CVSO Office Updates
HAPPY JANUARY To my favorite Veterans!
I hope you all had an opportunity to spend time with your loved ones, enjoy a meal with family and friends, and that you were able to enjoy some time in gratitude and reflection for this life we get to live.
This month’s topic of discussion is VA Health Care!
Did you know, that last year, the VA Health Care system expanded their eligibility requirements for folks, opening opportunities for many more veterans to qualify for VA Health care? If you are not enrolled in VA Health Care, I encourage you to reach out to our office and get an appointment on the books. We’d love to assist you in getting your application filled out (among other things 😊).
We are so fortunate to live here in Olmsted County because we have a VA Clinic right here in Rochester, MN. The Rochester VA Clinic has wonderful staff both for physical health and mental health needs. The staff at the Rochester VA Clinic are always friendly, polite, and ready to help the community veterans, which is truly a blessing.
If you have private insurance through your job or otherwise, I still encourage you to come in and meet with us. VA Health Care is a wonderful resource and can be utilized in various ways. By enrolling in VA Health Care, you will not ‘mess’ with your established private insurance. Think of it as one more layer of care that you are able to fall back on if need be.
For more information, see my image below. Please feel free to give us a call with any questions you might have.
  
 Tiffany Canfield
Veteran Services Manager
Veteran Service Office Snapshot
November 2024
Total claims submitted to VA:
- Compensation: 88
- VA Healthcare: 18
- DIC: 0
- Burial: 18
- Survivor’s Pension: 1
- CHAMPVA: 1
- Records Request: 3
- Special Monthly Pension: 2
Points of contact with veterans (office visits, incoming mail, phone calls
returned, emails returned, etc.): 533
Veterans in office: 115
Outreach visits: 8
Total phone calls: 306
Average number of calls per day: 10
Average call length: 2 minutes and 32 seconds
Women Veterans Spotlight
January Mantra:
I am fulfilled: I feel content and abundant in my life right now
I love this month’s mantra! It’s a wonderful reminder to take time to find moments of contentment in the chaos. To be grateful for what we have and where we are. More importantly, to give ourselves credit for all that we’ve been through. There is a phrase that states “You’ve made it through 100% of your bad days, keep going”, and I just love it as it is a reminder that no matter what cards we are dealt, we’ve made it through. It seems that sometimes, the ‘hard stuff’ allows for us to feel fulfilled in our lives and where we are at.
Rather than have a ‘new year resolution’, I'm looking for ways to find contentment, allow space to feel fulfilled, and celebrate each win, no matter how big or small it may be.
Cheers to a new year ladies, to a fresh start, and to all the opportunities we are afforded this year to learn and grow!
“You can’t raise the bar without raising a little hell”- so let’s raise some hell, shall we ladies??
Patient Portals for VA Health Care
Potential impact to 7,000 Veterans in our area
For Immediate Release Dec. 18, 2024
My HealtheVet is changing the way Veterans sign in 2025. As of today, nearly 7,000 Veterans in the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, who regularly use My HealtheVet, may be impacted.
My HealtheVet is a patient portal for VA health care that allows Veterans to
order VA prescriptions, view VA appointments, send secure messages to VA providers, and gain access to their VA patient records.
VA is committed to making it as easy as possible for Veterans to manage their benefits and health care online while protecting their identities and data. As
part of this commitment VA will transition to two modern, secure, sign-in options in 2025: Login.gov or ID.me account. After January 31, 2025, Veterans will
not be able to sign into My HealtheVet with a user ID and password, they will need to use a Login.gov or ID.me.
The Minneapolis VA Health Care System serves 106,000 Veterans on the eastern side of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Nearly 58,000 of our Veterans have a premium My HealtheVet account. As of today, about 7,000 Veterans who regularly use My HealtheVet have not yet signed in through a modern credential. As you gather with families this holiday season, check on your Veteran to ensure they have created a Login.gov or ID.me account and
can access their My HealtheVet portal.
VA has prepared a helpful webpage with tips for creating your Login.gov or ID.me account. The page gives advice on how to take your photo, what to do
if the Login.gov or ID.me won’t accept your phone number or says you already have an account and more.
Veterans will still be able to coordinate their care in person or via the phone.
If you have questions, the Minneapolis VA Health Care System team is ready
to help. Call 612-467-5636.
Ironwood Springs Winter Family Day
Karen's Korner
Are you eligible for burial in a National Cemetery?
Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of these requirements.
One of these must be true:
* The person qualifying for burial benefits is a Veteran who didn’t receive a
dishonorable discharge, or
* The person qualifying for burial benefits is a service member who died
while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or
* The person qualifying for burial benefits is the spouse or surviving spouse
of a Veteran (even if they remarried after the Veteran’s death), or
* The person qualifying for burial benefits is the minor child of a Veteran
(even if the Veteran died first) or, in some cases, the unmarried adult
dependent child of a Veteran
For groups, such as:
* U.S. citizens who served in the Armed Forces of a U.S. ally during wartime
* Members of Reserve components or the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
* Commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
* Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service
* World War II Merchant Mariners
* Philippine Armed Forces Veterans
* Hmong individuals
Warning About Claim Sharks
The Veteran Transit Program
The Landing MN (TLMN) is excited to announce our new partnership with the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs (MDVA). The grant awarded by MDVA afforded TLMN the purchase of a mini-van to help veterans in the community with transportation to needed services. This transportation resource allows TLMN to provide rides for U.S Military Veterans experiencing transportation difficulties.
Eligibility:
- US Military veteran
- Must have a DD 214 (if you don’t have one your local VSO can help you obtain a copy)
- Proof of MN residency
Eligible Appointment types:
- Housing
- Employment
- Treatment
- Education
- Health care
- Grocery shopping
- Visiting family at nursing home or hospital
- Funerals
- Pick up and drop off at mechanic for vehicle repairs
Rides are available Monday - Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. To schedule a ride, please call The Landing at 507-884-0423 or the Veterans Services Office at 507-328-6355. You can also request a ride via email: Stephanie.Rice@TheLandingMN.org or Tori.Watkins@TheLandingMN.org
Need Dental Work?
RCTC’s Dental Hygiene Program is looking for patients to be dental volunteers at the school. This is an opportunity for folks who don’t have dental insurance. For more information on how to get an appointment scheduled, contact:
Jasmin Willette at 507-280-3169 or 507-475-2807
Red Carpet Welcome
Preston Veterans Home
The mission of the Minnesota Veterans Homes is “serving those who have served” by providing quality health care in an environment of trust, dignity and sharing.
Admission Requirements: All Residents must require skilled nursing care. Eligible Residents come from two categories:
- Veterans who were discharged under honorable conditions from any branch of the U.S. armed forces and are a current resident of Minnesota.
- Spouses of eligible Veterans. Spouses must be at least 55 years old and meet residency requirements.
**Veterans or Veteran spouses must meet Minn. Stat. 197.447.
Residents contribute to the cost of their care according to their means. Additional information is available from our Veterans Benefits Coordinator.
Minnesota Veterans Home - Preston
1864 First Minnesota
Preston, Minnesota 55965
Phone: 1-507-808-8910
Online at: MinnesotaVeteran.org/Homes
Camp Bliss Events
2025 Camp Bliss Retreats for Veterans, Law Enforcement and People with Disabilities!
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you! We have been very successful with our legislative pursuits for funding of Veteran Retreats and Getaways at Camp Bliss. Exciting News!
- We will not be charging a registration fees for Veteran getaways for the next two years, we have secured funding from the MDVA. For non-qualifying Veterans there will be a fee of $100 per person to attend a getaway or retreat. If you have questions about the guidelines please call Lori at (320) 281-2016.
- We will now be allowed to get reimbursement for Spouses, children, and active-duty service members!
You may come up to two retreats per year!!!! MDVA Calendar Year September 1, 2024 – August 30, 2025. We have added many exciting retreats due to this!! A complete list of 2024 Retreats and Getaways are listed below! **Because there will not be a registration fee, you will still be required to submit the appropriate documentation, DD214 (Member 4) and Driver’s license or state ID. If a spouse is attending and has a different last name, you will be required to show proof of marriage before you are considered “registered.” Once you are, please commit fully to attending your retreat as there are limited spots for each one and if you do not show up, that is a Veteran’s spot that you have eliminated
If a Retreat/Getaway says FILLED, please email or call Lori O. to be put on a waiting list: Register@campbliss.org or call 320-281-2016
2025 Upcoming Camp Bliss Retreats.
Flyers and Registrations will be available soon.
Veterans Ice Fishing Tournament Getaway – January 22-24, 2025
Veterans Ice Fishing Tournament Getaway – January 24-26, 2025
Female Veterans Getaway – January 31 – February 2, 2025
Veterans & Spouses Ice Fishing Getaway – February 7-9, 2025
Female Veterans Getaway – March 7-9, 2025
Veterans & Spouses R&R Getaway – April 11-13, 2025
Female Veterans Getaway – May 2-4, 2025
Veterans Turkey Hunt Getaway – May 16-18, 2025
State Soldiers Assistance Program
(SSAP) Providing benefits for Minnesota Veterans for 100 years!!
The State Soldiers Assistance Program (SSAP) has provided a variety of benefits for Minnesota Veterans and their families for the past 100 years.
Talk to your County Veterans Service Officer today to learn more about these benefits and others that you may be eligible for!
Dental: Provides $1,500 in annual dental assistance and $6,500 in lifetime assistance for extractions and dentures to Veterans, spouses, and dependents.
Optical: Provides $600 in annual optical assistance to Veterans, spouses, and dependents for exams, prescription eyewear and contact lenses.
Disaster Relief Grants: Provides financial assistance, upon activation by the Governor, for individuals impacted by a natural disaster.
Veteran Relief Grants: Provides broad financial assistance to a Veteran or surviving spouse.
Subsistence: Provides a form of short-term disability to Veterans and surviving spouses who cannot work at their normal occupation for at least 30 days or to surviving spouses within a year of the passing of the Veteran. Assistance includes rent/mortgage, utilities, health care premiums, and cash assistance.
Surviving Spouse and Dependent Education: Provides a tuition waiver and an annual $750 stipend to surviving spouses or dependents of certain veterans at any University or College within the M-State or University of Minnesota systems. Benefits are available until a bachelor’s degree is attained, regardless of age.
Housing/Voucher Deposit Assistance Program (VDAP): Covers the security deposit for any Veteran or surviving spouse who is moving into subsidized housing and in receipt of a housing choice voucher.
More details online at: MinnesotaVeteran.org/Benefits
Medical Equipment Available
Are you in need of medical equipment, such as a wheelchair (both manual and electric), walker, electric hospital bed, crutches, etc? Do you have medical equipment that you want to donate to other people in need?
The Kasson American Legion has medical equipment for use by anyone in the area (veterans, cancer patients, accident victims). The equipment is free to use and all they ask is that you return it when you are done so someone else can use it.
For more information, please call Dick Denny at (507) 259-2081. Equipment pick up and drop off is by appointment only.
ID Cards at the Rochester VA Clinic
VA Health Identification Cards may be obtained at the Rochester VA Clinic by appointment only on the following date(s):
January 16, 2025 FULL
March 20, 2025 FULL
May 15, 2025
July 17, 2025
September 18, 2025
November 20, 2025
You MUST be enrolled and eligible for care in order to receive a Veteran's
Health Identification Card!!
Please call the VA at 1-866-414-5058 to make an appointment in Rochester.
*The Minneapolis VA Medical Center issues ID cards daily.
There are different types, and different ways to obtain Veteran ID Cards. Click HERE for more information.
Servpro of Rochester Job Opportunity
As fellow veterans, we deeply appreciate the unique skills and qualities that veterans bring to the table. We recognize the immense contributions that veterans make to our society, and we would be honored to have them as part of our workforce. Whether it’s project management, construction, or customer service, we have various roles available.
We are currently seeking to fill the positions of Restoration Tech., Construction estimator, and Cleaning Supervisor. These roles would be a great fit for
veterans transitioning into civilian careers. Call 507-696-8899 for more information!
Paul Meier, Owner & US Air Force Veteran
Nate Lillestol, Construction Manager & US Army Veteran
Jobs at the MN Department of Veterans Affairs
Interested in serving Veterans? Looking to make a difference in your community? Consider a career with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)! Roles in healthcare, nursing, facilities management and program management are featured below. MDVA proudly offers competitive pay, generous benefits as a State of MN employee, welcoming and supportive teams, and most importantly, meaningful careers.
To see full job posting and apply:
1. Go to https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/ and select your applicant type:
External Applicants or Current Employees or Accessible Applicant Portal.
2. On the Careers landing page, enter the Job ID in the Search Jobs field.
Click on the posting.
3. Select “Apply for Job” button. New users will need to create an applicant
account to apply.
JOBS
Local Service Organization Meetings
For a full list of local organizations and meetings, please click on the blue button.
"To promote the interests and welfare of veterans, their dependents and survivors and to enhance their quality of life through counseling, claims assistance, education, advocacy and special projects."
2100 Campus Dr. SE, Suite 200
Rochester, MN 55904
507-328-6355
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