Major Increase in Retroactive Veteran Payments and Tax Assistance in Codington County: Key Updates from the Veterans Office

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Codington County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Jay Roberts provided a comprehensive monthly update to the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, highlighting a significant financial impact for local veterans and an uptick in seasonal assistance.

According to Roberts, the office is currently managing a heavy caseload, with 125 open claims and 55 pending VA actions. The start of 2026 has been particularly fruitful for local veterans; the county saw a $3,494 increase in monthly compensation in January alone, with year-to-date monthly increases totaling $14,456.

More notably, retroactive payments—often used to bring a claim current—surged in January. Roberts reported $80,014 in retro-payments for the month, bringing the yearly total to $104,933.

Beyond financial claims, Roberts noted that tax season has brought many veterans into the office for technical help. Specifically, staff are assisting veterans in navigating the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to obtain 1099-R forms.

“Let’s just call you a fairly savvy person when it comes to internet operations,” Roberts told the board during a lighthearted exchange about portal navigation. “But if you could put your mind in the thought process that we have some very older veterans or spouses... they don’t know how to use MyPay. We had a 92-year-old veteran stop in... we figured it out, he got in, and he’s fully capable.”

Looking ahead, Roberts announced several outreach events, including a “What’s Brewing” outreach Session on March 24 at the Watertown Readiness Center. The event will cover burial benefits, the State Veterans Cemetery, and VA Health Care eligibility.