Allegheny County: Applying for Veterans' Temporary Assistance

Veterans' Temporary Assistance is the State's grant for a financial emergency; see the Pennsylvania entry. In Allegheny County the application goes through Veterans Services, whose accredited representative completes the certification the State's form requires. Send it to Allegheny County Veteran Services, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222, or [email protected], or call 412-621-4357 for help. What to send. A DD-214, DD-256, NGB-22 (covering the full first enlistment) or DD-1300; proof of Pennsylvania residence, such as a driver's license or three utility bills; every source of household income; full current bank statements for every account; and documents showing what the money is for and why it cannot be paid otherwise. A surviving spouse adds the marriage licence and death certificate. Where the county narrows the statute. The county's page says that "disabled veterans may be able to receive temporary aid". 51 Pa.C.S. 8501 defines an eligible veteran as one who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable after active duty other than for training, or who died in service, or who has a service-connected disability: three alternatives, and the first needs no disability at all. A veteran with no rating who meets the need test qualifies. A second narrowing comes from the State's own form, which the county uses: it asks for a discharge "Under Honorable Conditions". The statute says "other than dishonorable". A veteran with an other than honorable discharge that VA has found not to bar benefits should ask the office to put the statute's test in front of the Department. The need test. The applicant must show an immediate need for the necessities of living caused by something beyond their control, that other money or help is not available, and that household income from every adult in the home cannot cover it. The county page adds that a recently widowed spouse may qualify because of the loss of the veteran's income. Assistance is capped per twelve-month period.