Two Indiana veterans are raising concerns that state employees are receiving special treatment when requesting money from the state’s veterans assistance fund.
Air Force veteran Lisa Wilken and Army veteran William Henry are concerned about how the state’s Military Family Relief Fund is being managed. The fund was created in 2007 to help veterans with food, housing, utilities, medical services and transportation.
The Indianapolis Star reports that at least 11 employees of the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs have been awarded money from the fund. Employees have collectively received about $40,000 in recent years, with some receiving more than the fund’s $2,500 limit.
Agency Director James Brown says “no laws have been broken.” He says the cases that have exceeded the limit are for special circumstances.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Eric Holcomb says he’s waiting for results from an ongoing state audit of the agency.
