorably discharged, war-time veterans and their families are assisted by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs through the following services:
Burial Assistance
Act 235 of 1911 requires the Kent County Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office to provide assistance with burial expense for honorably discharged wartime veterans and their spouses who are residents of Kent County.
The County will pay up to $300.00 of burial expenses for a veteran or their spouse if they have less than $40,000.00 in assets and if the spouse is applying for assistance for a spouse's burial. Anyone else who applies for burial assistance for a veteran or spouse has an asset limit of the cost of the funeral. Exempt from both applications' asset limits are the value of the home the veteran lives in and any life insurance payable to an individual. The Burial Allowance Application must be filled out in duplicate and signed by the mortician.
Veterans Administration Markers
All veterans are eligible for a free Veterans Administration Grave Marker if they died on or after December 27, 2001. Prior to that date, markers could only be given to those veterans with unmarked graves.
If there is a placement cost for the marker and the Kent County Department of Veteran’s Affairs has assisted with burial expenses, then the person that pays for the VA Marker placement is entitled to a reimbursement of up to $80.00.
Fort Custer National Cemetery
All veterans and their spouses are eligible for free burial at the Fort Custer National Cemetery. You can receive more information by calling (269) 731-4164.
Emergency Needs Assistance
The Kent County Department of Veteran’s Affairs has a limited amount of emergency needs funds. These funds are available to give veterans temporary aid. They are not meant to correct recurring or chronic financial problems.
Any assistance provided by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs can not be given more than once in every six month nor repeated more than six times in a 36-month period.
The following areas have been designated by the Kent County Department of Veteran’s Affairs for emergency assistance:
- Grocery voucher.
- Payment to prevent a utility shutoff.*
- One month's rent payment to prevent a court ordered eviction.*
- Payment to restore telephone service on a limited basis for veteran's with a doctor's order.*
The veteran must provide proof of ability to pay expenses in the future. For the first month's rent benefit, the rent cannot be more than 40% of monthly income.
* Veteran with more than six months of wartime service must first apply with Michigan Veterans Trust Fund for a determination concerning shelter related emergencies.
Other Veterans' Services in Kent County
VA Outpatient Clinic
3019 Coit NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 365-9575
Veterans Outreach Center
1940 Eastern SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 243-0385
Health Care for Homeless Veterans
349 S Division
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 234-0220
Michigan Home for Veterans
3000 Monroe NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 364-5389
Emergency Needs for Veterans
Michigan Veterans Trust Fund
3000 Monroe NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 365-3899
Veteran must have six months of wartime service. Please call first.
