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    DMVA Assists Veterans With More Than $1 Billion in Claims for 2024, Stresses Importance of Having Military Paperwork in Order

    For the second year in a row, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) helped veterans secure more than $1 billion in compensation and pension benefits earned through their service. Benefits have expanded in recent years, including the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, making it even more important for veterans to connect with DMVA and receive the benefits they have earned while in uniform.

    “With the passing of the PACT law two years ago, reaching and signing up eligible veterans for their benefits has been a top priority,” said Executive Director of Veterans Programs Keith Graham. “We are grateful to our community partners who have helped us to reach this milestone and assure that veterans and their families are appropriately compensated.”

    Graham said that DMVA could not have assisted so many veterans if their military paperwork was not in order.

    “Veterans having their military paperwork readily available makes the claims process so much quicker and easier,” said Graham. “If for some reason a veteran cannot find their paperwork, they can reach out to our office for assistance in locating their military documents, especially the DD-214 discharge form.”

    DMVA’s website provides information on how veterans can obtain a copy of their DD-214 and other service-related paperwork.

     

    DMVA Applauds Shapiro Administration Announcement Making More Veterans Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates

    More veterans and their families are now eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), as of Dec. 30, 2024. The change, part of Act 137 of 2024, expands the veteran fee waiver for applications to include all veterans who were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable.

    Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies are now available for most veterans.

    “The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs appreciates the efforts of the Department of Health in providing this invaluable service to veterans and their families,” said Executive Director of Veterans Programs Keith Graham.

    For more information, please visit the DOH website.