The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) reminds veterans that the start of the new year is a good time to meet with a professional to ensure they are receiving or maximizing the benefits they have earned through their service. Veterans often apply for benefits and accept the results, but never check again to see if there are updates that could work in their favor.

By meeting with an accredited veteran service officer, veterans can see if a life change or an update to benefit policies may have changed their eligibility. There are numerous accredited veteran service officers and veteran service organizations around the state that may help. During the pandemic, a benefits review can take place by phone or virtually.

Safeguarding military paperwork, especially the DD-214, which is used to verify military service, is an important first step for securing benefits. The easiest way to manage military documents is to make sure they are filed in a safe place immediately upon leaving the military. Veterans often find that filing their documents for free at their county courthouse of record is an easy way to secure them until needed, which can often be decades into the future. Anyone needing assistance locating his or her military documentation can receive assistance from the DMVA by contacting 800-547-2838 or ra-req@pa.gov.

Another key step is for veterans to apply for federal health care and state benefits by visiting their local county director of veterans affairs or area accredited veteran service organizations to take a look at what benefits they may be eligible for and to get help applying for those benefits. A complete list of county directors and their contact information can be found by visiting http://www.dmva.pa.gov and clicking on Contact Your County Director.

In addition to connecting with a county director or an accredited veteran service organization, all of Pennsylvania's nearly 800,000 veterans are encouraged to sign up for the DMVA Veterans Registry, a free tool that electronically delivers timely information about the many state benefits, programs, and services available to veterans. Veterans, family members, and people who work with veterans can sign up by computer or mobile device at http://www.register.dmva.pa.gov.

Veterans and their dependents should never pay for help to apply for veteran's benefits, because an abundance of free, professional help is available. If someone tries to charge a veteran for this service, the veteran should decline the assistance. There are about 200 veteran service officers in Pennsylvania who work with organizations such as the DMVA, county veterans affairs offices, and several veterans service organizations. They are experienced, trained professionals who provide veterans with advice and assistance at no cost.

For more about the DMVA, readers may visit http://www.dmva.pa.gov or follow the DMVA at http://www.facebook.com/padmva.