Deadline approaching for Iraq war veterans to get bonus

deadline for the cash expires Dec. 31, a state official said Thursday. “We’ve been flooded with applications this past month,” said Joe Eden, a veterans support specialist with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.

So far this month, the Ohio Veterans Bonus reported receiving 655 applications, of which 156 were from Iraq veterans, said Michael McKinney, agency spokesman. In November, the program had a total of 499 applications.

He said the higher number was driven by the approaching Iraq deadline. All told, the Ohio Veterans Bonus program has paid out $69.1 million to Ohio veterans or active duty service members from Ohio, according to the state agency. Of the 85,336 applications received thus far, more than 25,000 were from Iraq veterans, the largest of any eligible group, he said.

Veterans who are Ohio residents or active duty service members from Ohio who served in Iraq between March 19, 2003 and March 31, 2011, can receive payments of $100 for each month of service up to 10 months, according to the state agency. Afghanistan veterans who have served since Oct. 7, 2001 are eligible for the same bonus, but an application deadline has not yet been declared.

The Ohio Veterans Bonus program also is open to any active-duty service member or veteran who served anywhere in the world since the Afghanistan war began, McKinney said. Compensation is up to $50 a month for up to 10 months.

Veterans can apply for both bonuses for a maximum of $1,500, Eden said. Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2009 for the sale of up to $250 million in bonds to pay bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, McKinney said. The deadline for the bonus for Persian Gulf War veterans has expired.

The state has authorized up to $85 million in bonds for the program, and McKinney said the agency doesn’t anticipate asking for more funds given the end of the Iraq war and a U.S. troop draw down in Afghanistan.

For additional information, and to ask for an application, call (877) 644-6838, option 2, log ontowww.veteransbonus.ohio.gov, or visit a county veterans office in Ohio. Click on www.ohiovet.govfor a list of offices.