Department Service and Rehabilitation Office
Office Hours and Location:
The American Legion Department of Indiana Service and Rehabilitation Office is located at the federal building in Indianapolis. Address:
The American Legion Department Service and Rehabilitation Office Room 325
575 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Except for holidays and during special Legion events, this office is open each Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 4:00 PM. Appointments are necessary for client visits. You may contact the Department Service Office by calling 317-916-3605; calling a long distance toll free number of 1-888-723-7999, extension 3; faxing us at 317-226-6645; or by using the following e-mail address: vsohickj@va.gov.
Services:
Veterans Benefits Information: The service department conducts veterans benefits seminars at the request of American Legion posts throughout the State of Indiana. We also assist with providing veterans benefits information at other gatherings, such as, at county veterans benefits seminars, department conferences, and events sponsored by the VA, the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, or other veterans organizations. The department service office also publishes and distributes monthly Service and Legislative Update reports to Legion posts, county veterans service officers, and interested veterans employment representatives. We also offer individual veterans benefits advice.
{Monthly Service and Legislative Update Link Service and Legislative Update
{VA Burial & Memorial Services Link http://www.cem.va.gov/}
{Compensation and Pension Link http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.htm}
{VA Education Benefits Link http://www.gibill.va.gov/}
{VA Home Loan Guaranty Link http://www.homeloans.va.gov/}
{Government Life Insurance Link http://www.insurance.va.gov/}
{VA Internet Homepage Link http://www.va.gov/}
{VA Veterans Benefits Administration Homepage http://www.vba.va.gov/}
{VA Fact Sheets http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/index.htm}
{VA On-Line Applications http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp}
{VA Forms Homepage http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms1.htm}
{VA Vocational Rehabilitation http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm}
{Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs Homepage http://www.in.gov/veteran/facts/}
Claims Representation: The American Legion Department Service Office provides claims representation for veterans and their dependents when and after filing VA benefit claims. Our fulltime claims office staff of five employees in Indianapolis is complimented with the assistance of a department field service officer at the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center (Harold Brubaker: 260-426-5431, extension 1171, Room 184) and more than 400 volunteer veterans service officers at American Legion posts throughout the State. The Legion’s department service office also works closely with county veterans service officers.
American Legion post service officers are often the veteran’s first contact. Although not claims representatives, post service officers provide veterans information about their possible entitlements. Post service officers then refer those veterans either to a local county veterans service officer or the Legion’s department service office in Indianapolis for claims filing assistance. Many veterans receive benefits that they would not have know about if not for active American Legion post service officers.
Once the Legion’s Department Service Office receives a claim, the claim is checked for accuracy and filed with the VA regional office. The department service office then tracks the processing of the claim. Accredited department service officers review each VA action and decision for correctness so Legion clients can receive all the benefits they are entitled. Although VA adjudicators attempt to make correct decisions, the complexities of veterans law and regulations combined with the amount of accumulated evidence do not always make this possible on the first attempt. VA claimants may therefore seek the representation of accredited American Legion department service officers. In addition to tracking the claims and ensuring correct decisions, American Legion department service officers offer advice concerning what evidence is necessary to win those claims. They also assist veterans at VA appeal hearings and provide written appeal briefs to the Board of Veterans Appeals when necessary.
{American Legion, Department of Indiana e-mail address: vsohickj@.va.gov}
{American Legion, Department Service Office Claimant/Representative Policy Statement}
{County Veterans Service Officers List http://www.in.gov/dva/2875.htm}
Post Service Officer Training: Many veterans and their dependents would never know to file for VA benefits if not for well trained American Legion post service officers. That is why the department service office offers post service officer training seminars at the request of American Legion posts or districts. We also conduct annual post service officers training sessions at the department’s fall conference each January.
The department service office also provides a home study field service officer’s training course for post service officers, county veterans service officers, or anyone interested in veterans service work. The link to the study manual and workbook & test is shown below. Anyone may obtain a field service officers certification of completion by reading the study manual, and completing and returning the workbook & test to the American Legion Department Service Office:
To order the following items please email vsohickj@vba.va.gov
The American Legion Field Service Officer Training Manual
The American Legion Department of Indiana Field Service Officer Workbook and Test
Veterans Service Officers Training Registration Form for Post Service Officers at The American Legion Mid-Winter Conference
Veterans Administration Volunteer Services (VAVS) and the Legion’s Rehabilitation (Rehab) Program: The Department Service and Rehabilitation Office helps coordinate Legion volunteer services at VA Medial Centers, Vet Centers, and Community Based out-patient clients. Legion Rehab volunteers also visit non-VA nursing homes, and the Indiana Veterans Home. Each of the Legion’s eleven (11) districts have Rehab volunteers. Those volunteers also recruit other American Legion volunteers that help visit and provide comfort items to veterans visited at each facility. Funding for the Rehab Program is made possible by donations to The American Legion Department of Indiana. The Department Service & Rehabilitation Office oversees and documents the proper use of those funds. Many Legion posts and districts also contribute directly to their local Rehab activities.
{VA Volunteer Services http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/volsvcfs.html }
Donations to the Rehab Fund can be with a check payable to The American Legion Department of Indiana marked Rehab Fund Donation. Address:
The American Legion Department of Indiana
Attention, Comptroller’s office
Rehab Fund Donation
777 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Veterans Legislation: Veterans services also involve keeping Legion posts officials and members in Indiana aware of important federal and state veterans legislative issues. Our monthly Service & Legislative Update therefore often provides information concerning current veterans legislative issues important to Indiana veterans. The Service & Legislative Update will also bring attention to veterans’ benefits and services problems that have not yet been but should be deal with through the legislative process. This gives Legion posts and members information for contacting their elected public officials concerning pending veterans legislative issues. It also offers Legion posts and members information for developing new American Legion veterans service resolutions when believed necessary for maintaining and improving veterans services and benefits.
{Monthly Service and Legislative Update Link Service and Legislative Update
{ State of Indiana Legislative Service Link Concerning Veterans Issues
{Indiana General Assembly Legislator Link
http://www.in.gov/legislative/legislators/ }
{US Senate and Representative Search
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/directory/directory.dbq?command=congdir}
{Veterans Bills in Congress
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issuesaction/billlist/?keyword=veterans&submit.x=11&submit.y=9}
Direct Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) and Emergency Assistance Fund Grants (EAF): The Department Service and Rehabilitation Office processes applications for limited direct financial assistance to veterans and their families when other sources are not enough. The Legion will consider paying such expenses as past due rent, mortgage and utilities when a Legion member and/or his family faces a desperate financial need due to no fault of their own. Legion members are asked to first seek assistance at their posts and then ask the post commander or service officer to contact the American Legion Department Service Office if the post cannot assist or if additional financial assistance is necessary. The veteran must provide supporting documentation, and payment is made to the provider of services not directly to the veteran or his family.
{More American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance Information Link http://www.legion.org/activeduty/index.php?content=ad_financialassist}
{Temporary Financial Assistance Donation Information Link http://www.legion.org/?section=community&subsection=com_tfa&content=com_tfa}
Veterans Employment Awards: The Department Service and Rehabilitation Office helps publicize and coordinate the Legion’s veterans employer and employment service awards program.
The Legion provides certificates of appreciation and recognition to employers having an outstanding record in hiring and retaining veterans. Each year the Indiana Department of The American Legion may provide one employer award each for small companies with 50 or fewer employees, medium sized companies with work forces of 51 to 200, and large companies with 201 or more employees.
Employers may also receive American Legion awards for hiring and retaining older workers and disabled workers.
The American Legion also provides certificates of appreciation to recognize and honor outstanding local veterans employment representatives, disabled veterans outreach program specialists, and local job service officers.
American Legion posts should send their completed nomination applications to the Department Service and Rehabilitation Office by December 15th of each year. The service department then sends copies of the application to each member of the department veterans employment committee. The employment committee selects the winning nomination at the department mid-winter conference, and awards are then given each year at the American Legion Department of Indiana Convention.
Veterans Employment Representatives http://www.in.gov/dwd/files/vetdirectory_02-11-08.pdf
{The Employer of Veterans Award Application: http://www.legion.org/pdf/veteranaward.pdf}
{The Employer of the Disabled Award Application:
http://www.legion.org/pdf/disabledaward.pdf}
{The Employer of Older Workers Award Application:
http://www.legion.org/pdf/olderaward.pdf}
{Employment Service Awards Application:
http://www.legion.org/pdf/serviceawards.pdf}
Homeless Veterans Assistance Program for Homeless Shelters: The American Legion Department of Indiana Service and Rehabilitation Office also administers the Homeless Veterans Assistance Program for Homeless Shelters. This program will award $50.00 each time a documented not-for-profit shelter in the State of Indiana provides a homeless veteran lodging and shelter for at least two nights. As of August 1, 2003, cumulative awards to an individual homeless shelter between August 1 and July 31 of each year cannot exceed $500. The veteran must provide a copy of his or her DD Form 214 showing discharge from active duty service under conditions other than dishonorable. The American Legion Department of Indiana will provide the $50.00 award to the homeless shelter organization. We will issue no more than one award under this program to any one shelter for services to any one veteran between August 1 and July 31 of each year. The homeless organization may, though, be awarded as many as 10 individual $50 grants between August 1 and July 31 of each year. To apply, the homeless shelter organization must complete the “Homeless Veterans Service Certification” application and return it to the American Legion Department of Indiana Service and Rehabilitation Office. An official of the homeless shelter must sign the application, and so must the veteran receiving services. The application must have a copy of the veteran’s DD form 214 attached. The homeless shelter must also attach a copy of an official document showing its not-for-profit tax status with the first application filed between August 1 and July 31 each year. This program has limited funding and funds will be distributed on a first-come-first-service basis. If an application is rejected due to lack of funding, the homeless organization may apply again for services provided after July 31 of each year. No funds will be paid under this program for services provided veterans prior to the establishment date of the program – August 1, 1998. Also, this program will not provide funding after July 31 of each year for services provide before August 1 of that year if the application was not received at the American Legion Department Service Office before August 1. The American Legion Department of Indiana’s Director of Rehabilitation has full discretion for approval or rejection of award applications. This program was initiated under the leadership of 1997-1998 Department Commander Richard R. Quattrin. Funding is possible through donations made to The American Legion Department of Indiana Rehabilitation Fund.
{ HOMELESS VETERANS SERVICE CERTIFICATION form for program application year August 1, 2003 through July 31, 2004}
American Legion Veterans Healthcare Issues: The American Legion Department of Indiana Service Office keeps current and involved in ever changing veterans healthcare issues. We attend regular meetings with VA healthcare center directors and staff in the State of Indiana, and provide input concerning VA healthcare policies effecting VA Medical Centers and their patients in Indiana. We also conduct VA medical center site visits with our National staff. The Department Service Office also offers veteran patients assistance when conflicts arise concerning their individual healthcare eligibility status, and medial services. We can also assist with appealing administrative VA medical center decisions to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) in Washington DC. Although a VA doctor’s medical determination, such as, the care plan for a certain health problem, is not an issue that the BVA has authority to change, we can assist with filing clinical review for having those decisions reviewed by the VA Medical Center’s division headquarters medical officer if necessary.
{VA Medical Facility Directory Link http://www.appc1.va.gov/directory/guide/division.asp?divisionId=1}
Department of Defense Discharge Review and Corrections Boards Claims: Many veterans have received unjust military discharges. Many other veterans need military records corrected, such as, to show entitlement to a certain military award, or to remove something that was mistakenly recorded in the veteran’s records. The American Legion Service Department will assist veterans with initiating their military discharge review or corrections boards application started and provide advise concerning the evidence needed to win those claims. Those applications are then forwarded to our American Legion National Office in Washington, DC for presentation to the appropriate Board. The American Legion Department Service Office can also provide veterans information about how to obtain replacement of their military medals and citations, and copies of their DD form 214 or other military records.
{Link to The American Legion Department of Indiana “Replacing your DD Form 214 Information Letter}
{Discharge Review Application Link http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/documents/dd0293.pdf}
{Application for Correction of Military Records http://web1.whs.osd.mil/forms/DD0149.PDF }
{National Personnel Records Center Records Request Link http://www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/}