Thanks to the efforts of the California County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), tens of thousands of California veterans are getting the federal benefits they’ve earned through their military service.

During Fiscal Year 2011-2012, CVSOs set a new-veterans benefits record by garnering $346,727,459 in benefit payments which are paid directly to qualifying veterans. That accomplishment bests the previous fiscal year’s total by nearly 6 percent.

“The partnership between CalVet and the CVSOs is critical to the ability of each to effectively reach and assist California veterans and their families,” said Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “Besides improving the lives of families, the dollars veterans benefits bring into the State improve local communities as well. We appreciate the work the CVSOs do and congratulate them on their steadily increasing benefit payment numbers.”

State and federal veterans benefits, available to everyone honorably discharged from the U.S. military, include disability compensation and pension payments, health care, money for education and training, housing, home loans, and many others. Unlike Social Security, veterans’ benefits must be applied for individually.

The CVSOs are trained, accredited professionals located in each county who help veterans and their families navigate the complex and often frustrating benefit application processes.

By law, this service is provided at no cost to the veterans.

For a list of County Veterans Service Offices in California, go to www.cacvso.org and click on “contact us.”