Veterans, active military personnel and their dependents should never pay for help to apply for veteran's benefits, according to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

"We've seen advertisements from businesses that offer veterans assistance in applying for benefits for free, and then end up charging a fee for financial planning services,'' said Brig. Gen. Mike Gould, the state's deputy adjutant general for veterans' affairs. "Free assistance is readily available from any accredited veterans service officer at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, their county director of veterans affairs or through a chartered veterans service organization such as the American Legion, VFW, DAV or AMVETS."

County directors of veterans affairs are accredited veterans service officers who provide veterans and their dependents assistance to identify and determine eligibility for veterans benefits, assist in the preparation of applications for benefits and programs such as the payment of burial allowances; ensuring grave markers and headstones are properly requested and placed; direct application for state programs like the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program, Veterans Emergency Assistance, Blind and Paralyzed Veterans Pensions and the Education Gratuity Program; and federal health care benefits, service connected disability and non-service connected disability pensions and survivor benefits.

For more information, visit the DMVA online at www.dmva.state.pa.us and click on Veterans Affairs or Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/padmva.