News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech will host a Veterans Affairs Town Hall Wednesday to help veterans understand what benefits they can access.
Tennessee Valley Health Care System Public Affairs Specialist Joshua Cox said the town hall will cover healthcare programs and benefit claims. Cox said it is important to keep veterans in the loop as services and benefit requirements are always changing.
“We have legislation like the PACT Act that was changed,” Cox said. “I mean they passed the law two years ago but back in March they expanded benefits for veterans under the PACT Act, so we are letting these veterans know what those benefits are.”
Cox said the town hall will have a panel where veterans can ask leaders from several veteran organizations about programs and services not only nationally but also those that are provided in Putnam County. Cox said Veterans Affairs is hosting the town hall at Tech as the university has adequate space and is a huge part of the community.
“We want to have these events and we are conducting these events all across Tennessee,” Cox said. “Getting out into the communities, going to where the veterans are, meeting them face to face and assisting them with their questions about the VA and their questions about their benefits and things like the PACT Act and caregiver support.”
Cox said Veteran Affairs is trying to reach women veterans. Cox said women are the largest growing demographic among veterans.
“We are conducting an outreach program to try to reach those veterans and bring them into the VA for their care,” Cox said. “It’s been proven that the VA provides world-class healthcare for veterans and that more than 90 percent of veterans are satisfied with their healthcare to the VA and we want to bring as many veterans as possible into our care.”
Cox said the town hall will also discuss home loan opportunities and education benefits for veterans. Cox said veterans can receive one-on-one private help to check the status of their benefits claims or even file a claim. Cox said the goal is to get the benefits that veterans deserve for their service.
The Veterans Town Hall will be located at Roaden University Center’s Tech Pride Room located at 1000 North Dixie Avenue and will begin on Wednesday from 4pm – 7pm.
