SERVING

Those That

SERVED

Pennsylvania State Benefits

Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements
Pennsylvania veterans who served in the Armed Forces, including active duty, Guard, and Reserves, in the Middle East in support of the Persian Gulf conflict may be eligible for the Persian Gulf Veteran’s Benefit Program.  Eligible members must have served anytime from August 2, 1990 to August 31, 1991, and must have been awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Veterans must either still be on active duty or have received an Honorable Discharge to be eligible for this award.

      

   

   

   

   

    

    

     

       

     

Veterans who are not eligible: Active duty service members, veterans or their surviving beneficiaries may not be eligible for the Persian Gulf Veteran’s Benefit Program, if they have received a bonus, gratuity, or similar form of compensation from another state, if the active duty service member or veteran has renounced his or her US citizenship, or separated from the Armed Forces under less than Honorable conditions.

   

Survivors claims. Surviving relatives may also be eligible for this bonus if the military veteran is deceased or is deemed incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction. Eligible beneficiaries of deceased veterans include, in the following in order of precedence:

  • Surviving spouse.
  • Surviving children.
  • Surviving parents.

   

If declared incompetent, the order of precedence is: Court-appointed guardian, spouse, children, parents, facility.

How to Claim the Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus

Veterans and active duty military members must provide documentation to prove they received the Southwest Asia Service Medal and were Pennsylvania residents at the time they were awarded the medal.

   

   

   

   

   

    

   

    

      

     

Required information:

  • Proof of  Southwest Asia Medal: Veterans must provide a copy of their DD Form 214 (Member-4 copy) documenting receipt of the Southwest Asia Service Medal during specified time periods and a discharge under Honorable conditions. If still active duty, must show official documentation proving receipt of Southwest Asia Service Medal.
  • Proof of Pennsylvania Residency at Time of Award. Proof of residency can include listing Pennsylvania as home of record on DD Form 214, voter’s registration records, Leave and Earnings Statements, State tax return, driver’s license from the specified time period, or W2 Wage and tax statement from the time frame.
  • Proof of relationship if claiming on behalf of another individual.  Documents could include a marriage certificate (for spouse to make claim), birth certificate (for child to make claim), veteran’s birth certificate (for parents to make claim), or a Proof or authorization for a representative to make a claim.
  • Other: Death certificate, if applicable, or DD 1300 or Veterans Affairs Rating Decision if applicable.

    

   

   

   

   

     

     

   

   

     

     

Application form: Applications for the Persian Gulf Veteran’s Benefit Program must be made on an official application form, PG-1. A short form (PG-1 Short) is available for veterans filing on their own behalf, of a long version (PG-1 Long) is available for persons filing on behalf of a veteran who is deceased or incapacitated. You can find these forms at the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs application page.

      

   

   

   

    

    

   

    

   

     

         

Completed applications and supporting documents should be mailed to:

  

Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Program
P.O. Box 1109
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1109

    

Tax Exemption

Veteran Affairs (VA) offices across Pennsylvania offer several benefits for disabled veterans. One of those benefits is the tax exemption program.  Veterans with disabilities that show they need financial aid have to file paperwork at their VA office requesting property tax relief.

Disabled veterans that have been approved for tax exemption will be reevaluated every five years while on the program to see if they go over the $92,594 (2019) threshold for income.

  

If a veteran dies while benefiting from tax exemption, it doesn't go away. His or her spouse will keep receiving those benefits.

   

Any veteran needing assistance locating their military documentation can count on assistance from the DMVA by calling toll-free 800-547-2838 or e-mailing: RA-REQ@pa.gov.

     

Download Direcorty of Pennsylvania Veterans Service Officers

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Emergency Funds In Jefferson County & Surrounding Areas

   

The Jefferson County Veterans Affairs Office assists veterans and eligible dependents in applying for federal, state and county benefits. The office advocates for veterans and assist with all aspects of applying for benefits.  Additionally, the office may refer veterans and dependents to other federal, state, county agencies and organizations that might further assist them in solving their problems or answering their questions.  The office provides free transportation to VA medical facilities for veterans, through a county DAV program.  The office also provides emergency funds to veterans in need of help.  For veterans in Jefferson county Pennsylvania and surrounding areas who need emergency funding please use form below.

Brush-up Our Veterans

Brush-up Our Veterans, an initiative of the Veterans & Military Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, is now accepting applications for its second year. It’s looking to spread the word, and I’m glad to help.

   

Brush-up Our Veterans assists honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses in Lehigh and Northampton counties who are disabled or age 60 and older. The program is designed for homeowners who don’t have the physical ability to paint, don’t have relatives to do the work for them and cannot afford to hire a painter. Homes must be structurally sound and smaller than two stories.

    

To apply for the Brush-up Our Veterans program, contact Alison Pickel at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, 610-739-1512 or alisonp@lehighvalleychamber.org. 

               

Request A Van

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) announced February 21, 2023, that its Mobile Veterans Outreach Vans are available throughout the state to assist veterans in obtaining information and initiating benefit claim paperwork through the assistance of DMVA accredited veteran service officers. 

      

In order to request a van for your event, please complete the Van Request Form and submit it six months but not less than 45 days prior to your event.. Every effort will be made to fulfill your organization's request; however, due to demand we cannot guarantee every request. If alternate dates are available, please indicate this on the form.
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