Department of Veterans Affairs

Somers, Connecticut

 

David P. McCaffrey                                         Sherri A. Marquis

Director                                                                Deputy Director

O: 860.272-4207                                                   O: 860.272.4207

C: 860.604.0634                                                   F: 860.763.8228

DMcCaffrey@SomersCT.gov                              SMarquis@SomersCT.gov

Veterans@SomersCT.gov                                    Veterans@SomersCT.gov

Appointed: June 2019                                          Appointed: January 2020

U.S. Navy, Retired                                                 U.S. Navy, Retired

 

Address:

Department of Veterans Affairs, 600 Main Street, Somers, CT  06071-2119

Mission:

Our mission is to care for those “who shall have borne the battle” and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. Our core values focus our minds on our mission of caring and thereby guide our actions toward service to others.  Our goal is to provide veterans with the world-class benefits and services they have earned — and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship.

 

**WHO WE HELP

• Any veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces between 1941 to present day
• Current active duty, Guard/Reserve
• An immediate family member of a US service member or veteran
• Caregiver to a US service member or veteran
• Surviving Family Member

**ALL WE NEED TO GET STARTED:

• DD-214, DD-215, or equivalent. If you do not have these, we can order them for you!
• Government Issued Photo Identification (Driver’s License, or State ID, or Military ID, etc.)

**OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE HELPFUL TO ENSURE YOU ARE GETTING THE MOST BENEFITS (BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED):

• Social Security Summary of Benefits Letter (if applicable)
• Medicare Card (if applicable)
• Civilian Healthcare card
• Disability decision (PEB, VA Rating Letter, etc.) – If Applicable
• Proof of all household income (i.e. most recent LES or RAS, civilian pay, disability benefits, pensions). Applicable for financial assistance.

*Various additional documents may be requested to facilitate assistance.

IMPORTANT: The Somers Department of Veterans Affairs is not a rapid response office. If you are a service member, veteran, caregiver, or family member in CRISIS, PLEASE contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1.

All services are provided free of charge.

The Somers Department of Veterans Affairs is staffed with two appointed military veterans standing by to assist fellow veterans and their family members with information about the following (not all-inclusive):

• General information concerning Veterans’ Benefits and Services
• Obtaining VA Healthcare Identification Card – VAHIC
• Obtaining a Veterans Identification Card -VIC
• Information concerning Veterans Healthcare Benefits
• Obtaining Connecticut Wartime Service Medal
• Obtaining Cold War Medal
• Veterans Winter Jackets
• Handmade, Quality Facemasks
• Notary Public Services (no service charge to U.S. Armed Forces Veterans)
• Elder Services for Veterans and Spouse
• Vocational Rehabilitation – Education – GI Bill
• Prescription Enrollment Services
• Employment/Career Services
• Financial Assistance
• Education & Training
• Veterans Housing
• Correction/Upgrades of Military Discharge/Records
• Replacement of Record of Service/ Obtain DD-214 / DD-215
• Information on Veteran Pensions
• Transition Assistance Programs – TAP
• Women Veterans Outreach
• Veterans Funeral and Memorial Services
• Burial Benefits and Grave Registry, Markers, Flag, and Headstones
• Survivors Benefits for Veterans’ / Widows
• Information on Obtaining CT Veterans’ License Plates
• Government Phones for Veterans
• Life Alert Device for Veterans
• USA (Veterans) Flag on CT Drivers License
• Information on Preparation and Submission of Compensation and Pension (Comp + Pen) (C+P) Applications
• Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Referral Services
• Veterans and Widows Emergency Assistance
• Real Estate/Property Tax Exemption for Wartime Veterans plus additional Tax Exemptions for 50-100% Disabled Wartime Veterans
• VA Home Loan Eligibility Assistance
• Blind or Paralyzed Veteran Pensions
• Application/Submission of Soldier-Sailor-Marine Fund (SSMF) Financial Assistance Packages
• Veterans Dental Programs
• Awards and Medals Correction/Replacement
• Understanding Social Security/Medicare and how it relates to Veterans
• Medicare Savings Application
• Veterans benefits for Home Improvement and Structural Alterations / VA Installed Medical Equipment
• Mental Healthcare Benefit for Veterans
• Caregiver Support Programs and Services
• Veterans Home Loan Guaranty Program
• Honor Flight Information and Application
• Homebound Veterans Services
• Homeless Veterans Services

If you served your country, you may be eligible for benefits you were unaware of. Contact us today and schedule an appointment to learn about your benefits.

Our gratitude to ALL who serve and sacrifice for AMERICA.

 Check out our:

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/SomersVets/

Website: https://www.somersct.gov/town-departments/veteransaffairs/

YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnxiq_C0s1N6AebBDL99ZzA

Yellow Pages: https://www.yellowpagesdirectory.com/Somers-CT/Department+of+Veterans+Affairs+-+Northern+CT+Regional+Office/351565

For more information on the Soldier-Sailor-Marine Fund (SSMF): https://www.alctssmf.org/

 

We are located at the Somers Town Hall, 600 Main Street, Room B-1, Somers, CT 06071-2119

Office Hours: Veteran’s Appointments are on Tuesday’s & Friday’s, 1000 to 1800 plus alternating Wednesday’s and Thursday’s

{If you are unavailable during those days/times, we also can set up tailored appointment days/times for your convenience}

Office: (860) 272-4207 or Cell: (860) 604-0634

 

The best way to reach us is by sending an email to “Veterans@SomersCT.gov” to set up discussion and counseling appointments. Our office currently has no administrative staffing available to answer calls during days and times allocated for veteran/veteran’s family member appointments.

 

To Make an Appointment contact us at 860-272-4207, or send us an email to Veterans@SomersCT.gov.

Appointments are “By Appointment Only” to afford the veteran complete privacy during their visit to our office.

Our Pledge:

Veterans deserve dignified services and together, here in our Somers community,

we PLEDGE to leave no one behind!

 

We welcome all veterans and their family members to visit our office so we can help you access resources to manage your VA benefits and health care and assist you in completing any forms/documents necessary to do so (other than completing/filing for disability compensation).  Although we are not authorized to assist you in directly filing a disability claim/compensation, we can share our personal experiences with you on the most effective and efficient means to do so.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

The Connecticut Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund (SSMF) was established in 1919 to assist needy wartime veterans and their families. Assistance is provided for temporary periods only and is limited in amount, frequency, and duration as specified by the State Fund Commission. Income and asset limitations apply.

Somers and local area Connecticut veterans requiring assistance may contact the Somers Fund Representative in order to discuss their situation and determine the assistance that the agency might be in a position to provide.

Purposes for which temporary assistance is available:

• Assistance with rental payments or mortgage interest payments
•  Assistance with utilities such as gas, electricity, water, and home heating fuel
• Assistance with medical expenses (Limits apply)
• Assistance with emergent dental care (Veteran only)
• Eye examination and eyeglasses
• Audiological evaluation and hearing aids
• Funeral expenses
• Durable medical equipment

Eligibility requirements are: Honorable wartime service as defined in Conn. Gen. Statutes Section 27-103, Connecticut residency, and Demonstration of need. Contact our office at Veterans@SomersCT.gov for more information or to start an application. We ARE processing applications during the pandemic/COVID-19 Outbreak.

The Somers Department of Veterans Affairs is your place to discover the wealth of resources available to you to acquire the benefits you have earned and deserve.  The following is a non-inclusive list of how we can help you:

• Service Member Benefits. Visit us so we can assist you in finding out what benefits you may be eligible for during service and which time-sensitive benefits to consider when separating or retiring.
• Your Family is Our Family. We will help you learn about the benefits you may qualify for as a spouse, dependent, or survivor. And we will help you find out what you are eligible for as a family member caring for a disabled veteran.
• Burials & Memorials. We will help you learn about the importance of planning a burial in a VA national cemetery – your resources and what you need to do.  We can share with you how to order a headstone or other memorial item to honor a veteran’s service and how to apply for survivor and dependent benefits.
• Careers and Employment. Learn about how to apply for vocational rehabilitation services, get support for your Veteran-owned small business, and access other career resources.
• Housing Assistance. We will be happy to help you find out if you are eligible for a VA-backed home loan. If you have a service-connected disability, you can find out through our resources if you qualify for a housing grant to help you live more independently.
• Pension. Learn how to apply for monthly payments for wartime Veterans and survivors with limited or no income who meet certain age and disability requirements.
• Life insurance. Help you connect with help to explore VA life insurance options for Veterans, service members, and families.
• Education and training. Connect you with resources to help you apply for and manage your GI Bill and other education benefits to help pay for college and training programs.
• Records. We can help you request your military records (DD-214/215 or equivalents), help you apply for a Veteran ID card (VIC) for verification to receive various military discounts, get your VA benefit letters and medical records, and help you apply for a discharge upgrade.
• Health care. Assisting you in applying for VA health care, finding out how to access services, and managing your health and benefits online is our pleasure.
• Disability. We are happy to direct you to the folks who can help you file a claim for disability compensation for conditions related to your military service and manage your benefits over time.

Revised: October 2022