CharlestonCounty.org

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Current Status

Amid the continued concerns about COVID-19, face-to-face interactions in our office remain suspended. This decision protects our older Veterans and those with underlying medical conditions as well as our employees. We are continuing to assist our Veterans by telephone, email, fax and regular mail. We are not currently accepting Walk-Ins.

To schedule a “virtual” appointment with one of our trained and accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), please call 843-974-6360, select option 4 and leave a detailed message about how we can assist you, along with a return telephone number. Please ensure your return telephone number's voice mailbox is set up, capable of receiving voice messages AND is not full.

Responding to your request for assistance in a timely manner is important to us, however, please be advised that we are currently experiencing a significant increase in requests for assistance due to both the Camp Lejeune Justice Act and the recent passage of the PACT Act, considered by many to be the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. Your contact information will be added to our work list and you will be contacted in the order your request for assistance was received. Calling multiple times will not speed up our response.

Veterans can continue to get information about benefits or file a claim for benefits by visiting VA.gov. Veterans with claims specific questions may also request information by calling 1-800-827-1000.

Veterans Affairs

Mission: Serving those who Served

Welcome to the Charleston County Veterans Affairs Office website. We are proud to serve our Veteran population in one of the most military-friendly locations in the United States.

On March 22, 1945, the SC General Assembly adopted a bill creating a Veterans Affairs (VA) office in each of the state’s 46 counties. Although mandated by the legislature, employees in this office are employed by Charleston County, not the Federal VA.

We are an advocate for Veterans and their surviving dependents. We provide the assistance needed in applying for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and for VA medical care. The Charleston County VA Office assists former and present members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents in preparing claims.

This office assists Veterans and their dependents in filing applications to determine their basic eligibility and conditions of benefits entitlement as administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Types of benefits include but are not limited to: service connected disabilities and non-service connected pension; death pension benefits; burial; medical care; educational assistance, including vocational rehabilitation; guaranteed home loans; government life insurance and other benefits.

This office does not:

Maintain or 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 any VAMC, CBOC, or Vet Center
Provide job placement
Generally, members of this office are not trained in Social Security or Department of Defense benefits, but can assist with some of these forms
Accept payment of any kind for services performed

Values

We will engage in a culture of excellence by providing Veterans and survivors with accurate information on VA benefits and programs; treat all clients with dignity and respect; respond timely to all communications; provide innovative computer services for Veterans to electronically enroll in VA programs and continually increase our knowledge of the multitude of VA Benefits.

We value honesty, respect, service to country, patriotism, sacrifice and personal excellence. We acknowledge, respect and honor all Veterans for their service to America no matter how, when or where they served. We proudly pledge ourselves to creating and maintaining a customer service environment for Veterans and their dependents. We hold ourselves accountable to our customers, partners and each other. We have a passion for Veterans and firmly believe that excellence is not a goal, it is the standard.

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