This week women veterans from throughout Florida will meet in Tampa for the 2nd Annual Women Veterans’ Conference. The goal is to sign them up for available benefits and resources.
This is the second year the state is reaching out to women veterans. The conference has expanded to two days, July 30-31, 2015, at the University of South Florida Tampa campus to accommodate demand.
“We had so many women veterans stay behind for hours afterward last year,” said Alene Tarter, director of benefits and assistance for the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA). “So, we decided to have it for two days.”
Tarter said all women veterans should attend the free gathering even if they’re already signed up for VA benefits.
“Because benefits change all the time and new benefits are added all the time,” Tarter said.
There also will be workshops on employment, educational opportunities and vocational training.
Florida has 160,000 women veterans and many have never applied for VA benefits.
Helping women veterans apply for benefits is only part of the conference. Larri Gerson, claims supervisor with FDVA, will present a workshop on the VA benefits appeals process.
“And then going through the process of having women veterans understand what we can do to help them with their claim with PTSD, MST (Military Sexual Trauma) before a hearing,” Gerson said. “And they can come in prepared- much better prepared, than if they were to go in by themselves.”
The conference is free and open to women vets, their spouses and support. Online registration is available through the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
