Military Family Relief Fund Indiana Wthr Tv 13
WRTV's Kara Kenney reports on a new law which allows the country to use up to 10% of armed services license plate revenue for marketing and promotion of the Armed services Family Relief Fund.
INDIANAPOLIS — WRTV Investigates is digging into whether a program meant to aid veterans in need is actually working.
A new law, Senate Enrolled Act 316, took outcome July ane which allows the state to use up to ten% of war machine license plate acquirement for marketing and promotion of the Military machine Family Relief Fund.
The Indiana Section of Veterans Diplomacy (IDVA) wants to aid more than military machine families with up to $ii,500 for nutrient, housing, transportation, utilities and medical expenses.
Sandra Smith of Fishers lost her hubby Keith, an Army veteran, to pancreatic cancer last year.
"It's been a struggle when he passed away," said Sandra. "He helped me a lot. I just got on disability, and we were struggling."
Sandra'due south sister told her almost the state's Military Family Relief Fund.
Sandra applied and received $1,226, which went toward her rent and electric beak.
WRTV Photograph
"Information technology helped me and then much that month," said Sandra. "I didn't know what to do because I have medicines I take to pay for."
The Indiana Department of Veterans Diplomacy launched a new promotional campaign in October using radio ads in all 92 counties, as well as digital and social media ads.
IDVA director Dennis Wimer says the campaign is working.
WRTV Investigates asked the agency for numbers to back it upwards.
Since the promotional entrada launched October four, applications increased 20% and traffic to the Armed forces Family unit Relief Fund's website is up 27%.
"In the end, that's what we're trying to practice is get more veterans to be aware that this fund exists and get more than coin for those veterans in need," said Wimer. "We are very excited nigh the growth we've seen."
The police force gets rid of restrictions that previously meant IDVA had to deny 75% of applications for aid.
Veteran applicants no longer have to show their hardship is a upshot of their armed forces service. The state as well removed the requirement that you had to have served during wartime and the requirement that you have to serve on active duty for a year to become MFRF benefits.
In the 4 months following the changes, (July 2021 – October 2021), the number of applicants has grown to 81 per month (a 170% increase) and $39,000 has been granted per month (a 118% increment).
When compared to the aforementioned fourth dimension in 2020, IDVA has seen a 53% increase in the number of applicants per month and a 76% increase in dollars delivered per month.
Wimer says the land can assist even more veterans—it brings in $two 1000000 a year from armed services license plate revenue, plus it'southward sitting on a $10 million fund it can also dip into.
"You lot don't want to do everything at in one case, considering of a sudden y'all break the bank," said Wimer. "By giving out more than money, we are cutting into that $2 1000000 a year but we are not at the point where we are giving out $4 million a year to be able to showtime cutting into the $10 1000000 bigger bucket. That's what at some bespeak I want to start working through. "
In 2018 under previous IDVA leadership, WRTV Investigates uncovered IDVA gave out Military Family Relief Fund benefits across the $2,500 limit including to IDVA's ain employees.
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IDVA workers must now get before the state'southward veterans commission if they want assistance, simply that has still to happen.
"In the iii years, nosotros haven't had everyone make a request," said Wimer.
If a veteran wants more than than the $ii,500 limit, they also have to get earlier the committee.
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"I would say 5-10% of total applications hit that bucket only each 1 gets reviewed individually," said Wimer.
In July 2021, the IDVA team contacted every MFRF applicant who was previously denied to inform them about the changes and encourage them to reapply.
These communications resulted in more than $20,000 being delivered to those veterans in need, co-ordinate to the bureau.
IDVA also developed and launched a web application for the MFRF at the end of June 2021.
Sandra Smith is grateful for the Armed forces Family Relief Fund, and she hopes others hear about information technology.
"Go put your application in and they will assistance y'all," said Sandra. "You lot should do it."
Some veterans take criticized the legislation because they said the land should use its ain upkeep, not license plate revenue, to promote the Military machine Family Relief Fund.
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Veterans in need can apply for the Military machine Family Relief Fund here, become to the Indiana Veterans Center at 777 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis, or find your County Veterans Service Office.
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Source: https://www.wrtv.com/news/wrtv-investigates/state-helping-more-veterans-and-their-families-under-new-law-records-show
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