The 2022 Polk County Veteran’s Service Center and the Minnesota Department of Veteran’s Affairs (MDVA) are now offering a post-9/11 Veteran Service Bonus to eligible Veterans that are currently serving service members or a part of Veterans’ beneficiaries. The service bonus comes in three award levels and is available until the end of June 2024 or until the funds have been exhausted, with the payments being processed on the week of July 25.
This bonus is a new addition to the bonuses given out to Veterans that served in American wars such as World War II, the Korean War, the Gulf War, and the Vietnam War. “How the bonuses started was after every war that we’ve had in the past, World War, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War, Minnesota has had a bonus given after each war that has been done,” Polk County Veterans Officer Kurtis Ellefson explained. “Now that we’ve pulled out of Afghanistan and Iraq in the last year, that’s when the Minnesota State Legislative came up with the bonus for 9/11 Veterans.” The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has been awarded $25 million for the bonus, which is available to veterans to apply for until the end of June 2024, unless the funds have been exhausted. Polk County Veterans Officer Ellefson encourages veterans to come and get their bonuses as soon as possible, as it is a first-come, first-serve basis.
Earlier this year, the 2022 Legislature passed, and Governor Tim Walz signed the first-ever Veterans Omnibus Bill that included funding for a service bonus to eligible Veterans who served from September 11, 2001, to August 30, 2021, which the MDVA began facilitating to Veterans, current serving service members, and Veteran’s beneficiaries. The application for the bonus began on Thursday, July 7, and offers three award levels to the Veterans in how much they can receive, one for $600, one for $1,200, and one for $2,000, depending on if they meet specific terms. “You have to be a Minnesota resident when you went into active duty, and you be a current Minnesota resident,” Ellefson explained. “Veterans that receive the $600 bonus were Veterans that served after 9/11. Those that have the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal can receive the $1,200 bonus. For Gold Star families, there’s a $2,000 bonus as well, which is the highest one for them, for beneficiaries of Veterans who provided honorable and federal service. Veterans that have passed away overseas in combat or if it’s a service-connected disability, disease, or condition.” It is noted that the same Expeditionary and Campaign Medals that apply for the $1,200 bonus also apply for the $2,000 benefit. Ellefson also stated that the price of the bonuses are based on what the Vietnam veterans received for their bonus after the Vietnam War compared to what it would be today.
If there are veterans that fit within the terms for any of these awards can apply for the Service Bonus by going to www.MinnesotaVeteran.org/ServiceBonus, and they can create their own account that will track their bonus application. “All they’re going to need is a Minnesota Driver’s License or some kind of proof of Minnesota residency, their Deed 14, their discharge paper, and their W-9 form, which is on the site, which they can print off and sign or electronically sign,” Ellefson explained. “Once you submit that all in, you should be good to go, but if you have questions, you can contact our office. If you’re not computer savvy or feel confident in doing it yourself, you can make an appointment at our office, and we will help you do it.” Ellefson explained that once a veteran has applied for the bonus, the MDVA will begin processing the payments by the beginning of the week of July 25, and they will receive their check in the mail sometime in August. But Ellefson also reminds them that the bonuses are first-come, first-serve, and while they have until June 30, 2024, to apply, they will be unavailable if the funds are exhausted before then.
