Wayne County (Pennsylvania) Veteran's Affairs

Wayne County's Department of Veteran's Affairs is the office every Pennsylvania county must have: a director of veterans affairs appointed by the county (16 Pa.C.S. 15524). See the Pennsylvania entry on county directors for the State programmes that go through it. The county's page: the office "assists veterans and their dependants with claims and issues before the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs or the State Veteran's agencies intervene. This office is fully accredited by the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs." What it does. Services & Benefits: benefits advocacy for veterans "having difficulty obtaining the full benefits and services to which they are entitled by law", VA education benefits, VA life insurance, the county burial allowances (its own entry), and VA disability compensation, pension, survivors' benefits and health care. "Fees: Free. How To Apply: Call or walk in to apply." It also issues the county Veterans Discount Program card (its own entry). Who and where. Director Frank Araujo ([email protected]), with part-time Veterans Services Officer Jessica Stiff, hired January 29, 2026 and raised on becoming a certified service officer in April 2026. The county's page gives 926 Court Street, side door facing the courthouse, Honesdale, PA 18431; 570-253-5970 ext. 3114, fax 855-975-2599; Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., "To avoid excessive wait times, please call for an appointment." The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' directors list (September 9, 2026) gives 929-Rear Court Street and a fax of 570-253-7278, and the Discount Program page still gives the office's old address, 314 10th Street; call before going in. The year. At the Commissioners' meeting of February 12, 2026, the Director reported 460 calls in his first six months against 146 before he started, and 109 new cases opened in 2025 against 41 in 2024; he said of the county's roughly 4,000 veterans "only about 1,000 are currently being served", and that reaching the rest is his goal. In September 2026 he joined the county's suicide prevention team "to bring a veteran aspect to the program".