Benefits & more: Milwaukee County offers help to aging veterans

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Hundreds of veterans spent their day at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center on Monday, September 15th -- it was the second year of the “Connecting Aging Veterans to their Benefits" fair.

Dozens of organizations set up booths throughout the building, each with information on different benefits or programs available to veterans. The topics ranged from learning about pensions, to health care systems, to veteran housing in the state, as well as information on food stamps, energy assistance and transit.

According to the VA, only 13 percent of eligible veterans age 65 and older will have their benefits processed.

“The reality is for our older veterans they did not get any briefings on the benefits that they may qualify for. In fact, there probably were few benefits at that time,” said Jim Duff, Director of Milwaukee County Veterans Services.

“It’s really great to get people in a room with people that can help them and to see them walk out with something they didn’t have before they got here,” said Stephanie Suestein, Director of the Milwaukee County Department on Aging.

More than 300 veterans pre-registered for Monday’s free event. CLICK HERE for more information from the Milwaukee County Department on Aging.