Veterans Service Officer urges council for part-time help, cites rising caseload

Eileen Wing, the county Veterans Service Officer, told the council the local office is overwhelmed by caseloads and needs help to process evidence and appeals for veterans' benefits.

Wing said the 2024 VA data showed 891 veterans in the county and that the number has since climbed to more than 1,000. “The 2024, VA GDX, stated that I have 891 veterans in Vermillion County. Right now, that is over 1000,” she said. She described the work as time consuming — reviewing medical records, pulling evidence for disability claims, and helping surviving spouses — and asked the council to consider adding roughly 15–20 hours per week of part-time assistance so she can keep up with cases and take occasional days off.

Council members responded that they had heard positive reports about her work and committed to meeting with the VSO to scope needs and cost; the presiding officer said staff would help prepare an additional appropriation request if needed and that the council would advertise any required appropriation so it could be considered at a future meeting. No formal appropriation was approved at the Aug. 10 meeting.

Speakers emphasized the human impact of the work: public commenters and at least one veteran said they had seen improved service since the current VSO began and urged the council not to lose that capacity because of workload constraints.