Veterans Benefits Specialist

• Pay or shift range: $23.90 USD to $27.15 USD

VETERANS BENEFITS SPECIALIST

Kenosha County is seeking a dedicated Veterans Benefits Specialist who wants to make a meaningful impact supporting our veteran community.

The Veterans Services Office provides support to veterans and their dependents in obtaining benefits through federal and state programs, acting as an advocate on their behalf and directing them to other authorized agencies or providers as their needs dictate.

2026 Hiring Range: $23.90 - $27.15 per hour

Position Summary and Job Duties

The Veterans Benefits Specialist, reporting to the Assistant Veterans Services Officer, performs complex claim processing, clerical, and record keeping procedures calling for individual judgment and initiative. This position is responsible for conducting transactions in matters requiring a highly specialized knowledge and understanding of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) laws, regulations, and/or departmental policies and procedures.

Tasks are performed under the direction of the County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) and involve highly confidential information. Job duties include:

• Process veterans and their dependents' applications for disability compensation and pension, to include health care, skilled nursing care, and caregiver services
• Work directly with veterans and their dependents regarding medical, subsistence, retraining, relief grant, and financial assistance programs
• Work directly with veterans and their dependents regarding education benefits and eligibility for tuition assistance through GI bills, to include vocational rehabilitation
• Assist in the coordination and planning of major events such as Boundless Adventure Veteran Climb, Veterans Day celebration, Veterans Picnic, Veteran Town Hall meetings for Veteran to include local involvement
• Serve as communication central point of contact to promulgate the latest information and news to veterans via email, social media, and other platform outlets
• Process Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims and veterans’ burial reimbursement for survivors and eligible dependents
• Work directly with veterans and their dependents to determine and process benefit eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), and Kenosha County benefits available
• Perform as the Co-Mentor Coordinator for Second Judicial District of Wisconsin Veterans Treatment Court
• Coordinate the issuance of gas cards to assist veterans to/from their scheduled medical appointments within the VA hospital system
• Maintain database of users of the Kenosha County for veterans’ programs; input/update veteran information into WDVA database, including discharges; and maintain Vetra Spec proprietary database for management reports
• Work and communicate with various federal, state, and local agencies to assist veterans and their dependents, such as Social Security Administration, Vet Center, Register of Deeds, Department of Health & Human Services, other County Veterans Services Offices, and medical facilities
• Attend national and state training conferences and informative workshops and meetings to maintain accreditation and working knowledge of veterans’ benefits
• Provide notice of veteran deaths to Milwaukee VA Regional Office (VARO) and provide information regarding veteran burials to WDVA as required by statutes
• Understand and maintain database program for submission of grants
• Prepare press releases from VA and/or WDVA information and release to area newspapers, maintain Division of Veterans Services web page, and prepare/update informational brochures and handouts to County veteran service organizations and others
• Initiate…