Many Missouri veterans are not claiming the benefits they earned while serving their country. Missouri ranked near the bottom, 43rd, among the states in connecting its veterans to their benefits. A year of concentrated effort has improved Missouri’s ranking to 35th, still Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell, who chairs the Veterans Benefits Awareness Task Force, says much work needs to be done to get Missouri veterans the benefits owed them. The task force has been working to raise awareness among veterans of the benefits provided by the Veterans Administration. And Maxwell says he has been working to raise awareness among state lawmakers that Missouri is missing out on about $300 million in veterans benefits that should be flowing to the state, adding that lawmakers would work hard to lure a company with that kind of impact to the state.
