MN Dept. of Veterans Affairs Programs
The following are programs administered by the MN Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Bronze Star Markers
Update (April 2011)
Presently there are two type of Veteran Grave Markers available for private cemeteries. They are the Bronze Star Grave Marker from the MN Dept. of Veterans Affairs available through the local County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) and the U.S. VA Veteran Grave Marker available through the U.S. Veterans Affairs.
More information
Claims and Outreach Assistance
The Claims Division represents veterans and their dependents who seek benefits from the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) with regards to compensation, non service connected pension, insurance or educational benefits.
The Outreach Division was created in September 2004 to educate and assist underserved veterans to access USDVA benefits and to provide referrals to other agencies for additional services.
More information
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) at www.mnveteranclaim.org
Definition of Minnesota Veteran for state benefits
View this document for the definition of a Minnesota Veteran for state benefits
Education
Is the new Post-9/11 GI Bill right for you?
Find out more at www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/step-by-step.htm
Education Assistance
The State Soldier's Assistance Program (SSAP) provides educational benefits in the form of a one-time grant to veterans who have exhausted their federal benefits, and to war orphans of veterans who died as a result of a service connected injury or disease.
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G.I. Bill
The Minnesota State Approving Agency’s (SAA) mission is
to provide the administrative oversight of the G.I. Bill’s
Minnesota Education and Training Programs on behalf of our veterans
and other eligible persons. In Minnesota, there are more than 200 institutions that are SAA
approved and over 6,500 programs that are SAA approved. In addition,
there are over 50 SAA approved On-The-Job (OJT) and Apprenticeship
Training Programs.
More information
Higher Education Veterans Assistance Program
Provide assistance to veterans at all public and private higher educational institutions in Minnesota via central liaison staff and campus veterans assistance officers.
More information
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) at www.mymilitaryeducation.org
Minnesota GI Bill
The Minnesota GI Bill program provides post secondary educational assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans, and to the children and spouses of deceased or severely disabled Minnesota Veterans.
More information at the Minnesota Veteran website
Financial Assistance
The State Soldier's Assistance Program provides assistance to veterans who are unable to work as a result of temporary disability. The assistance available is in the categories of:
- Personal needs grants:
- Cash assistance:
- shelter payments (rent and mortgage)
- utilities
- Special needs
More information
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) at www.mnveteranbenefits.org
LinkVet
The Veterans Linkage Line (LinkVet) is a toll free, one stop customer service line and website for all Minnesota veterans and their families. The service connects Veterans and their families to important services and resources.
Calls are answered from Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. C.O.R.E. counselors will continue to provide service 24 hours a day seven days a week, including holidays, for immediate crisis intervention and psychological counseling. Veterans can call LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838), International +1 (651) 556-0596 and TTY at (800) 627-3529.
The website (www.minnesotaveteran.org) is a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) format allows users to enter questions or search topics based on their specific needs. Users are also able to create personalized accounts that will allow them to track topics and resources of interest. For example, if the user has questions about education benefits for Veterans, they can choose to be alerted anytime there is an update or a change related to that topic. Users also have the ability to chat online with staff and provide immediate feedback to help improve the site’s usability.
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Military Funeral Honors
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the Minnesota Army National Guard (ARNG) Military Funeral Honors Coordinator are committed to ensuring veterans receive proper military funeral honors to commemorate their service to the Nation and to assist Veterans Service Organizations in their efforts to provide these honors. A stipend is available to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations who meet the requirements.
Legislation passed in 2010 provided for $100,000 in funding to continue the Military Funeral Honors program at the state level. This program helps ensure that veterans receive proper military funeral honors to commemorate their service to the nation, by assisting Veterans Service Organizations in their efforts to provide these honors.
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Minnesota Service C.O.R.E.
Minnesota Service C.O.R.E. is a new, nation-leading program designed to bring essential, community-based services directly to veterans, military members and their families across Minnesota at no cost to them. Due to its unique structure, this program will also provide resources to previously underserved rural areas around the state.
More information
State Veterans Cemetery
The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery is located in Little Falls, MN
More information
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) at www.mnveteranclaim.org
Tribal Veteran Service Officer (TVSO)
The MDVA Tribal Veterans Services Officer initiative began in 2007 with the cooperation of Governmental and Tribal agencies,
the Governors office, legislators and the Minnesota Native American Nations. The purpose of the TVSO program is to provide services to a
targeted group of traditionally under-served individuals located on Minnesota's Native American Reservations.
Historically, Native Americans serve in the military at a higher than average rate per capita and yet received benefits at
a lower percentage rate. Working with veterans in areas such as Red Lake and Grand Portage, MDVA staff recognized a need for
culturally connected service representatives, leading to the development of this program.
With most of the hiring process completed, training MDVA’s new team members is a priority! Immediately upon employment a TVSO
begins a comprehensive training schedule beginning with basic training. Their initial training includes a full overview of veterans
benefits, in-depth training on compensation and pension, information providing solid points of contacts for veterans benefits and direct-
on-the-job training with experienced senior claims representatives. A second session of advanced basic training is offered to
ensure TVSOs have the required veterans benefits knowledge and skills.
Tribal veterans are already using this service at a steady rate and MDVA’s Claims, Outreach, Fargo and Central Office Divisions are
working with this initiative to ensure its success. For more information on this program contact Jim Miller, Tribal Veteran Officer
Supervisor at James.Allan.Miller@state.mn.us.
More information:
Veterans Homes
The mission of the Veterans Homes is to oversee and guarantee high-quality health care for veterans and dependents in its care. This commitment is demonstrated by:
- Targeting services to veterans with special needs.
- Supporting research and education in geriatrics and long-term care.
- Providing a therapeutic environment that encourages resident independence, respects individuality and promotes self-worth and well being.
- Continuous evaluation of care and services to be responsive to changing needs.
- Managing the Veterans Homes with honesty, integrity, and cost effectiveness.
- Recognizing employees for their contributions.
- Working cooperatively with the medical communities.
More information:
Veterans Preference in Employment
The Minnesota Veterans Preference Act (VPA) grants most veterans a limited preference over non-veterans in hiring and promotion for most Minnesota public employment positions. The Minnesota VPA Statutes apply to Minnesota public employment, “civil service laws, charter provisions, ordinances, rules or regulations of a county, city , town, school district, or other municipality or political subdivision of this state.”
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Women Veterans Program
The mission of the Minnesota Women Veterans program is to ensure women veterans have equitable access to federal and state benefits and services. The program ensures response to the gender specific needs of women veterans and that women veterans are treated with dignity and respect.
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