Howard County Veterans Service Office

Indiana requires every county to employ an accredited veterans service officer (IC 10-17-1-9; see the Indiana entry). Howard County's page: "The Howard County Veterans Office provides free benefit claims counseling along with information and referral assistance to veterans, their dependents and survivors. WE CAN HELP YOU: Questions regarding your entitlement to State and Federal Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits (DVA); Filing your benefit claim paperwork; Understanding DVA decisions and assisting with follow-up actions; Information and assistance with Health Care Eligibility and Vocational Rehabilitation." Who and where. The State's service officer locator lists Dale Truax (service officer), Jim Clark (assistant) and Cathy Dedman (secretary) at the Howard County Veterans Service Office, 220 North Main Street, Room 220, Kokomo, Monday to Friday 8:00 to 4:00, (765) 456-2511, fax (765) 456-7002. The county's own page gives Room 101 and labels the same number for "Non Emergency after hours calls", and the Recorder's DD214 sheet sends people to Room 220; call before going. Email [email protected]. The office's year. On May 18, 2026 the Department of Veterans Affairs' district service officer presented the office's accreditation under Senate Bill 435 to the Commissioners and called it "one of the best in the state". On September 21, 2026 the Commissioners recognized the office's James Clark, with the Coroner's office, for arranging a dignified funeral for a Howard County veteran who had no next of kin. The 2027 budget drafts keep a service officer, an assistant office manager and a receptionist. What the pages have wrong. The Veteran Services page still announces the office's closure for the November 7, 2024 stand down. Its resources page links "Certificate of Eligibility Disabled Veteran Tax Deduction", State Form 51186 at its November 2013 revision, which prints the Department's old 302 West Washington Street address and cites IC 6-1.1-12-13, the deduction that ended with the 2025 assessment date. The Department now says State Form 51186 "is no longer used". File State Form 12662 with the County Auditor by January 15, 2027 for taxes due in 2027; a totally disabled veteran who had the old $14,000 deduction must file again to get the new 100% deduction, or the county applies only the $250 credit. The Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs says State Form 51186 "is no longer used", and the service officer can complete the form's Section VIII certificate. See the Indiana entries on the 100 percent deduction and the $350 and $250 credits.