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AMARILLO, TEXAS -- From veterans who are coming back from Iraq and looking for places to live, to surviving spouses, the VA is trying to spread the word about veterans benefits.
There are many benefits veterans are entitled to that they aren't petitioning for; that includes things like assisted living, or even living independently, but getting the services needed.
A seminar Saturday focused on spreading the word to apply. "It's financial assistance where you may, uh, be able to get more assistance through the VA, but you won't know that unless you petition for it," said Lori Arentz, the co-manager from Clairmont.
"There's only a fraction of the veterans that actually apply for and receive the benefits that they have earned, so where I fit in is trying to do some outreach and get more of the veterans to access their benefits," said Larry Witthar, the Service Officer, Texas Veterans Commission.
There are 31,000 veterans in all 26 counties in the panhandle, and only a fraction of them access their benefits.
Veterans are on the mind of President Barak Obama. Today he said with the military fighting two wars the country has a "solemn responsibility" to ensure that veterans get the help they need.
In his weekly radio and online address, Obama discussed new regulations that will be announced Monday. They are intended to make it easier for veterans with PSTD to receive government benefits.
The new rules will not only apply to veterans of the iraq and afghanistan wars, but also those who served in previous conflicts.
