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How do I Apply for Veterans’ Assistance Fund?
What Is The Veterans' Assistance Fund?
Washington law requires each county to establish a fund for needy veterans and their families and the families of
deceased veterans. The law is at Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 73.08.010. You may hear it called the
"Veterans Assistance Fund" or "Veterans Relief."
What type of Assistance is Available?
It depends on what county you live in. Some counties provide direct cash assistance to pay for emergency needs
such as shelter, utilities, medical needs, or food. Others provide vouchers for specific needs. There are set limits
on the number of times per year that you can get assistance and the amount of cash help that you can get. The
limits also vary by county.
Am I Eligible For Veterans' Assistance?
You must be a veteran, or the widow/widower, spouse or domestic partner, or dependent children of an eligible
veteran. The criteria for eligibility are:
1. You must be indigent (in financial need); and
2. The veteran must have received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions;
and
3. The veteran must have served in at least one of the following capacities:
a. As a member in any branch of the armed forces of the U.S., including the national guard and armed
forces reserves, and has fulfilled his/her initial military service obligation;
b. As a member of the women's air forces service pilots;
c. As a member of the armed forces reserves, National Guard, or Coast Guard, and has been called into
federal service by a presidential select reserve call up for at least 180 days;
d. As a civil services crewmember with service aboard a U.S. army transport service or U.S. Naval
transportation service vessel in oceangoing service from December 7, 1941 through December 31,
1946;
e. As a member of the Philippine armed forces/scouts during the period of armed conflict from December
7, 1941 through August 15, 1945; or
f. As a U.S. documented merchant mariner with service aboard an oceangoing vessel operated by the
Department of Defense, or its agents, from both June 25, 1950, through July 27, 1953, in Korean
territorial waters and from August 5, 1964, through May 7, 1975, in Vietnam territorial waters, and who
received a military commendation.
State law no longer requires you to live in Washington for one year before you can get veterans' assistance.
Your county may have set its own minimum state and county residency requirements.
Dependent family members of a current member of the National Guard or armed forces reserves deployed to
serve in an armed conflict may also qualify for assistance if you meet the eligibility criteria.
How Do I Apply For Veterans’ Assistance Fund?
In most counties, the fund is administered by one or more veterans' service organizations (VSO) such as VFW,
American Legion, or D.A.V. Each county has its own plan. Where and how to apply varies. To find out how to
apply in your county, call the county government main office. Ask for the person who has the Veterans
Assistance Fund or Veterans Relief plan. Or, the County Veterans Coalition website at http://cvcwashington.org/
has application information for all Washington counties.
Often the service officers of the organizations can refer you to other sources of help in their own communities.
Current as of March 2013.
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