Veterans Services Director

JOB OBJECTIVES: Incumbent is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Veterans Service Commission, making all decisions pertaining to operations. Incumbent serves as a liaison between the commission and county, state and federal agencies and represents the commission in the community. Incumbent counsels and assists persons in the United States Armed Forces, veterans, spouses, surviving spouses, children, parents and other dependents in preparing and presenting claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs or claims for any type of benefits from federal, state or local agencies.

Essential Job Functions

• Interpreting assistance rules, guidelines and laws and state and federal veterans laws;
• Reviewing mail for internal and external distribution;
• Reviewing financial assistance claims;
• Answering internal and external questions on VA programs;
• Acting as liaison with county, state and federal agencies;
• Reviewing VA claims ensuring applicable regulations and laws have been applied;
• Developing and overseeing departmental budget;
• Presenting assistance claims to the commission;
• Holding staff meetings;
• Scheduling training;
• Planning advertising;
• Making presentations to various organizations and the general public including radio and television appearances;
• Conducting comprehensive client interviews to assess client needs;
• Counseling and advising clients on eligibility and entitlement to all federal, state and local benefits;
• Researching, locating and obtaining military personnel and medical records and private medical records for VA claims;
• Evaluating medical records as supporting evidence for claims for benefits;
• Preparing and processing benefits claims;
• Reviewing VA decisions for medical and legal validity;
• Preparing appeals to VA decisions based on errors in the application of existing rules, regulations and laws;
• Examining and evaluating financial documents to determine eligibility for financial assistance;
• Preparing and processing financial assistance claims;
• Investigating financial assistance claims both internally and in the field;
• Conducting home visits for housebound claimants;
• Contacting and/or coordinating referrals to federal, state and local government and social service agencies;
• Maintaining log sheets and data bases on daily work and pending action;
• Attending training courses, seminars and workshops and staff meetings.
  
  

Non-essential Job Functions

• Conducting research and compiling statistics on various aspects of financial assistance;
• Contacting and coordinating in-office staff training with various local agencies;
• Attending local social service agency meetings.