Codington County VSO Secures Over $177,000 in Retroactive Payments for Local Veterans
- Steve Jurrens
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Codington County Veterans Service Office (VSO) continues to yield substantial financial benefits for local veterans, securing over $177,000 in retroactive payments so far this year.
Veterans Service Officer Jay Roberts presented his monthly report to the County Commissioners on Tuesday, detailing a heavy caseload. The office currently has 127 open working claims in Codington County—53 of which are pending action from the VA—and has completed 51 claims year-to-date. The VSO is also assisting neighboring Hamlin County, managing 15 open claims there.
The financial impact of these processed claims is substantial. In February alone, local veterans or their dependents saw an aggregate increase of $9,956 in monthly compensation. Roberts noted that the year-to-date monthly increase for county veterans now stands at $24,412.
Even more significantly, the VSO secured $72,535 in retroactive payments for February.
“Regarding retro payments, that’s when we filed a claim six months or more ago, and now the VA is bringing it up to [the] current date,” Roberts explained during the meeting.
This brings the total year-to-date retroactive payments for local veterans to $177,468.
Beyond claims processing, Roberts highlighted several upcoming outreach and support initiatives. The office recently assisted with three veteran DAV transports in February, and two are already scheduled for March.
Key upcoming events include:
· March 21: An M-Day Pre-Retirement Seminar at 10:00 a.m. at the Watertown Readiness Center for traditional soldiers.
· March 24: A “What’s Brewing” outreach event from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Watertown Readiness Center.
During the March 24 event, the SDDVA will provide information on burial benefits, grave markers, and state veterans’ homes and cemeteries. The Sioux Falls VHA will also be on hand to discuss VA healthcare eligibility and caregiver support programs, including respite and nursing home care.