Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs

Scott Silvers

I would rate the office negative stars if I had the option. I received an email telling me about "Operation Back to School" and that I should apply. I did. I was told my request is denied because my step children are not my biological children, and since they are not my biological children, they aren't my dependents. That's odd because I support them 100 percent. They denied me, citing Title 37 USC 401; which they mention the first two, but leave out the one that pertains to me. (a)Dependent Defined.—In this chapter, the term “dependent”, with respect to a member of a uniformed service, means the following persons: (1)The spouse of the member. (2)An unmarried child of the member who— (A)is under 21 years of age; (B)is incapable of self-support because of mental or physical incapacity and is in fact dependent on the member for more than one-half of the child’s support; or (C)is under 23 years of age, is enrolled in a full-time course of study in an institution of higher education approved by the Secretary concerned for purposes of this subparagraph, and is in fact dependent on the member for more than one-half of the child’s support. (1)The term “child” includes— (A)a stepchild of the member (except that such term does not include a stepchild after the divorce of the member from the stepchild’s parent by blood. So I guess they get to take what they want out of it and ignore the rest of the code. I only wish I wouldn't have told the youngsters about it, but the same office approved a Christmas gift last year, so it wasn't out of line for me to think I would be approved for Operation Back to School. I am adding to this post because I received the final order from the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, which is nothing more than the judge relaying to the same office that denied my request to begin with that they are to deny it once again. And what really makes it a joke, a kangaroo court, is that there is no further appeal process; the issue never travels beyond the office it begins at. They hold the power to pick and choose who is worthy of assistance, what children deserve this gift. The children that reside in my home are below others on the human being totem pole because the veteran that looks out for them earns poverty level wages and is only able to provide the absolute basic necessities for them. This railroad court never once thought about the children or their needs. But I still question why they are the final authority on this? My VA case manager even asked me the same thing. This office has been investigated and cleaned out in the past for their questionable practice of ethics. I’m not finished with this yet, regardless of them telling me it’s over.

Pat Brown

I was extremely disappointed this am when I asked about the code IC 25-25-2-1..that they dont deal with veteran benifits and was given the answer that I needed to call Marion Co. What is their job? if not to define our benifits given to us by the state????

Damon Walls

Very professional and helpful also friendly

F Morales

Don’t let anyone at the front desk or at the IN DVA tell you to just “drop the form off”. No one in the office wanted to see customers. I was not going to leave my form in the lobby. A rep by the name of Kathy came waddling down upset. She asked for other documentation in addition to my form. So if I would’ve just dropped my form off it would’ve been another trip to that office. She stated she would make copies of the documents. I asked for a receipt or proof I turned this in. This made her even more upset and said they don’t provide anything and let out a big huff when she got in the elevator. Her coworker came down instead with my documents and my paperwork signed. I told him Kathy didn’t tell the guard on the phone additional documents were needed. He said she was new. Really? You let her just provide false information?