HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from the State Department of Veterans Affairs regarding cash benefitsSTATE OF CALIFORNIA EDMUND G. BROWN, JR., Governor
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
POST OFFICE BOX 942895
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 94295 -0001
Telephone: (916) 653 -2158
Fax: (916) 653 -2456
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March 26, 2014
Doug Teeter, Supervisor
MAR 21 1014
Butte County Board of Supervisors
OROVXLEA CAUFORNIA
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200
Oroville, CA 95965
The Honorable Doug Teeter:
During the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, your County Veterans Service Office (CVSO),
obtained new and increased monthly cash benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(USDVA), in the amount of $177,654. On an annualized basis this amounts to more than $2,131,848 in
new benefit payments. In addition, your CVSO obtained $2,570,025 in one -time benefits, which consists
of single and retro- active payments received by veterans or their dependents. Studies have shown that
monies spent in a community could turn over between 3 to 7 times, which is a fairly accurate measure of
the spending impact on a community. Using the conservative multiplier of 3, this equates to a spending
impact of at least $6,395,544 from the annualized monthly cash benefits and $7,710,075 from the one -time
benefits received.
In addition to the fact that your veterans' community received the above cash benefits, claim advocacy
services provided by your county to obtain and maintain federal monetary benefits have resulted in savings
based on your county's active participation in the State Mandated Welfare Referral Program. This program
requires your CVSO to verify and make benefits entitlement determinations on all public assistance
referrals (i.e. GA /FR, Cal WORKS, Food Stamps, and Medi -Cal) received from your County Welfare
Department. Included in the totals above are $136,320 in annualized monthly benefits and $1,181,880 in
one -time benefits received by individuals who had applied for public assistance grants.
I hope that you will consider this valuable information when addressing the needs of a properly funded and
fully supported CVSO. With a net county cost of less than $154,000, your CVSO once again remains one
of the few revenue producing offices in the county. Your county veteran population deserves and has
earned the right to continued high quality representation in veterans' affairs.
If I can be of further assistance in maintaining your CVSO's services, please feel free to contact Deputy
Secretary, Veterans Services, Keith Boylan at: (916) 653 -2573.
Sincerely,
PETER J. GRAVETT
Secretary "
Cc: County Veteran Service Office
VSD File
��j� ' ����2^ HONORING CALIFORNIA'S VETERANS