Jackson County Veteran Services Office

Jackson County's Veteran Services Office is staffed by a Veterans Service Officer whom the County describes as a trained and accredited advocate. Missouri has no statute requiring a county veterans service officer, so this is the County's own office; the Missouri Veterans Commission's service officers also cover the county (see the Missouri entry). What it does. The office works one-on-one with veterans, dependents and survivors to explain benefits, prepare and submit claims, gather supporting evidence and advocate on the claimant's behalf. It lists VA disability compensation, veterans and survivors pension (including the income and eligibility rules), VA health care enrollment and referral to VA facilities, the GI Bill and other education programmes, appeals, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, burial and survivor benefits, and Missouri benefits such as property tax programmes and veteran plates. It also refers veterans to community help with jobs, housing, mental health, emergency money, food, transport and crisis services, and does outreach to veteran and civic groups and employers. All of it is free and confidential. Contact Robert Gowens, Veterans Service Officer ([email protected]), at the Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Room G13, Kansas City (816-881-1602).