|
Contact Information, Office Hours
Functions, Office Responsibilities
FAQ's, Common Terms, History, Interesting Facts
Functions
Benefits Counseling
Dependents Assistance
Veterans Assistance
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Office assists veterans and their dependents in filing applications to determine their basic eligibility and conditions of benefit entitlement as administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes research, preparation, development, presentation and prosecution of claims submitted to the VA Regional Office in Columbia or the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C. Though state-mandated, the local VA Office is County-funded.
Back to top
This Office Does
 |
Assist in the preparation and filing of claims with the VA Regional Office and the Board of Veterans Appeals |
|
Help veterans file applications for the review of discharge or the correction of military records |
|
Coordinate with other local and state agencies to render advice and assistance to veterans, their dependents and survivors |
|
Visit VA hospitals and nursing homes as well as veterans' homes to explain where to go and who to contact when applying for pension or benefit entitlement |
|
Assist in filing annuity applications for surviving spouses of military and civil service retirees |
|
Provide veterans with information about how to obtain a VA home loan |
|
Have applications for obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility which is required to secure a VA Home Loan Guarantee |
This Office Does Not
|
Disburse funds |
|
Determine eligibility or entitlement |
|
Assist in distribution of benefit claims for estranged or separated spouses |
|
Schedule appointments or have control over appointments at the VA Medical Center |
|
Provide job placement |
Back to top
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: |
What are my benefits? |
| A: |
The VA Office will assist veterans in filing a claim to determine eligibility based on individual circumstances, including time in service, degree of disability and, in some cases, annual income. |
| Q: |
How long will it take to process my claim? |
| A: |
The VA Regional Office in Columbia processes claims in an average of 60-120 days. |
Common Terms
Annuity-- A monthly source of spousal income provided in return for reduced retirement benefits.
DD214-- A military separation paper issued to veterans after 1949.
Dependents-- Spouses, children and certain parents of veterans.
Entitlement Program-- A government program that guarantees and provides benefits to a particular group.
Back to top
History
Prior to the creation of the VA Office, many of its services were performed by American Legion Local Post 10. On March 22, 1945, the S.C. General Assembly adopted a bill creating a VA Office in each of the state's 46 counties.The Charleston County VA Officer is appointed by the County Legislative Delegation.
Interesting Facts
|
This office has records of service men and women dating back to the Spanish-American War. The first files, from the 1920s, were given to the VA office by American Legion Local Post 10 which had previously provided veterans services. |
|
The Charleston County VA Office serves one of the largest veteran populations in the state. |
|
For 49 years, the VA Office was housed in the old Citadel on Meeting Street. It moved to its current Rivers Avenue location in 1994. |
|
The Charleston County VA has records of more than 25,000 veterans. |
Back to top
Contact Information
3346 Rivers Avenue, Suite D-2
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 974-6360
(843) 974-6361 (Fax)
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Back to top
|