Georgia veterans department reports $5.2 billion returned to veterans, expands outreach and suicide‑prevention work

Commissioner Trish Ross said the Georgia Department of Veterans Service brought roughly $5.2 billion in federal veteran benefits to Georgia veterans and their survivors last year and has stepped up outreach and suicide‑prevention efforts across the state.

Ross, who described the department’s four programs—benefits, cemeteries, veterans homes and administration—told the joint committee that the agency operates about 55 field offices and colocates with federal VA facilities to speed benefits enrollment for service members transitioning out of the military. “We brought in $5,200,000,000 into Georgians pockets, into veterans or their survivors pocket just this last year,” Ross said.

Why it matters: The department’s caseworkers and appeals officers handle benefit claims, appeals and care coordination that directly affect veterans’ income and access to care. Ross reported nearly 90,000 in‑office visits and about 40,000 claims submitted last year; an appeals team’s work produced about $40 million in retroactive awards.

The agency also emphasized suicide prevention. Ross described a grant‑funded suicide mortality review committee that partnered with Kennesaw State’s AIMS Center, coroners and public‑health data to analyze veteran suicide trends. She said Georgia’s veteran suicide rate remains well above the national average, and that firearms account for the majority of veteran suicide deaths in the state. “We are still double the national average,” Ross said, and flagged social isolation, housing instability and financial insecurity as leading risk factors identified by the department’s data.

Ross described the Fox Grant, now in its fourth year, and training programs for communities and service providers (including Mental Health First Aid). The department also rolled out a 24/7 clinical app for veterans statewide, which Ross said offers wellness content and clinical access at no cost; she cited a state access code during the briefing.

The department described a closed‑loop referral and insights platform (Unite Us) used to coordinate care with community partners. Ross said the system has recorded more than 18,000 touchpoints and helped identify more than 16,000 needs; it also produces county‑level “hot spot” data that guides outreach events for issues such as loneliness and housing instability.

What’s next: Ross said her office will use social media and direct communications to notify veterans about federal policy changes that affect benefits and will continue to expand the referral platform and partner network.