County office will expand hours to serve veterans five days a week
By Steve Herring
Published in News on June 22, 2014 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/JOHN JOYCE
In response to requests from veterans, the Wayne County commissioners decided to open the Veterans Services Office five days a week beginning Tuesday.
Effective Tuesday, the Wayne County Veterans Services Office will be open Monday through Friday.
Like many of the county offices, Veterans Services has been operating on a four-day workweek since July 2008.
It is a matter of customer service, Wayne County Commissioner Bill Pate said.
"Some of the veterans had expressed to me that they wanted more time," he said. "That is where it came from. That building is open anyway (on Friday)."
Pate also serves as chairman of the commission's Veterans Advisory Committee.
"As you know, right now, they are only open four days a week," Wayne County Manager George Wood told commissioners at their most recent meeting. "I have indicated to (director LaShaunne Moore) that I would like for her to change that. She has some appointments scheduled for different hours through (June 23). On June 24, it will change back to a five-day workweek.
"What we are going to do there, there are two employees. One will work from 8 to 5. The other will work from 9 to 6. That will actually give us coverage in the office from 8 to 6 every day. It will be open five days a week and that should give us better service for our veterans."
The office shares space with Literacy Connections of Wayne County in the old Nash Printing building, 2001-D E. Ash St.
The Veterans Services Office, according to its website, advises veterans and their dependents of their rights and entitlements under various federal and state laws, counsels them and actively assists them by filling out necessary forms and papers, obtaining documents and affidavits and forwarding them to the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs for review and presentation before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The office also assists in other ways -- working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on such issues as compensation for disability or death, pension for non-service connected disability or death, dependency and indemnity compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education and training, guaranty or insurance of home loans, hospitalization, care, nursing home care, outpatient and dental care, prosthetic application, special housing and automobile adaptation, Government Life Insurance, fiduciary protection programs, and burial benefits to include flags, grave markers and payment assistance for plot and burial expenses.
To schedule an appointment, go by the office or call 919-731-1490.