DMVA to codify Veterans Temporary Assistance; agency cites large annual trust-fund distributions

Jeff King described Veterans Temporary Assistance as a critical cash-assistance program funded from the Veterans Trust Fund that DMVA now proposes to codify in regulation. “This program provides critical cash assistance drawn from the Veterans Trust Fund to a very broad cross section of our veteran population,” King said, noting the program replaced an earlier emergency assistance program and has been administered under 2016 guidelines since creation by Act 109 of 2016.

During testimony King stated the program historically grants what he characterized as "on average, between $607,100,000 dollars per year" directly to veterans and their dependents. Committee members did not contest the number at the hearing but the figure stands out as unusually large for the program and should be verified against Veterans Trust Fund audited statements. DMVA emphasized that the final-form regulation makes no substantive programmatic changes to Veterans Temporary Assistance but will codify administrative rules.