ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, veterans met at the Escanaba Senior Center to learn about benefits available to them through state organizations.
AARP Michigan partnered with the Michigan Veterans Affairs (VA) Agency to educate vets about resources they may not know they qualify for, including a fraud watch program and health benefits.
“We had a program downstate where an individual who was in the Army Artillery Division had loss of hearing,” said Melissa Seifert, AARP Associate State Director for Government Affairs. “He received free hearing aids, and he had no idea that he was qualified. These events are really shining a light on what benefits are available and taking home tangible information to help them get connected to those benefits.”
Many family members are also eligible for spousal pensions and caregiver benefits.
“Veterans and their families can contact [the VA], and we get them directed to any service or benefit, whether it’s their federal, state, or local benefit,” said Michigan VA Partnership Coordinator Allen Dow.
AARP also helps veterans transition back to civilian life and work through job boards and reskilling programs. The VA houses the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund, which assists wartime-era veterans experiencing an emergency or unforeseen need.
By hosting events and connecting with veterans in person, Seifert and Dow say AARP and the Veterans Affairs Agency are better able to serve the men and women who sacrificed so much for their country.
“AARP has over 1.3 million members here in the state of Michigan, and many of those have served our country,” said Seifert. “This is our way to give back to those that have served.”
“Michigan has 530,000 veterans within the state, half of which are about 65 or older,” Dow said. “Our partnerships with veteran serving organizations such as AARP is really important to the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.”
Visit aarp.org/veterans to learn more about resources available to veterans and their loved ones through AARP Michigan. For information about benefits available through the VA, click here or contact the Michigan Veterans Affairs call center 1800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838).
For a schedule of future AARP events throughout the state, click here.
