Mason County Veterans' Assistance Fund and Veterans' Advisory Board

The Veterans' Assistance Fund is Mason County's programme under chapter 73.08 RCW (see the Washington entry on county veterans' assistance funds), paid from the levy the commissioners set under RCW 73.08.080 and run under the Veterans' Advisory Board Operating Policy and Procedures, last amended by Resolution 2026-036 on August 18, 2026. Who. A veteran with an honourable discharge, a general discharge under honourable conditions or an other than honourable (administrative) discharge, who served the initial obligation, or a reservist or Guard member called to federal service for at least 180 cumulative days; and the spouse or domestic partner, surviving spouse or partner and dependent children. The household's gross income after taxes and medical premiums must be "at or below 150% of the poverty guidelines" (an applicant above it may still qualify in an emergency), with income verified from the last twelve months, and the applicant must have lived in Mason County at least 90 days (hotel receipts for a continuous 90-day stay count). Accepted proof of service includes a DD-214 or DD-215, discharge certificates, NGB-22, DD-256 and a VA health ID card with secondary proof. What it pays. Up to $2,400 a year toward rent or mortgage (first, last, deposit, move-in or move-out), electric, water, natural gas and sewer bills, necessity items ($200 single, $300 married, plus $100 a dependant), firewood or propane, clothing, fuel and a one-time State ID, by check to the vendor, with no cash back and no alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets. A catastrophic event - sudden illness or injury, uninsured loss of a home or vehicle, sudden loss of housing - can bring up to $2,000 once in a lifetime, and "A Veteran does not need to be defined as indigent to be eligible for catastrophic funds." Burial or cremation help for an indigent veteran runs from $300 to $2,400 (RCW 73.08.070), on top of the yearly limit, with a death certificate and the funeral home's invoice. The fund does not replace other assistance or pay routinely; after five years of use, further requests go to the board. Requests are approved by a Veterans Service Officer, with final approval by the commissioners. How. Make an appointment with a Veterans Service Officer: Memorial Hall, 210 W Franklin Street, Shelton (360-426-4546), Tuesday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; or the Crossroads North Building, 140 NE State Route 300, Belfair (360-552-2303), Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring proof of service, residence and income. A denial or a red-flagged file can be appealed in writing to the board within 15 days. The board. Ten members, two each from the American Legion, the VFW, the 40 et 8 and the DAV and two at-large county veterans, meet at 8:45 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month (except December) at Memorial Hall. The board may also spend up to $4,000 a year on necessities such as tents, sleeping bags, boots and rain gear for events serving indigent veterans. The limits rose from $1,800 a year and $1,600 for burial (Resolution 2023-007) to the current figures in 2025, and on August 4, 2026 the commissioners raised the fund's imprest checking account to $25,000 to keep up.