News & Events

September 25

VETERANS’ PICNIC
12:00 – 4:00 pm
Penns Grove VFW – Margaret Street, Penns Grove NJ

September 30

VETERANS’ DINNER
6:00 pm Sharp
Salem Community College – DuPont Field House
Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point NJ

November 30

SALEM COUNTY MEDAL CEREMONY
6:00 pm Sharp
Salem Community College – Davidow Theater
Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point NJ

Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccinations for Veterans of All Ages Enrolled in VA Health Care at Wilmington VA Medical Center Campus March 24-26.

Wilmington VA Medical Center will be offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans enrolled in VA health care, regardless of age, at our main medical center location in Wilmington March 24 – 26.

• Location: Wilmington VAMC, 1601 Kirkwood Highway (Auditorium on ground floor), Wilmington, DE 19805
• Days/Times: Wednesday, March 24 – Friday, March 26 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Our preference is for Veterans to schedule appointments by calling 302-633-5200 or through the VA Health Chat Application, but walk-ins will be accepted during the identified times.

Enrolled Veterans will be vaccinated based upon vaccine availability. Veterans may experience fluctuating wait times based upon demand, and if unable to get vaccinated that day, we will work to schedule Veterans for a future appointment.

Veterans must bring their VA ID to verify VA enrollment.

Vaccinations at our Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware (Kent and Sussex counties) and southern New Jersey (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties) are still by scheduled appointment only.

Stay Informed
We will continue to post routine updates around our operating status, getting care and COVID-19 information on our website and on our social media channels @WilmingtonVAMC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Wilmington VA Medical Center expanded its COVID-19 vaccination eligibility requirements to include Veterans enrolled in VA health care who are aged 55 years and older. Eligibility Requirements During this initial phase of limited supply, our facilities are offering vaccinations to the following categories of Veterans receiving care through Wilmington VA Medical Center or one of our clinics in Delaware and southern New Jersey:

1. Veteran must be enrolled in VA health care at Wilmington VAMC or one of its five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware or southern New Jersey, AND
2. Veteran must be 55 years or older, OR
3. Enrolled Veteran has underlying health conditions that puts him or her at higher risk. Veteran should speak with his or her primary care team.

Scheduling Appointments by Phone or Health Chat Eligible Veterans can now call 302-633-5200 to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Over-the-phone scheduling is available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Due to high-call volume, we ask that Veterans call back between the scheduled times if they are unable to get through on initial attempts. Veterans who have signed up for VA Health Chat, can use the application to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Walk-in Availability at the Medical Center Campus in Wilmington Wilmington VA Medical Center will be holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics for eligible Veterans (meeting the eligibility requirements above) at the main medical center location in Wilmington on Thursdays and Fridays in March. Eligible Veterans are encouraged to schedule appointments, but there will be limited availability for unscheduled walk-in vaccinations.

• Dates/Time: March 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26  Walk-ins are available: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Wilmington VA Medical Center (Ground Floor/Auditorium Entrance),

1601 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805 Veterans who receive the vaccination, need to be committed to returning to the medical center21 days later to receive their second dose of the vaccination. If you are an eligible Veteran and cannot get a walk-in vaccination, we schedule you for a future vaccination appointment (sometimes as soon as the next day). Additional Information For more information on the Wilmington VA Medical Center COVID-19 vaccine program, eligibility and enrollment questions and frequently asked questions, visit our webpage.

Now Available: Call-in COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling at Wilmington VA Medical Center

Veterans receiving health care at Wilmington VA Medical Center or one of our five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware or southern New Jersey who meet the criteria below can now schedule appointments over the phone.

COVID-19 Vaccination Criteria
During this initial phase of limited supply, our facilities are offering vaccinations by appointment only to the following categories of Veterans receiving care through VA:

1. Veteran must be enrolled in VA health care at Wilmington VAMC or one of its five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware or southern New Jersey, AND
2. Veteran must be 65 years or older, OR
3. Enrolled Veteran has underlying health conditions that puts him or her at higher risk. Veteran should speak with his or her primary care team.

Scheduling Appointments
Eligible Veterans can now call 302-633-5200 to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Over-the-phone scheduling is available Monday – Friday- from B a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
We will do our best to schedule appointments with Veterans who meet the above criteria when they call in, but due to high-call volume, we ask that Veterans call back between the scheduled times if they are unable to get through on initial attempts.

Please join us virtually March 16, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (EST) as we discuss multiple ways to access capital for your veteran owned small business.

You will hear from the Sheryl Paynter Lead Lender Relations & Economic Development Specialist with the N.J. SBA as she discusses lending requirements, access to capital and SBA guaranteed loans.

REGISTER HERE

The new Community care Mission Act was passed in 2018 to become effective in June of 2019. The new Mission Act empowers Veterans and enhances care options, by providing  care in a VA Facility, your home or In your Community Hospitals and Urgent Care Centers, (IT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE!)    

This article will consider the “Urgent Care Option that all Veterans can use if they are eligible.

URGENT CARE is one of the new benefits offered as part of the VA Mission Act that gives Veterans greater choice in their health care. The benefit is offered in addition to the opportunity to receive care from a VA provider, such as your local Hospital if they have signed a “Providers Agreement” with the VA. This article will deal with working to insure the Veterans understand how to use the new “urgent care benefit”.

1. What is urgent care?
   Urgent care is a type of walk in health care for situations where you need help but don’t have an emergency. This includes colds, Ear infections, Minor injuries, Pink eye, Skin infections and strep throat.
2. Are there urgent care providers near you?
   VA launched this program in June of this year and are working to expand their network of urgent care providers, adding more each week. Urgent care providers are vetted and must meet strict standards of care and other requirements before they are added to the VA network. To find a location, use the VA facility locator at va.gov/find-locations . If you arrive at an urgent care location and have difficulty receiving care, call 866-620-2071 for assistance.
3. How do I get prescription medication with the urgent care benefit?
   You can get up to a 14 day supply of prescription medication through VA, or VA contracted pharmacy. If you choose to fill an urgent care prescription at a non-contracted pharmacy, you will be required to pay for the prescription when you pick it up and then file a claim for reimbursement at your local VA medical facility
4. Do you have to make copayments for urgent care?
   Co-payments will depend on your assigned priority group with VA Healthcare and the number of times you visit any urgent care provider within one year. You will not pay urgent care anything on your visit. If a co-pay charge is required the VA will Bill you direct
5. ELIGIBILITY
6. You must be enrolled and registered in VA Healthcare
7. You must call 1-833-483-8669 with the last 4 of you Soc. Sec. Number and your birth date and, and they will advise you of your eligibility.

If you have questions please contact the Salem County Veterans office at 856-339-8603

September 25

VETERANS’ PICNIC
12:00 – 4:00 pm
Penns Grove VFW – Margaret Street, Penns Grove NJ

September 30

VETERANS’ DINNER
6:00 pm Sharp
Salem Community College – DuPont Field House
Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point NJ

November 30

SALEM COUNTY MEDAL CEREMONY
6:00 pm Sharp
Salem Community College – Davidow Theater
Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point NJ

Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccinations for Veterans of All Ages Enrolled in VA Health Care at Wilmington VA Medical Center Campus March 24-26.

Wilmington VA Medical Center will be offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans enrolled in VA health care, regardless of age, at our main medical center location in Wilmington March 24 – 26.

• Location: Wilmington VAMC, 1601 Kirkwood Highway (Auditorium on ground floor), Wilmington, DE 19805
• Days/Times: Wednesday, March 24 – Friday, March 26 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Our preference is for Veterans to schedule appointments by calling 302-633-5200 or through the VA Health Chat Application, but walk-ins will be accepted during the identified times.

Enrolled Veterans will be vaccinated based upon vaccine availability. Veterans may experience fluctuating wait times based upon demand, and if unable to get vaccinated that day, we will work to schedule Veterans for a future appointment.

Veterans must bring their VA ID to verify VA enrollment.

Vaccinations at our Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware (Kent and Sussex counties) and southern New Jersey (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties) are still by scheduled appointment only.

Stay Informed
We will continue to post routine updates around our operating status, getting care and COVID-19 information on our website and on our social media channels @WilmingtonVAMC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Wilmington VA Medical Center expanded its COVID-19 vaccination eligibility requirements to include Veterans enrolled in VA health care who are aged 55 years and older. Eligibility Requirements During this initial phase of limited supply, our facilities are offering vaccinations to the following categories of Veterans receiving care through Wilmington VA Medical Center or one of our clinics in Delaware and southern New Jersey:

1. Veteran must be enrolled in VA health care at Wilmington VAMC or one of its five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware or southern New Jersey, AND
2. Veteran must be 55 years or older, OR
3. Enrolled Veteran has underlying health conditions that puts him or her at higher risk. Veteran should speak with his or her primary care team.

Scheduling Appointments by Phone or Health Chat Eligible Veterans can now call 302-633-5200 to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Over-the-phone scheduling is available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Due to high-call volume, we ask that Veterans call back between the scheduled times if they are unable to get through on initial attempts. Veterans who have signed up for VA Health Chat, can use the application to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Walk-in Availability at the Medical Center Campus in Wilmington Wilmington VA Medical Center will be holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics for eligible Veterans (meeting the eligibility requirements above) at the main medical center location in Wilmington on Thursdays and Fridays in March. Eligible Veterans are encouraged to schedule appointments, but there will be limited availability for unscheduled walk-in vaccinations.

• Dates/Time: March 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26  Walk-ins are available: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
• Location: Wilmington VA Medical Center (Ground Floor/Auditorium Entrance),

1601 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805 Veterans who receive the vaccination, need to be committed to returning to the medical center21 days later to receive their second dose of the vaccination. If you are an eligible Veteran and cannot get a walk-in vaccination, we schedule you for a future vaccination appointment (sometimes as soon as the next day). Additional Information For more information on the Wilmington VA Medical Center COVID-19 vaccine program, eligibility and enrollment questions and frequently asked questions, visit our webpage.

Now Available: Call-in COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling at Wilmington VA Medical Center

Veterans receiving health care at Wilmington VA Medical Center or one of our five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware or southern New Jersey who meet the criteria below can now schedule appointments over the phone.

COVID-19 Vaccination Criteria
During this initial phase of limited supply, our facilities are offering vaccinations by appointment only to the following categories of Veterans receiving care through VA:

1. Veteran must be enrolled in VA health care at Wilmington VAMC or one of its five Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Delaware or southern New Jersey, AND
2. Veteran must be 65 years or older, OR
3. Enrolled Veteran has underlying health conditions that puts him or her at higher risk. Veteran should speak with his or her primary care team.

Scheduling Appointments
Eligible Veterans can now call 302-633-5200 to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Over-the-phone scheduling is available Monday – Friday- from B a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
We will do our best to schedule appointments with Veterans who meet the above criteria when they call in, but due to high-call volume, we ask that Veterans call back between the scheduled times if they are unable to get through on initial attempts.

Please join us virtually March 16, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (EST) as we discuss multiple ways to access capital for your veteran owned small business.

You will hear from the Sheryl Paynter Lead Lender Relations & Economic Development Specialist with the N.J. SBA as she discusses lending requirements, access to capital and SBA guaranteed loans.

REGISTER HERE

The new Community care Mission Act was passed in 2018 to become effective in June of 2019. The new Mission Act empowers Veterans and enhances care options, by providing  care in a VA Facility, your home or In your Community Hospitals and Urgent Care Centers, (IT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE!)    

This article will consider the “Urgent Care Option that all Veterans can use if they are eligible.

URGENT CARE is one of the new benefits offered as part of the VA Mission Act that gives Veterans greater choice in their health care. The benefit is offered in addition to the opportunity to receive care from a VA provider, such as your local Hospital if they have signed a “Providers Agreement” with the VA. This article will deal with working to insure the Veterans understand how to use the new “urgent care benefit”.

1. What is urgent care?
   Urgent care is a type of walk in health care for situations where you need help but don’t have an emergency. This includes colds, Ear infections, Minor injuries, Pink eye, Skin infections and strep throat.
2. Are there urgent care providers near you?
   VA launched this program in June of this year and are working to expand their network of urgent care providers, adding more each week. Urgent care providers are vetted and must meet strict standards of care and other requirements before they are added to the VA network. To find a location, use the VA facility locator at va.gov/find-locations . If you arrive at an urgent care location and have difficulty receiving care, call 866-620-2071 for assistance.
3. How do I get prescription medication with the urgent care benefit?
   You can get up to a 14 day supply of prescription medication through VA, or VA contracted pharmacy. If you choose to fill an urgent care prescription at a non-contracted pharmacy, you will be required to pay for the prescription when you pick it up and then file a claim for reimbursement at your local VA medical facility
4. Do you have to make copayments for urgent care?
   Co-payments will depend on your assigned priority group with VA Healthcare and the number of times you visit any urgent care provider within one year. You will not pay urgent care anything on your visit. If a co-pay charge is required the VA will Bill you direct
5. ELIGIBILITY
6. You must be enrolled and registered in VA Healthcare
7. You must call 1-833-483-8669 with the last 4 of you Soc. Sec. Number and your birth date and, and they will advise you of your eligibility.

If you have questions please contact the Salem County Veterans office at 856-339-8603

Thank you to Tricia Painter for her donation of Branch and U.S. Flags for the Veterans Cemetery in memory of her father, David James Weitzel, Sr.

Mr. Weitzel is a Veteran of the U.S. Army.

Ms. Painter will be donating a set of flags every year for the next 10 years!

You’re entitled to military benefits that could drastically improve the quality of your life right now.

Learn more about your eligibility for benefits relating to:

• Peer support
• Finances
• Education
• Healthcare
• Legal support
• Employment
• Housing
• and more….

1-866-838-7654   ♦   www.njvet2vet.com

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced a new urgent care benefit under the newly implemented MISSION Act, for eligible Veterans. The urgent care benefit lets Veterans enrolled with the VA Healthcare to visit participating urgent care clinics in their community for treatment of minor healthcare needs.

“We want to be the preferred healthcare provider for Veterans and we will continue to strive to provide convenient, timely and high-quality health care to our Veterans. The new urgent care benefits offer additional options for eligible Veterans and helps VA leverage healthcare resources to better meet the needs of Veteran.” said Director Vince Kane who oversees the Wilmington VAMC and its five outpatient clinics in Delaware and southern New Jersey.

The urgent care benefit offers added convenience for eligible Veterans to use at any time, with any participating provider throughout the country – an excellent benefit for eligible Veterans that may be traveling over these summer months. Veterans do not need to receive VA authorization prior to visiting a participating urgent care provider nor do they have to make a co-payment at the time of their visit. Some Veterans may experience a VA copay after their urgent care visit based on their assigned priority group and the number of times they visit an in-network urgent care provider in a calendar year.

Medications prescribed to Veterans during their urgent care visit are covered for up to a 14-day supply through a VA pharmacy, VA contracted pharmacy or a non-contracted pharmacy. Prescriptions longer than a 14-day supply must be submitted to a VA pharmacy to be filled. If a non-contracted pharmacy is used the Veteran will have to pay out of pocket and file a reimbursement through their local VA.

To be eligible for urgent care benefits, Veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system and have received care through the VA from either a VA or community provider within the past 24 months. To learn more about VA urgent care benefits contact your local VA facility or visit www.va.gov/communitycare.

Veterans can contact the Wilmington VA Medical Center eligibility office at 800-461-8262 to check on their eligibility status.

If you are a Veteran and need assistance in enrolling in VA healthcare, you can contact one of our Veteran outreach specialists in your area. For the State of Delaware and Salem, New Jersey call 302-357-8715 or 302-932-7519. In Cape May, Northfield, Atlantic and Cumberland, New Jersey call 302-304-5509 or 302-358-9736.

A comprehensive list of participating urgent care community providers is available at www.va.gov/find-locations.

Our veterans deserve a lot of things. Praise. Honor. Security. Respect.

Here’s what they do not deserve: attempts to take advantage of their service. Yet every day, scammers attempt to defraud our veterans of their hard-earned benefits, steal their identity, or take their savings.

Together, we can fight back and take one small step to repay our veterans’ for the service they’ve given and the sacrifices they made.

KNOW THE ENEMY: How Scammers Target Veterans

1. VA LOAN SCAMS : Offers to refinance VA loans at extremely low-rates
2. UPDATE YOUR FILE SCAM: An imposter, claiming to be from a government agency, attempts to get a veteran’s personal information to “update their File” so they can maintain benefits.
3. SECRET VETERAN BENEFIT SCAM: Veterans are told they qualify for “secret” government programs or benefits that offer thousands of dollars—but first they attempt to collect personal information for a fee.
4. PENSION POACHING SCAM: Scammers often offer veterans lump sum payments up front, in exchange for signing over all of their future monthly benefit checks.
5. AID AND ATTENDANCE SCAM: Veterans (or their family members) receive an offer to move their assets into a living trust so that they can qualify for financial assisted-living benefits

VETERANS MAY ALSO ENCOUNTER GENERAL SCAMS

In addition to scams that specifically target veterans’, there are an abundance of scams aimed at the general public to which veterans are more susceptible. These include: Phishing(attempt to gain access to financial accounts),fake tech-support calls, fraudulent credit card/loan schemes, attempts to “collect” fictitious tax bills, fraudulent charities, investment scams, pyramid schemes, and more.

If you or a loved one has encountered a financial scam in the past 12 months, please help us keep fighting for our veterans by calling 877-908-3360

The information you provide is anonymous and will be used by AARP to prepare research on fraudulent activity affecting veterans. This is not a method of reporting crimes to law enforcement authorities. If you want to report mail related crimes please contact the USPIS at postalinspectors.usps.gov

If you would like to take a survey being conducted by AARP concerning fraudulent activity effecting Veterans, please stop buy the Salem County Veterans Office, to pick up a form to fill out, so they can continue to track fraud trends and warn our veterans.