JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Save the date! Veterans with questions about benefits, claims, the PACT Act and more can get the answers in person.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System will host a PACT Act VetFest event from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.
It’s being held at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Kent Campus at 3939 Roosevelt Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32205.
24/7 VETERANS CRISIS LINE: Call 988 and Press 1
Veterans and families do NOT need to sign up or register for this event ahead of time, but you need to bring the following things if you are not already enrolled with VA:
- Photo ID
- Copy of your military records if available
- Copy of your DD 214
If you are already enrolled with VA, you only need to bring a photo ID.
For Katherine Sperry, the Suicide Prevention Supervisor in Jacksonville with the Department of Veterans Affairs, VetFest is important to her personally. Her husband, Timothy Sperry, is a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major who proudly served for 34 years -- some of that time deployed in combat in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. She says her husband will attend VetFest and do something that’s been a long time coming.
“He is coming down to have his toxic exposure screening and enroll in this particular VA,” Sperry said.
This important service being offered at VetFest is crucial as the special enrollment deadline for the PACT Act is 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30, 2023.
PACT ACT FACT SHEET: Combat Veteran Eligibility
The PACT Act, which stands for Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act, was signed into law in August 2022, expanding VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care and who were discharged or released between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care through the PACT Act. This special enrollment period gives Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for disability compensation benefits.
Along with toxic exposure screenings and PACT Act enrollment and education, other onsite services available at VetFest include VA health care enrollment, VA claims assistance, women’s health, mental health, whole health, Vet Center and more.
“We want all veterans to understand and know that we are here to help. We want them to have all of the benefits that are available to them,” said Sperry.
She and her team say the event is “everything veteran focused,” and will even be providing Narcan prescriptions on site for any veteran that would like to have it.
“It means a lot to be able to serve those have served us,” said Josh Pridgen, the Associate Director for Primary Care and Outpatient Services with North FL & South GA VA Health System.
“I have always said that I have the best job at the VA because if I have saved one life, my whole career was worth it,” added Sperry.
VA personnel from the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office and Veterans Health Administration will be at the event.
“This VetFest will be absolutely phenomenal, and we host these events in order to expedite health care for our Veterans who qualify,” said Wende Dottor, Director of the NF/SG Veterans Health System in a statement. “The PACT Act has created a unique opportunity, and it is urgent that Veterans apply now that way they can maximize the benefits associated with the special enrollment period. Veterans who meet certain qualifications are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care through the PACT Act.”