Veterans’ Services

Contact

Eric R. Mullally
Veterans’ Service Officer

Location
Platte County Courthouse
Third floor

Address
2610 14th Street
Columbus, NE 68601

Phone: 402-563-4914
Fax: 402-564-7460

Links

Contact

    The Veterans’ Service Office was created by state statute to assist veterans and their dependents in times of need or to file for all county, state, or federal benefits earned by virtue of the military veteran’s service to a grateful nation and the state of Nebraska. The Veterans’ Service Officer serves under the direction of the Veterans’ Service Committee appointed by the Platte County Board of Supervisors.

    Veterans’ services are accomplished by

    • Being sensitive and helpful to veterans/dependents in their time of need
    • Providing assistance and counseling to veterans and their families
    • Initiating and completing claims to be submitted to the VA Regional Office, Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or appropriate other agencies with accuracy and professionalism
    • Maintaining the highest level of training and education to best serve veterans
    • Serving as a trusted and respected partner in collaboration with other agencies when assisting veterans

    Services

    The Platte County Veterans’ Service Office assists with, but is not limited to, the following county, state, and federal benefits.

    County Veterans’ Benefits

    • Veterans’ Transportation Services
    • County Veterans’ Aid Fund (CVA) – To meet immediate emergency financial needs
    • Flag holders – For placement on the grave of every veteran buried in Platte County
    • Homestead exemptions – Assist with completion and filing with the county assessor

    State Veterans’ Benefits

    • Nebraska Veterans’ Aid Fund (NVA) – For unforeseen emergency financial need
    • Waiver of tuition – For state college/university cost to qualified spouses or children
    • Discharges – Replacement of lost military service records (DD-214)
    • Grave registration – Report of grave location for veterans buried in the state
    • Veterans’ home system – Complete application for residency in a veterans’ home
    • Filing for hunting and fishing permits for qualified veterans (age 64+ or 50% or greater VA disability)
    • Nebraska veterans’ driver’s licenses and license plate registry

    Federal Veterans’ Benefits

    • Service-connected disability compensation
    • Appeals of VA claim decisions
    • Non-service-connected pensions – Veterans or widowers
    • Education and vocational rehabilitation – Including GI Bill and disability retraining
    • Life insurance – VGLI/NSLI or disability
    • Burial benefits – Grave marker application and burial allowance assistance
    • VA home loan programs – Residential and improvement for handicap improvement
    • Health care – VA Medical Center inpatient and outpatient services
    • Long-term nursing home care – For veterans rated at 70% or higher
    • Military records – Military discharge records are filed in the County Clerk’s Office; however, these records are not public information, and an individual can only obtain his/her discharge information (contact your local Veterans’ Service Office for information)

    Transportation Program

    Attention Honorably Discharged Platte County Veterans

    The Platte County Veterans Service Office is proud to announce that our Veterans Transportation Program is fully operational. Any honorably discharged veteran who is enrolled in VA health care can receive a free ride to their VA appointments in Norfolk, Grand Island, Lincoln, or Omaha. Reservations are on a first-come-first-served basis and can be made by contacting the Platte County Veterans’ Service Office at 402-563-4914.

    In addition, any veteran wanting to volunteer their driving skills to the program can forward their contact info to the office for consideration. All volunteers are provided a $50.00 stipend per trip, paid for by the county.

    Platte County Veterans’ Service Office’s Veterans Van Program Fact Sheet
      1. Who is eligible to use this program?
        Any honorably discharged veteran who is a legal resident of Platte County is eligible. Veterans must be traveling for care/treatment at Nebraska VA hospitals and clinics. Veterans must be able to get in and out of the van unassisted. Spouses may accompany veterans to their VA appointments.
      2. How much does it cost to use this vehicle?
        There is no cost to use this service as it is funded 100% with Platte County taxpayer dollars. Our drivers are veteran volunteers who are paid a $50.00 per day stipend by Platte County.
      3. How do I schedule a ride on the Veterans Van?
        Contact the Platte County Veterans’ Service Office at 402-563-4914. We request that you give the office at least one weeks’ notice to allow for coordination with our volunteers. Reservations for a seat on the Veterans Van is on a first-come-first-served basis. If the van is not available on the date of your appointment, the Veterans’ Service Office will work with you and the VA to reschedule your appointment for a day that the van is available.
      4. Am I still eligible to receive my VA travel pay? (Veterans rated 30% or more/Veterans traveling for compensation and pension exams/Veterans with extremely low income under the poverty level)
        No. VA travel pay is a benefit for veterans mentioned above who drive themselves to their appointments as they often incur travel costs, such as fuel for their vehicles.
      5. Do I have to use the Platte County Veterans Van Program?
        No. Veterans who chose to drive themselves or have friends and family who drive them are not required to use this program. The program is designed to assist veterans who can no longer drive themselves or do not have available resources/friends/family available to get to and from their VA appointments.

    Thanks from the Platte County Veterans’ Service Office

    Courthouse

    Address

    2610 14th Street
    Columbus, NE 68601

    Hours

    8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Monday – Friday

    Other

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