Men and women who have volunteered to serve in the armed forces of the United  States have earned the respect of a grateful nation. I am always mindful of sacrifices they and their families have made in the dedicated service of our country. I have made a commitment that I will do everything I can to assist them when they need help from my office. Please do not hesitate to call my office at (203)333-6600.  

Below are a number of resources available to veterans to help with a wide array of issues. 

Available Benefits 

The Veterans Administration publishes a guide to all federal benefits available to veterans. A Spanish-language version is available, too. 

You can find phone numbers for offices that co-ordinate benefits like life insurance, pension management, homeless services for veterans and many others. Here are links to a few specific VA websites: 

You can also track the status of any benefit claims you have submitted by using the eBenefits site. It serves as a "single sign-on, central access point to online benefits and related services" for veterans. If you are not receiving your benefits, call my office at  (203)333-6600.  

Voting 

For military members voting while deployed or away from home, the Election Assistance Commission maintains a guide to resources for military (and other overseas) voters.

State Resources 

The State of Connecticut's Department of Veterans' Affairs is another resource for information. The state's Veterans Info Line is available at 1-866-9CT-VETS (1-866-928- 8387). The state also employs Veterans' Service Officers who assist veterans with the preparation and presentation of claims through its Office of Advocacy and Assistance.

Veterans Making the Transition Back to Civilian Life 

If you or someone you know would is having difficulty following deployment or other service, there are over 300 Vet Centers nationwide provide counseling, outreach, and referral services to eligible veterans.  

Click here to find a Vet Center near you.  

Suicide Prevention 

I'd also like to direct veterans to suicide prevention resources if they or someone they know would like to talk to a fellow vet or counselor. Veterans (or their friends and  family) can chat anonymously online with a trained VA counselor about concerns or suicidal thoughts. You can call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone. And, the Department of Defense and the VA have partnered to create the Suicide Outreach website with lots of information, testimonials from fellow vets, and more Thirty Medal of Honor recipients have shared their stories and made appeals to veterans to seek help. Find stories at http://www.medalofhonorspeakout.org/.