Program Helps Veterans' Survivors Receive Benefits

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Macomb County Clerk’s Office automatically sends copies of death records of veterans to the Veterans Department. This enables the Veterans Department to notify the family about the benefits they may be able to receive as survivors. Examples of benefits are burial benefits such as headstone and markers, burial allowance and widow pension benefits. Without this program, the Veterans Department would not know of deceased veterans and would need to rely on the survivors to contact them. Since many survivors are not aware of these benefits, this leaves them without valuable benefits. This program was implemented at no additional cost to the county, as it was simply a small step that was added into the day to day functions of the Clerk’s office. As a result, the Veterans Department has been able to help more survivors of veterans. They help several more survivors monthly than before the implementation of this program.