Knox County (Ohio) Veterans Service Commission

Every Ohio county has a veterans service commission under Revised Code chapter 5901, which files VA claims and gives financial help to veterans and their families in need; see the Ohio entry for the rules. Knox's office is a county agency - "We are not affiliated with the Veterans Administration; we are an advocate for the veteran" - that has served the county for over twenty years, "with over 4,000 veterans living in our county". Claims. The office helps with service-connected compensation, widows' pensions, non-service-connected pensions, DIC, burial and headstone applications, service records and medal replacements (VA Form 180 through the National Personnel Records Center), and VA health care - it takes a veteran's Form 10-10EZ and submits it to the chosen VA clinic, with an eligibility letter in two to four weeks. Its pages carry checklists for the non-service-connected pension, the health-care application and the service-connected claim, and dependent-benefits pages for survivors pension, CH35, DIC and the caregiver programmes. At the Commissioners' February 12, 2026 meeting, executive director Kevin Henthorn reported the office averaging four appointments a day, 100 individuals assisted in 2025 for financial assistance, widows benefits or food and utility assistance, and two 12-to-15-year-old claims finally approved on appeal. Financial help. "Temporary financial assistance to qualifying veterans who meet the eligibility requirements", under sections 5901.02 to 5901.15, for "basic life necessity bills such as rent, mortgage, water, electric, heating and food". Eligibility asks 90 days of Knox County residency, qualifying service with a discharge under honorable conditions (or a VA-recognized service-connected disability), and demonstrated need - income, living expenses and liquid assets all weighed. Applicants meet financial coordinator Melissa Wheeler and bring 30 days of wages for all family members, receipts for bills paid over the past 30 days, current and past-due bills, the DD-214, children's birth certificates, a current bank statement and proof of any other agency's help; every application goes to the commissioners for approval, who meet the first and third Wednesday of each month. "There are no minimum or maximum levels established for financial assistance. Each application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis." Applicants physically able to work must be seeking it. The office posts landlord forms and a W-9 for landlords. Rides. Four vans take Knox County veterans to approved VA medical clinics in Cleveland, Sandusky, Columbus, Dayton, Chillicothe and Cincinnati; schedule the next week's ride by phone or in person, with several designated pickup points around the county (residence pickup only when a VA doctor's documentation requires it). Gas vouchers reimburse fuel for a VA appointment with proof; the office says "gas cards can be redeemed at any Shell Gas location", with no time limit, and inconsistent proof of appointments can suspend voucher privileges for a year. Burial and after. The office helps a widow, widower or dependants obtain grave markers and headstones for a veteran discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, and assists with what else is due survivors; Commissioner Lester thanked the office in February 2026 for "the tributes with burials, utility assistance and the educational information". Where and who. 105 E. Chestnut Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050; (740) 393-6742, fax (740) 393-6741, [email protected]; Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Executive Director and CVSO Kevin Henthorn (Air Force), Deputy Director and CVSO Vince Thompson (Army), Office Manager Alan Huffman (Army), transportation by Chris Thompson; the commissioners are Jerry Robison (AMVETS), Ken Lane (American Legion), Wilson Warner (VFW) and Colin Pack (Marine Corps), with recommendations to the Common Pleas judge from the Legion, the VFW, the DAV, AMVETS and a Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans compilation. The office's own county page notes the OhioMeansJobs Knox County center's veterans priority of service and on-site DVOP representative, and refers employment questions there. At the February 2026 update the office reported a soft spending freeze against the State's property-tax questions, an unfilled driver vacancy, 1,500 holiday hams distributed, and exploration of fund-retention and donation accounts for veterans homeless shelters. Its monthly newsletter's newest posted issue is December 2025.