By VICKI URBANIK

Porter County Veterans Services Officer James Lynch said he wants to change what he calls an abysmal problem: About 80 percent of the veterans in this county don’t get benefits that they might be entitled to.

Lynch said he not only wants to bring in more federal dollars for more county veterans, but he also wants to turn Porter County into a model for the rest of the state.

On Wednesday, his efforts got a big boost in support.

The Porter County Council granted much of Lynch’s 2009 budget request, including funding for a new veteran service officer at a pay of $13,520. Though the post is part-time only, the decision represents the first new position approved during budget hearings so far.

Lynch said that when he began his position about four years ago, the county was bringing in about $7.5 million in veterans benefits yearly. It now is bringing in about $10 million a year. But he said the county can do much better.

Veterans might be eligible for a number of benefits, such as medical care, disability compensation and funding for up to 124 college credit hours for themselves or their children. The key is to reach out to the veterans who don’t know that they qualify, he said.

He spoke of one veteran who was eligible for, but who wasn’t receiving, disability pay. The office was able to get $2,600 monthly for this particular veteran, as well as a lump sum in back compensation of $27,000.

Lynch noted that getting benefits to veterans helps the local economy, since many veterans will spend the extra money at local stores.

About 90 percent of the veterans that the Porter County office deals with are Vietnam vets, many of whom are dealing with health problems stemming from exposure to Agent Orange, Lynch said. In addition, the office is starting to see more and more young veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan suffering from combat trauma.

Lynch lamented a problem nationwide in tracking the veterans after they return home. “It’s like they disappeared,” he said.

Lynch also said he feels that Indiana is way behind in helping its veterans. Many counties staff their veterans offices with people who are not computer savvy or who don’t know how to work through the bureaucracy of getting benefits.

“Statewide, we need to change that,” he said, adding that he feels Porter County is on the “leading edge” and can serve as a model for the rest of the state.

Porter County now ranks seventh in the state in the number of veterans, but 17th in the amount of dollars returned to this county.

Lynch said that with the new service officer – which will bring the number of staff to four part-time positions – he will open an office at the North County Government Complex in Portage to assist north-county veterans.

Lynch also won approval for an additional $1,000 for office expenses. He also requested a total of $3,120 in raises, but the council is deferring all requests for pay raises until the end of the budget hearings. The total 2009 budget for the county veterans office now stands at $64,039.

Posted 8/14/2008