May 27, 2026 • 42 mins
We are talking with the Administrator of the Shelby County Veterans Services with Shelia Terrell on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Bell ting time talking and home away.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
How are you go?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
You go? Son't getting ready in time to show.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
Show?
Speaker 5 (00:22):
Let's go bell.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Just we make gordayy by here talk you d.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
She'll listen to what to say. You know, it's time
about to fish of the mountain.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Joy, Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
We are rocking and rolling on this Wednesday, May twenty seventh,
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Enjoy this fabulous day to day. As I said.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Earlier, we will learn information about the Veterans' services from
the Shelby County government and with me this day is
Miss Sheila Terrell, who is the administrator with the Shelby
County Veteran Services here in Memphis. And let me say you, boy,
it's been a long time seeing you, sister, is it
(01:17):
a long time?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Good afternoon, Sheila, after noon, Good afternoon. Thank you so
much for having me be up. It's good to see
you again.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Good to see you. What you've been doing well.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
I've been taking care of me, that's right, taking care
of me. And I always say I'm a serial servant
because after I decided to leave the previous position and
take care of me, I thought, you know, I'll just
leave it alone a while. But through to form, I
just had to get back in to be a since
of serving the citizens of Shelby County.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Well I'm glad you did, and you look fabulous, Thank you,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Well, you know what, Sheila, I did not know Shelby
County had veteran Services.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
I mean I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
So I'm wondering how many of our listeners knew that
Shelby County offers services for veterans.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Well, it is my goal, there is my team's goal
to change that narrative. So I am trying to make
my rounds and let the citizens know that Shelby County
Government Veterans Services is here to serve veterans who reside.
Let me say that again, veterans who reside in Shelby County, Tennessee.
We are a department, a part of the Division of
(02:27):
Community Services. Our goal is the foster vibrant community where
all residents are connected, supported, safe, and well.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Bell.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Do you know that Shelby County itself is home to
more than fifty thousand veterans? No? Yes, wow, yes, and
we take our obligation to those veterans very seriously. You
know you can never repay the debt that we owe
to our veterans. They are the reason why we get
to live as we do here in the United States.
(02:56):
And our team is just dedicated to ensuring that those
veterans in that families are connected to all the benefits
and resources they're entitled to in any other information that
they may need.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
Wow. So with the services, let's talk, Shela. What are
some of the services that are offered.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
We have quite a bit of services. And I often say,
you know, when you hear about a veteran services office,
people say, oh, they're just a claims office. Well, let
me dispel that, bith. We are not a claim's office.
We are a services office. So we do more than
assists veterans with claim claims. Although that is our primary responsibility,
I want the citizens of Memphics to know that we
(03:36):
do other things also. Right now are our primary goal
is to assist with disability compensation claims and it is
a tax free benefit for veterans with physical or mental
disabilities that are caused or worsened by active military services.
The conditions can develop after they serve and sometimes conditions
(03:57):
become secondary to a service connected disabilities. So that's our
primary goal, but not our only goal. We also help
veterans and their survivors to apply for pension. And this
pension is a tax free, income based Let me say
that again. It's an income based benefit for wartime veterans,
their surviving spouses, they're unmarried children who meet the qualifications
(04:21):
as it relates to specific age disabilities, and whose income
limits fall within the VA asset limitations.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Okay, let me go back. So, and to be clear,
we want to be clear you all assist veterans in
getting these claims.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
That is correct. We are not the VA. We are
Shelby County government. We do not make any decisions. Our
goal is to assist the veterans in obtaining the benefits
that they are eligible for. And there is a myth
that if you were a veteran or are a veteran,
then you are entitled to service or top type of
(05:01):
compensation after you leave the military. That is not necessarily
the case. All veterans are not eligible. But if you
do have some type of physical or mental disability that
was caused or worsen by active military service, then we
can help you to apply for compensation for those benefits
(05:22):
through the VA.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Okay, and yeah, I'm wondering, Sheila, how many veterans out there,
because we you know, as long as I've been doing
this show, I've had veterans called and complaining so they
can't get this and about the VA. So that's why
I want to be clear that you all will assist
them in trying to get their claims and pension.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
And absolutely we will assist them in any way that
we can to obtain any benefits that they deserve or
again give them any information that they may need to
improve their quality of life.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Yeah. Yeah, And so this is for those veterans and
with some kind of disability.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yes, it must be a physical or mental disability, and
it had to have been calls. And I know I'm
repeating myself.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
But that's okay because somebody will call and say, yeah,
asked a question, and we want to be clear.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
You want to be clear.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
You must reside in Shelby County and you must have
a physical or mental disability that was calls or worsened
by active military service. Uh. And what I don't want
to happen is when I give all of our information. Now,
this happened last week someone called and said that lady
on the TV said, I can call and get my
husband a chick.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
No, I see.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
You know that's why I want to be clear. I
know somebody will will hear that.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, that's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
That's not what they do. Now you're saying that you
will assist them, and meaning assists.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Completely have to complete all of their forms and to
navigate such a complex system. Our goal is to be
their partner in obtaining the benefits that they are entitled to.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Okay, so that's one of the services. What else do
you all offer?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
We also are in addition to the disability compensation and
pension and survivor's pension, we also help veterans' families to
dependency with through dependency and indemnic compensation. Now that's also
a tax free benefit for ELIGIBRA survivors of service members
who died in the line of duty, whose death was
caused by service related disability, or who were rated at
(07:28):
one hundred percent permanent and total for at least ten
consecutive years. So this is somebody who was off typically
typically already getting a via disability check and so, and
then they died in the line of duty. So our
goal is to help their survivors to continue to receive compensation. Okay, Now,
(07:52):
those are the three or four primary things that we do.
But in terms of our other assistance, they are veterans
in the city who simply they don't even have their
DD two fourteens. They can't locate them. It's you know,
it's been a long time. We've had people who've moved,
who have fires. And of course your DD two fourteen
is the document that shows us that you actually served.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
In the military.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
So if you don't have a DD two fourteen, you
can come to our office and we will help you
to request that DD two fourteen. We help people to
become preregistered a burial in the state cemeteries. We help
with medical records requests. We help with aid and attendance.
We help with uploading claims. When the VA has denied
(08:39):
a claim and you have some supplemental information that you
want to send to the BA, we can upload that
for you and any other applicable requests that comes under
our purview. If we can help you, we absolutely will.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Yeah, and so you will get try to get that
information that that veteran needs.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Absolutely if they don't have it. Now, when you come
to see us, and we do have an intake The
way it works is if you feel that you have
a claim or if you need something, you would call
our intake office and we have a couple of young
ladies there who will ask you some personal questions. And
a lot of times the vets will say, oh, I
don't want to give out my personal information. Where the
(09:23):
difference is you would be calling us, we wouldn't be
calling you. So we will ask you for your day,
your full name, your data birch, your social Security number
so that we can input your information in the system.
So when you come and see a Veteran Services officer,
that's our team who actually assists the veterans, we'll have
all of your information pulled and ready to go. And
(09:44):
that way you spend your time talking about what it
is that you want instead of filling out documents.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
Okay, so.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Again I go back Sheila is and you mentioned how
many veterans here in Shelby County.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
But they are they coming in? Do they know about
this office?
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Some people do, But again my goal is to make
my rounds so that more people know that we are here.
We have a team of five Veteran Services officers. I
am in the process of increasing that team to ten
Veteran Services officers. We are all veterans, so and yes,
in order to work at our office, you must be
(10:29):
a veteran. Why okay, because veterans understand.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Veterans all right, and.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
So you will get a call or when you I'm sorry,
when you call us, we would do an intake form
and then we will schedule you an appointment to meet
with a Veteran Services officer and at that point we
will begin the process of your paperwork.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
We are speaking with Miss Sheila Taryll from the Shelby
County Veteran Services Offices here in at Memphis and Shelby County. Sheila,
I'm going to our phone lines to talk to one
of our listeners.
Speaker 7 (11:07):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Caller, good morning, it's still morning.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Doesn't know it's you, mister James.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
We're going to help the news to UH to you
and uh miss miss miss terror Errol. Yes, Miss Terryl
and I hope you guys are doing great. We're doing
my question great, not the question that Miss terror is this.
Speaker 8 (11:29):
UH.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
You also assist vesterings and working with different UH organization
that's supposed to be helping vesterors. You do that also?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
No, uh, We partner with different organizations who help veterans.
Our main partner is a Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. However,
we have a software program. If you need some type
of service, for example, housing, we can make a referral
for you and do a soft handoff in some instances.
But keep in mind our goal is to help you
(12:01):
to obtain benefits that you are eligible for.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Okay, Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever
heard of an organization called Disabled American Veterans? Yes, the
I'm not talking no, I'm talking about Okay, Disabled American
Veterans legit. But have you heard of an organization called
da V Americans Veterans?
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I have heard of da V. Now are you Are
you speaking of DAV that operates like that thrift store?
Speaker 5 (12:36):
Is that the organization that you are? Okay, tell me
a little bit about.
Speaker 9 (12:42):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
The reason that I'm inquiring this because there was a
lady that came in before you, or maybe you were
the same lady. They would come in and talk to
our veterans and a question was asked. So I wrote
a letter to the VA in Nashville on Ninth Street, no,
that was me. Okay, well let me just let me
(13:05):
say this to the veterans in this area. If you're
dealing with an organization called da V American Veterans, uh,
you should be weary of that organization.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
When I wrote a letter to the to the to
the Veteran Affairs in Nashville, Uh, they didn't answer my letter.
But this da V Americans Veterans sent me a form
to fill out to represent me. Now, I wouldn't look
for any representation, but I got a form for from
(13:40):
them that wanted to represent me. And I was furious
because I'm thinking that the Veterans Affairs in Nashville is
just sending all of my information to this da V
American Veterans.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Oh no, sir.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Let me also, if I may just for a moment,
you should know that Shabby County Government Veterans Services is free.
We offer our services right, We are a community resource
for free. And so if someone is asking you for
funding to represent you being you're right, you should be leary.
(14:15):
And we are accredited by the State of Tennessee all
of our Veteran Services officers and you're here to say VSOS,
that's an acronym for Veteran Services Officers. We are trained
and accredited by the State of Tennessee.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
And the keywords is A credited because I wrote a
letter to the VA Evidence Center in Wisconsin and ask
them about this DAZ American Veterans that's supposed to be
located in britain Wood, Tennessee, but they most have an
office in Nashville. Because every time I read a letter
to the VA in Nashville, I get a response from them,
(14:53):
a little response, and it was just really, really really lyrics.
I just wrote letters to the to the State Attorney
General Accidents to inquire about this da V American Veterans.
I wrote a letter to the CEO of the vesilan
affairs in Nashville, and I also wrote a letter to
the Veteran Evidence Center in Wisconsin accident were these people accredited?
(15:20):
And they sent me a letter back and they didn't
mention these people that's being accredited.
Speaker 10 (15:23):
So I just want to put.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Veterans on notice if you didn't with an organization called
da V Americans AMERICAUS Veterans, and it's hard to get
information from them. Whenever I would write them a letter,
they would just write on the back of my letter
a statement and then send it back to me. And
then they would put a business card in the in
the uh in this in an envelope, that's that that
(15:47):
didn't look official. So I just want to tell veterans
to always use paperwork. Yes, uh, they insisted on me
using emails and stuff like that. It's hard to track emails,
but when you use the paper trails hard, it's easy
to track people. So I just want to put veterans
on notice. If you're dealing with an organization called da
V America America's Veterans and there's a general ben the
(16:11):
name of Rodney Hughes on a business card because basically
it's all you're gonna get is a business card because
they don't want to send it. They seems like they
don't want to send any type of official a letter
head or anything like that. You know, you should be
suspected that. And to veterans, don't be lazy. Write letters.
Get you know, we get these emails and things like that.
Write letters and make sure that you send your personal
(16:33):
information to who it's supposed to go to. I want
to say one thing, and I'm gonna hang out. I
heard you talk about Geryl Stewart earlier of F Johnson.
When I went down to Jeril Stewart's office, the first
person I saw in there was this white guy and
he looked so out of place. He didn't say anything
to me. I didn't say anything here, but he just
turned around said I'm gonna go get somebody. And that's
(16:54):
when reed came in. Now, when the police showed that
that that that that video on TV, or this shallowy
figure that they had with a mask, that that's that's
the z. That body was just like this fight guy
that was in an office when I wear in there. Now,
I don't know if he worked there. I don't know
if he got a vendor, But you know I studied
(17:16):
bodies for a living. And that's a zeke tall, skinny
about six six sixty one, like he was a meth head.
That's it. So I'm gonna hang up and thank you
so much. You guys have great that.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Thank you, mister James by I was gonna ask Sheila
that I'm glad mister James brought that dab America's veterans
because we have all kind of scammed people around here,
that's true. And I was going to ask you veterans
can call your offers or get to know what because
people were sending out everything they do and we.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Don't you know, we don't have a list of these
are scammers. Of these are sometimes they called claim sharks.
Right I go is simpler to promote our services and
to know that we are a government funded service and
that our services are free. Our Veteran Services officers are professional,
they are credited by the State of Tennessee. They have
(18:13):
a lot of information, they're very knowledgeable about what they
do and why not give us a call. We are
a free service sponsored by Shelby County government and let's
try and get your business taken care of through our offices. Okay,
and as we gone to the show, we will give
(18:33):
that telephone number out and even if I don't know
if you all have a website or we'll do that.
If you've just tuned in, we are talking with the
administrator of the Shelby County Veteran Services, Miss Sheila.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Terrell, who's here. If you have a question or two
for Sheila.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
We do invite you to call now nine zero one
five three five nine three four to two eight hundred
five zero three nine three four two eight three three
five three five nine three four two will get you
in to us. Also, if you just can't call your
(19:14):
working email me your question at Bev Johnson at iHeartMedia
dot com. That's Bev Johnson at iHeartMedia dot com. You're
listening to the Heart and Soul of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
W d I A.
Speaker 10 (19:50):
Got something to say.
Speaker 7 (19:53):
Say it next with Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer Bev
Johnson on w d IA.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
Bell, don't show, Bell, tump side is talking and home away, help.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You go, you go?
Speaker 5 (20:24):
Son't getting ready.
Speaker 10 (20:27):
In time?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Man, Just show.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Joe, Let's go.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Bell justn't we you'll make your oday bright here wrong to.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
D I'll listen.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
To want to say, you know it's tip of the
belt show, Tap of the belt.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Of show, like let's go. You're listening to the BEB
Johnson Show. Here's Beb Johnson and we're.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Talking with Miss Sheila Terrell with administrator with the Shelby
County Veteran Services here in Shelby County, and she like
got an email and this person wanted to know from okay,
he must. Can you all assist with Social Security disability
(21:31):
for veterans?
Speaker 4 (21:32):
We do not We assist with disability and compensation through
the VA.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Oh okay, through the VA. So not with Social Security No, okay,
I'm glad you said that. So I sent him back unfortunately,
not that's correct. But the services that you all do
offer again.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
Disability compensation, pension is about ivers pension, claims, dependency and
indemnity compensation. And then other assistants such as requesting their
D two fourteens, requesting their medical records, getting them preregistered
for burial with the state cemeteries, aid and attendance, uploading
(22:17):
information for their claims, and any other you know, we
help them with their appeals if they've been denied. So
those are our primary services that we offer. And if
there are other types of referrals that they need, we
can assist with that too, Okay. So I would suggest
that that young lady just called the Social Security Office directly.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Yeah yeah, yeah, And let me asking Sheila that go back.
And you were talking about the d D two or
two fourteen.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Okay, what is that when you serve in the military,
once you are discharged, that is the document that you
should always keep, you should always put in a safe
space because what it does is it helps well not helps.
It is proof of your service, of your military service,
and if you entered service, especially if you entered here
(23:12):
in Shelby County, we can probably get those records within
about a half hour. Yeah, but most times if you
entered here, and then if not, we can still help
you to process the paperwork to obtain your d D
two fourteen. And we also once we get your DD
two fourteen in case you lose it, in case it
(23:34):
becomes you know, we've had individuals who've had a fire us.
We also send you around the corner from our office
and have you to register it with the Register of
Deeds so that when you pass away or if you
need a copy, Shelby County Government Register of Deeds will always.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Have a copy for you. Oh that I didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
So we partner. You know, we try and find every
resource available to better to help them prepare for things
that may come a little bit later. So that little document, again,
let's get your proof of service that you have been
in the service. You should have been in some military absolutely,
and it also tells what your discharge were. Will you
(24:17):
honorably discharge, dishonorably discharged all of those things.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
It is your service record.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Okay, good, while we're talking, Sheila, why not give out
that telephone number.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
We'll give it again, Okay again.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
If you are a resident of Shelby County, a resident
of Shelby County, you can call our intake line at
nine zero one two two two four two three seven. Again,
that's nine zero one two two two four two three seven,
and Miss Davis. If she doesn't answer, go ahead and
leave your information, and I promise you within a forty
(24:52):
eight hour period you will receive a return call. I
anticipate the numbers will go up after your show.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
BIB.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
Then that's good, and I've already told her. You know,
the phone may probably be ringing off the hood. But
again that's nine zero one two to two four two
three seven, and Miss Davis will return your call if
she is not able to answer the phone. You can
also visit us at Shelby County TENN dot gov slash
(25:19):
veterans at Shelby County ten dot gov slash veterans, And
for those who want to email us, you can email
us at Veterans Services at Shelby countytn dot gov. But
the easiest way would be to give us a call okay,
and go ahead and do your intake over the phone,
and then we will schedule an appointment. And we have
several locations and depending on where you live, we will
(25:43):
schedule an appointment with you closest to your home. Our
main office. You know, most people say, oh, I thought
you all located on Madison. We still have a satellite
office on Madison, Okay, but our main office is now
located at ten seventy five Mullins Station Road. That's ten
seventy five Mullet Station Road. We are in building W two.
Where where are satin is out there near the Pentafarm right.
(26:05):
We have a satellite office at ten sixty Madison, and
we also have a satellite office at the Baker Community
Center in Millington. In order to serve our other municipalities
including Arlington, Bartlett, and Kyaville. On Wednesdays we have our
outreach days, so I have a veteran services officer who
is scheduled or stationed at our sites out at those
(26:30):
and those municipalities only on Wednesdays. In Arlington we're at
the Patriot Bank, and Bartley we're at the Bartlett Library,
and in Caryerville we're at the VFW post. Let me
also reiterate that when you call, and it's best to
call to get an appointment so that you can be seen.
What we would hate to have to happen is for
you to just show up and all of our veteran
(26:52):
services offices of books. Yeah, and then you're upset right
because we're not able to see you. So give us
a call and we will schedule an appointment that will
keep you from sitting and waiting. I don't want that
to happen to you.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
Okay, go to our phone lines to talk with you.
W d I a HI caller.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
Here for bear?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Yes?
Speaker 10 (27:15):
Yes, hey, I didn't hear a click on. I'm sorry. Yes,
it's good to hear your boys.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Hi William, how are you today?
Speaker 10 (27:23):
I'm doing good And to your guest, a happy great
day to you. Thank you. I've I have, you know,
a percentage of disability and it was all based on
my own primary care physician, all my records with you know,
outside the VA. Now that I have a certain percentage,
(27:46):
do I have to go to the v A or
can I still continue to go to my own private care?
Speaker 11 (27:52):
Oh?
Speaker 8 (27:52):
No, you can.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
Continue to go to your own private doctor if you
decide that you are going to apply for something else
or to have your disability rating upgraded. What the VA
will do after your paperwork has submitted, They're going to
schedule you for what they call a C and P exam,
that's a compensation and pension exam, So you will have
to go to one of their doctors so that they
(28:15):
can verify your condition.
Speaker 5 (28:19):
You absolutely continue to see your.
Speaker 10 (28:21):
Private doctor for the rest of my life. Yes, sir,
I just didn't want them. I just didn't want them
to think, all, he's not coming to the VA, so
he must be all right.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
No, Well, well let me ask this question because that's
a good way. So you you have a primary physician,
But have you ever been going in checking in at
the VA.
Speaker 10 (28:46):
In an emergency? I've gone there in two emergency situations. Okay,
I got said it over the last twenty thirty years.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
It's important to note that if you I do have
a rating with the VA, the VA will take whatever
that condition is as you can go and see the
VA physicians for that particular diagnosis, and depending on your
percentage of rating, you may be able to go and
see the VA doctors for other things. But if you
(29:14):
are happy with your primary physician, your private primary physician.
Absolutely keep seeing that.
Speaker 10 (29:21):
Person, all right. And one of those emergency situations I
had was COVID. It was it was in February before
we shut down in March, I think, okay, and they
didn't they didn't know what. They said, you have a virus,
but we don't know what it is. We're going to
give you this and send you home. Okay, And that
must have spread so very much.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
Thank you, William. A good question.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
And as you said, Sheila, no tell our veterans still
check in with them, but what you all do is
help them get that pension and the assistance things that
they need. You all again, y'all, that office Shelby County
Veteran Services assist you, right.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
That is correct, And we do not make the decisions.
The VA makes the decisions on whether or not you
have a condition that is compensable.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
Okay. We'll help you to complete your paperwork, all right.
Going back to our phone lines to talk with you.
Speaker 10 (30:21):
Hi, caller, Hey, bab, how you going to that?
Speaker 5 (30:25):
I'm doing well in yourself.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
I'm good.
Speaker 9 (30:28):
Thanks for asking and your guest, Hello, I was calling Hi.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
I have a question for you regarding a veteran, Well,
my brother's a veteran. How did you go about getting
a private getting your own private position when you go
to the VA all the time?
Speaker 5 (30:44):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (30:45):
We are not again, we are not the VA. We
are Shelby County Government Veteran Services. And if you're asking
how do you get a private physician? Does he have
a private health care insurance?
Speaker 11 (31:01):
I don't think so That's why I'm calling how do
you get that private? Help here because going to the
b A, I'm trying to find something, you know, like
gett him a private insurance that he can't go to
a doctor decide going to the VA all the time,
and when they can't get.
Speaker 9 (31:16):
Him in at a certain time when he needs to be,
he can go to his.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Own private position.
Speaker 6 (31:21):
And I'm trying to see how you go about getting
a private position.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Well, I would call the BA and then if they
can't get you in, you could ask them that question.
But that is outside of the services that we provide.
Speaker 9 (31:35):
Okay, so you can't suggest how you can do that.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Okay, all right, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
I'll do that.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
I'll go through the v A and see can I
get him something.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
On the outfie and they probably will tell you something.
They will give you some information. I don't Yeah, let's
try him and see what happens.
Speaker 10 (31:51):
Okay, I'll do so, bab.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Thank you all so very much, Thank you for calling,
and thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Sure y'all have a blessed.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
Dad YouTube Baba. I wanted to ask you, Sheela. You
mentioned that the veteran should make an appointment with you
all's office.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
You don't do walk in walk in now. Our goal
is not to do walk in. You just happen to be,
for example, at our molestation ten seventy five molestation location.
You know, sometimes people are out there getting their car
tags or whatever, and they see us and they walk in.
If we have a veteran services officer available at that time,
(32:27):
of course, we won't turn you away. If we don't
have a veteran services officer available at that time, we
won't turn you away. We will simply take your information
and schedule you an appointment to come back and see us,
depending on where you live again, we will schedule you
at the office closest to you.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
All right, Hi, John, I'm doing fabulous.
Speaker 10 (32:50):
And you.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
Awesome, awesome, awesome, and your guests.
Speaker 8 (32:54):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (32:55):
I am incredibly William.
Speaker 7 (33:00):
For I just have one quick question for you. I'm
a veteran that's about to turn sixty five. Do your
office work with medicare we do not?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
You do not?
Speaker 5 (33:10):
We do not?
Speaker 7 (33:11):
Okay, okay, thank you, John.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
You know, call my girl Laurie.
Speaker 8 (33:17):
Lauri.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, Laurie Swan again with the.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Benefit Solutions Group, and they could probably help you with that.
I know they can at the at the h th
Benefit Solutions Group. Yeah, put that in front of it
th h E the Benefit Solutions Group.
Speaker 7 (33:38):
Okay, is the lady whose office is close to the
radio stations right exactly?
Speaker 5 (33:44):
Yes, yes she is. But yeah, they can help you.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
Okay, I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
You welcome Bye bye w D I a nurse Beverly.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Man. Good afternoon, the Queen.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Yeah, good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
I call because I want to.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
Ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
And you may have covered this because I've been kind
of I've been driving and kind of in and out.
But uh, I read this magazine called The Best Times.
Are you familiar with it?
Speaker 4 (34:24):
I am.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Okay in there? You know it has a lot of
information and it also had like questions and I'm sorry
just GPS. It also has questions that people put in posts,
and one of them is they talk about UH and
I can't think of the correct name, but it's some
(34:47):
type of veteran's pension benefit that veterans who become UH
unable to care for themselves. And I think that's for
the and it does not have to be service related.
But I guess if they come up with some type
of chronic illness and they not able to properly care
(35:11):
for themselves, that there are some type of veterans benefits.
That's a pension benefit that's available. I can't think of
the correct name. I wish I had put it in
my car when I heard you was going.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
To be on.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
That.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
You might be talking about aid of attendance, whether they're
not able to care for the sales or their spouses
or not able to care for the sales. But the
best thing to do is to have the veteran or
the veterans representative to call our office complete a quick
intake and the quick the intake form is only about
six or seven questions, get an appointment, and then we
(35:46):
can have one of our Veterans Services officer to just
review all of the information that you bring to them
and help you, help steer you in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Okay, And what is the problem. What's the name? I
can't recall it.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
What is it called?
Speaker 4 (36:03):
If I'm thinking you may be referring to aid in attendance,
but I'm not sure. If I'm not completely sure, but
I'm thinking it's eight in attendance. But give us a
call at two two two for two three seven and
we'll see what we can do to help you.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Well, every time I read it, I think about, you know,
the veterans. I'm not a veteran. I don't have any
veterans in my family that may fit that criteria, but
I know there are people out there listening. Because she's
on then I'm going to ask her about that, because
you know it maybe a lot of times the source
is out that people are not aware of a you know,
(36:43):
and you find out things by reading or either by
world or mouth like I'm doing. So I'm hoping veterans listening,
we'll call your office and then you can give them
the correct information and steer them in the right direction,
because it will be nice, you know, if they're benefit
it did not that they're entitled to that. They get
(37:03):
them absolutely all right?
Speaker 6 (37:05):
Thank you?
Speaker 5 (37:06):
Be safe out there about it.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
Yeah again, And I like what you said, Chela that
just call the office, get the information and get the.
Speaker 5 (37:17):
Get an appointment. Get an appointment, all right? W d
I a high caller.
Speaker 9 (37:25):
To catch the show before you do.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
How are you doing, sister?
Speaker 9 (37:31):
Hanging in that bill?
Speaker 7 (37:32):
Thank you so much, hanging hang on in there.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
You know you have my sympathy and heartfelt sympathy and condolency.
So hang on in their system.
Speaker 9 (37:42):
Nicky sweetheart, You know I appreciate it. All Okay, I
want to move. You know, I'm like you, BAP. I
didn't know about the Shelby County has Veterans for the
Veteran right right, good information there and out of a nonprofit.
Are y'all nonprofit?
Speaker 2 (38:00):
No, we're not.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
We are part of Shelby County government and we are
under the vision of Community Services.
Speaker 8 (38:08):
Got you?
Speaker 1 (38:09):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (38:10):
So are y'all helping veterans spouses as well? When your
veteran spouse's deceased? Are your assisting the spouses?
Speaker 4 (38:17):
We are assisting the spouses and their children if they
are eligible. And again you have to meet the eligibility criteria.
Speaker 9 (38:29):
And when you say eligibility thesists of spouse. What does
that mean?
Speaker 4 (38:33):
It depends on what it is that you're interested. You know,
are you interested in the pensions?
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (38:37):
And pension?
Speaker 8 (38:38):
Did?
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Did you what was your veteran rated? Did you need
to get copies of the veterans records? The d D
two fourteen?
Speaker 5 (38:48):
It just depends.
Speaker 9 (38:49):
Every situation is different, I got you. I guess it's
just to find out if there's any resources just available
that I may not know about since I am here
and then all the services out there. So that's why
I was calling.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
So just call their office, Golden girl, and I don't
know if you've gotten the number, but Chila will give
the number again.
Speaker 5 (39:13):
And again. This is part of this is part of
the Shelby County government.
Speaker 9 (39:20):
Gotcha, okay, okay, And I'm driving now, but go ahead
and leave that again. And I have to go back
and listen to it.
Speaker 5 (39:28):
Yes, yes, yes, go back and listen. Thank you, Golden Girl.
Speaker 9 (39:33):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (39:34):
Bye bye bye bye.
Speaker 5 (39:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
So if they call again, they will give you the information, Chila,
and if you all can't help, you will try to
send it up to another resource.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
Absolutely, Okay, we'll.
Speaker 4 (39:46):
Do a short intake form and there are some generic
questions that we can just answer and they don't have
to have an appointment. But if they need an appointment,
we will schedule an appointment right then for them.
Speaker 5 (39:57):
And we can also schedule telephone.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
Appointments if we think it'll run fifteen to twenty minutes,
and so that they don't have to come into the
office for a fifteen or twenty minutes appointment.
Speaker 5 (40:09):
Okay, Yeah, wd Ia, Hi caller.
Speaker 8 (40:13):
Hey Bell, this is Luther King.
Speaker 5 (40:14):
Hey, Luca.
Speaker 8 (40:16):
What I was trying to let a lot of vetters
know they can call it DAZ out of Nashville or
the Community Care at the V eight and they can
help them with those type programs. I have some programs
out there to assist, yeah, and help your family members.
They'll pay them to take care of you. Okay, So
(40:36):
check with the DAZ out of Nashville to say, the
Veterans Association or the Community Care with the VA making
me gifts.
Speaker 10 (40:45):
Together for you.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
All right, Thank you, Luci for the information. All right,
thank you, come by all right, Seeta one more time.
Give that telephone number and the website where people can
get in touch with.
Speaker 5 (40:58):
The Shelby County Veteran Services.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
Okay, if you are a resident of Shelby County, a
resident of Shelby County, Tennessee, please give us a call
at nine zero one two two two four two three seven.
Again that's nine zero one two two two four two
three seven, and we'll do what we can to assist
(41:23):
you in obtaining the benefits and resources to which you
may be entitled.
Speaker 5 (41:30):
Sounds good.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Thank you Sheila for coming in and sharing with us,
because I know a lot of people didn't know you
all exist.
Speaker 4 (41:38):
No, they did.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Well.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
I am glad you are here, and thank you again
for being here and sharing that great information. Thank you
for having me again, and I hope you enjoy just
hope everybody enjoys the rest of that day.
Speaker 5 (41:52):
Sounds good.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
That's miss Sheila ted Terrell, who is the administrator of
the Shelby County Veterans Service.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Is The views and opinions discussed on the BEV Johnson
Show are that of the hosts and callers and not
those of the staff and sponsors of wd IA.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
We want to thank you callers, we want to thank
you listeners for joining us this day on the BEV
Johnson Show. We do we really do appreciate you, so
until tomorrow, please be safe, keep a cool head, y'all,
and don't let anyone still your joy. Until tomorrow, I'm
(42:36):
Bev Johnson, and y'all keep the faith
Bell ting time talking and home away.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
How are you go?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
You go? Son't getting ready in time to show.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
Show?
Speaker 5 (00:22):
Let's go bell.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Just we make gordayy by here talk you d.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
She'll listen to what to say. You know, it's time
about to fish of the mountain.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Joy, Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
We are rocking and rolling on this Wednesday, May twenty seventh,
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Enjoy this fabulous day to day. As I said.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Earlier, we will learn information about the Veterans' services from
the Shelby County government and with me this day is
Miss Sheila Terrell, who is the administrator with the Shelby
County Veteran Services here in Memphis. And let me say you, boy,
it's been a long time seeing you, sister, is it
(01:17):
a long time?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Good afternoon, Sheila, after noon, Good afternoon. Thank you so
much for having me be up. It's good to see
you again.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Good to see you. What you've been doing well.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
I've been taking care of me, that's right, taking care
of me. And I always say I'm a serial servant
because after I decided to leave the previous position and
take care of me, I thought, you know, I'll just
leave it alone a while. But through to form, I
just had to get back in to be a since
of serving the citizens of Shelby County.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Well I'm glad you did, and you look fabulous, Thank you,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Well, you know what, Sheila, I did not know Shelby
County had veteran Services.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
I mean I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
So I'm wondering how many of our listeners knew that
Shelby County offers services for veterans.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Well, it is my goal, there is my team's goal
to change that narrative. So I am trying to make
my rounds and let the citizens know that Shelby County
Government Veterans Services is here to serve veterans who reside.
Let me say that again, veterans who reside in Shelby County, Tennessee.
We are a department, a part of the Division of
(02:27):
Community Services. Our goal is the foster vibrant community where
all residents are connected, supported, safe, and well.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Bell.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Do you know that Shelby County itself is home to
more than fifty thousand veterans? No? Yes, wow, yes, and
we take our obligation to those veterans very seriously. You
know you can never repay the debt that we owe
to our veterans. They are the reason why we get
to live as we do here in the United States.
(02:56):
And our team is just dedicated to ensuring that those
veterans in that families are connected to all the benefits
and resources they're entitled to in any other information that
they may need.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
Wow. So with the services, let's talk, Shela. What are
some of the services that are offered.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
We have quite a bit of services. And I often say,
you know, when you hear about a veteran services office,
people say, oh, they're just a claims office. Well, let
me dispel that, bith. We are not a claim's office.
We are a services office. So we do more than
assists veterans with claim claims. Although that is our primary responsibility,
I want the citizens of Memphics to know that we
(03:36):
do other things also. Right now are our primary goal
is to assist with disability compensation claims and it is
a tax free benefit for veterans with physical or mental
disabilities that are caused or worsened by active military services.
The conditions can develop after they serve and sometimes conditions
(03:57):
become secondary to a service connected disabilities. So that's our
primary goal, but not our only goal. We also help
veterans and their survivors to apply for pension. And this
pension is a tax free, income based Let me say
that again. It's an income based benefit for wartime veterans,
their surviving spouses, they're unmarried children who meet the qualifications
(04:21):
as it relates to specific age disabilities, and whose income
limits fall within the VA asset limitations.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Okay, let me go back. So, and to be clear,
we want to be clear you all assist veterans in
getting these claims.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
That is correct. We are not the VA. We are
Shelby County government. We do not make any decisions. Our
goal is to assist the veterans in obtaining the benefits
that they are eligible for. And there is a myth
that if you were a veteran or are a veteran,
then you are entitled to service or top type of
(05:01):
compensation after you leave the military. That is not necessarily
the case. All veterans are not eligible. But if you
do have some type of physical or mental disability that
was caused or worsen by active military service, then we
can help you to apply for compensation for those benefits
(05:22):
through the VA.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Okay, and yeah, I'm wondering, Sheila, how many veterans out there,
because we you know, as long as I've been doing
this show, I've had veterans called and complaining so they
can't get this and about the VA. So that's why
I want to be clear that you all will assist
them in trying to get their claims and pension.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
And absolutely we will assist them in any way that
we can to obtain any benefits that they deserve or
again give them any information that they may need to
improve their quality of life.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Yeah. Yeah, And so this is for those veterans and
with some kind of disability.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yes, it must be a physical or mental disability, and
it had to have been calls. And I know I'm
repeating myself.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
But that's okay because somebody will call and say, yeah,
asked a question, and we want to be clear.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
You want to be clear.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
You must reside in Shelby County and you must have
a physical or mental disability that was calls or worsened
by active military service. Uh. And what I don't want
to happen is when I give all of our information. Now,
this happened last week someone called and said that lady
on the TV said, I can call and get my
husband a chick.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
No, I see.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
You know that's why I want to be clear. I
know somebody will will hear that.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, that's not what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
That's not what they do. Now you're saying that you
will assist them, and meaning assists.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Completely have to complete all of their forms and to
navigate such a complex system. Our goal is to be
their partner in obtaining the benefits that they are entitled to.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Okay, so that's one of the services. What else do
you all offer?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
We also are in addition to the disability compensation and
pension and survivor's pension, we also help veterans' families to
dependency with through dependency and indemnic compensation. Now that's also
a tax free benefit for ELIGIBRA survivors of service members
who died in the line of duty, whose death was
caused by service related disability, or who were rated at
(07:28):
one hundred percent permanent and total for at least ten
consecutive years. So this is somebody who was off typically
typically already getting a via disability check and so, and
then they died in the line of duty. So our
goal is to help their survivors to continue to receive compensation. Okay, Now,
(07:52):
those are the three or four primary things that we do.
But in terms of our other assistance, they are veterans
in the city who simply they don't even have their
DD two fourteens. They can't locate them. It's you know,
it's been a long time. We've had people who've moved,
who have fires. And of course your DD two fourteen
is the document that shows us that you actually served.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
In the military.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
So if you don't have a DD two fourteen, you
can come to our office and we will help you
to request that DD two fourteen. We help people to
become preregistered a burial in the state cemeteries. We help
with medical records requests. We help with aid and attendance.
We help with uploading claims. When the VA has denied
(08:39):
a claim and you have some supplemental information that you
want to send to the BA, we can upload that
for you and any other applicable requests that comes under
our purview. If we can help you, we absolutely will.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Yeah, and so you will get try to get that
information that that veteran needs.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Absolutely if they don't have it. Now, when you come
to see us, and we do have an intake The
way it works is if you feel that you have
a claim or if you need something, you would call
our intake office and we have a couple of young
ladies there who will ask you some personal questions. And
a lot of times the vets will say, oh, I
don't want to give out my personal information. Where the
(09:23):
difference is you would be calling us, we wouldn't be
calling you. So we will ask you for your day,
your full name, your data birch, your social Security number
so that we can input your information in the system.
So when you come and see a Veteran Services officer,
that's our team who actually assists the veterans, we'll have
all of your information pulled and ready to go. And
(09:44):
that way you spend your time talking about what it
is that you want instead of filling out documents.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
Okay, so.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Again I go back Sheila is and you mentioned how
many veterans here in Shelby County.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
But they are they coming in? Do they know about
this office?
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Some people do, But again my goal is to make
my rounds so that more people know that we are here.
We have a team of five Veteran Services officers. I
am in the process of increasing that team to ten
Veteran Services officers. We are all veterans, so and yes,
in order to work at our office, you must be
(10:29):
a veteran. Why okay, because veterans understand.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Veterans all right, and.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
So you will get a call or when you I'm sorry,
when you call us, we would do an intake form
and then we will schedule you an appointment to meet
with a Veteran Services officer and at that point we
will begin the process of your paperwork.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
We are speaking with Miss Sheila Taryll from the Shelby
County Veteran Services Offices here in at Memphis and Shelby County. Sheila,
I'm going to our phone lines to talk to one
of our listeners.
Speaker 7 (11:07):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Caller, good morning, it's still morning.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Doesn't know it's you, mister James.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
We're going to help the news to UH to you
and uh miss miss miss terror Errol. Yes, Miss Terryl
and I hope you guys are doing great. We're doing
my question great, not the question that Miss terror is this.
Speaker 8 (11:29):
UH.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
You also assist vesterings and working with different UH organization
that's supposed to be helping vesterors. You do that also?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
No, uh, We partner with different organizations who help veterans.
Our main partner is a Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. However,
we have a software program. If you need some type
of service, for example, housing, we can make a referral
for you and do a soft handoff in some instances.
But keep in mind our goal is to help you
(12:01):
to obtain benefits that you are eligible for.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Okay, Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever
heard of an organization called Disabled American Veterans? Yes, the
I'm not talking no, I'm talking about Okay, Disabled American
Veterans legit. But have you heard of an organization called
da V Americans Veterans?
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I have heard of da V. Now are you Are
you speaking of DAV that operates like that thrift store?
Speaker 5 (12:36):
Is that the organization that you are? Okay, tell me
a little bit about.
Speaker 9 (12:42):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
The reason that I'm inquiring this because there was a
lady that came in before you, or maybe you were
the same lady. They would come in and talk to
our veterans and a question was asked. So I wrote
a letter to the VA in Nashville on Ninth Street, no,
that was me. Okay, well let me just let me
(13:05):
say this to the veterans in this area. If you're
dealing with an organization called da V American Veterans, uh,
you should be weary of that organization.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
When I wrote a letter to the to the to
the Veteran Affairs in Nashville, Uh, they didn't answer my letter.
But this da V Americans Veterans sent me a form
to fill out to represent me. Now, I wouldn't look
for any representation, but I got a form for from
(13:40):
them that wanted to represent me. And I was furious
because I'm thinking that the Veterans Affairs in Nashville is
just sending all of my information to this da V
American Veterans.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Oh no, sir.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Let me also, if I may just for a moment,
you should know that Shabby County Government Veterans Services is free.
We offer our services right, We are a community resource
for free. And so if someone is asking you for
funding to represent you being you're right, you should be leary.
(14:15):
And we are accredited by the State of Tennessee all
of our Veteran Services officers and you're here to say VSOS,
that's an acronym for Veteran Services Officers. We are trained
and accredited by the State of Tennessee.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
And the keywords is A credited because I wrote a
letter to the VA Evidence Center in Wisconsin and ask
them about this DAZ American Veterans that's supposed to be
located in britain Wood, Tennessee, but they most have an
office in Nashville. Because every time I read a letter
to the VA in Nashville, I get a response from them,
(14:53):
a little response, and it was just really, really really lyrics.
I just wrote letters to the to the State Attorney
General Accidents to inquire about this da V American Veterans.
I wrote a letter to the CEO of the vesilan
affairs in Nashville, and I also wrote a letter to
the Veteran Evidence Center in Wisconsin accident were these people accredited?
(15:20):
And they sent me a letter back and they didn't
mention these people that's being accredited.
Speaker 10 (15:23):
So I just want to put.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Veterans on notice if you didn't with an organization called
da V Americans AMERICAUS Veterans, and it's hard to get
information from them. Whenever I would write them a letter,
they would just write on the back of my letter
a statement and then send it back to me. And
then they would put a business card in the in
the uh in this in an envelope, that's that that
(15:47):
didn't look official. So I just want to tell veterans
to always use paperwork. Yes, uh, they insisted on me
using emails and stuff like that. It's hard to track emails,
but when you use the paper trails hard, it's easy
to track people. So I just want to put veterans
on notice. If you're dealing with an organization called da
V America America's Veterans and there's a general ben the
(16:11):
name of Rodney Hughes on a business card because basically
it's all you're gonna get is a business card because
they don't want to send it. They seems like they
don't want to send any type of official a letter
head or anything like that. You know, you should be
suspected that. And to veterans, don't be lazy. Write letters.
Get you know, we get these emails and things like that.
Write letters and make sure that you send your personal
(16:33):
information to who it's supposed to go to. I want
to say one thing, and I'm gonna hang out. I
heard you talk about Geryl Stewart earlier of F Johnson.
When I went down to Jeril Stewart's office, the first
person I saw in there was this white guy and
he looked so out of place. He didn't say anything
to me. I didn't say anything here, but he just
turned around said I'm gonna go get somebody. And that's
(16:54):
when reed came in. Now, when the police showed that
that that that that video on TV, or this shallowy
figure that they had with a mask, that that's that's
the z. That body was just like this fight guy
that was in an office when I wear in there. Now,
I don't know if he worked there. I don't know
if he got a vendor, But you know I studied
(17:16):
bodies for a living. And that's a zeke tall, skinny
about six six sixty one, like he was a meth head.
That's it. So I'm gonna hang up and thank you
so much. You guys have great that.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
Thank you, mister James by I was gonna ask Sheila
that I'm glad mister James brought that dab America's veterans
because we have all kind of scammed people around here,
that's true. And I was going to ask you veterans
can call your offers or get to know what because
people were sending out everything they do and we.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Don't you know, we don't have a list of these
are scammers. Of these are sometimes they called claim sharks.
Right I go is simpler to promote our services and
to know that we are a government funded service and
that our services are free. Our Veteran Services officers are professional,
they are credited by the State of Tennessee. They have
(18:13):
a lot of information, they're very knowledgeable about what they
do and why not give us a call. We are
a free service sponsored by Shelby County government and let's
try and get your business taken care of through our offices. Okay,
and as we gone to the show, we will give
(18:33):
that telephone number out and even if I don't know
if you all have a website or we'll do that.
If you've just tuned in, we are talking with the
administrator of the Shelby County Veteran Services, Miss Sheila.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Terrell, who's here. If you have a question or two
for Sheila.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
We do invite you to call now nine zero one
five three five nine three four to two eight hundred
five zero three nine three four two eight three three
five three five nine three four two will get you
in to us. Also, if you just can't call your
(19:14):
working email me your question at Bev Johnson at iHeartMedia
dot com. That's Bev Johnson at iHeartMedia dot com. You're
listening to the Heart and Soul of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
W d I A.
Speaker 10 (19:50):
Got something to say.
Speaker 7 (19:53):
Say it next with Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer Bev
Johnson on w d IA.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
Bell, don't show, Bell, tump side is talking and home away, help.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You go, you go?
Speaker 5 (20:24):
Son't getting ready.
Speaker 10 (20:27):
In time?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Man, Just show.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Joe, Let's go.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Bell justn't we you'll make your oday bright here wrong to.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
D I'll listen.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
To want to say, you know it's tip of the
belt show, Tap of the belt.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Of show, like let's go. You're listening to the BEB
Johnson Show. Here's Beb Johnson and we're.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Talking with Miss Sheila Terrell with administrator with the Shelby
County Veteran Services here in Shelby County, and she like
got an email and this person wanted to know from okay,
he must. Can you all assist with Social Security disability
(21:31):
for veterans?
Speaker 4 (21:32):
We do not We assist with disability and compensation through
the VA.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Oh okay, through the VA. So not with Social Security No, okay,
I'm glad you said that. So I sent him back unfortunately,
not that's correct. But the services that you all do
offer again.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
Disability compensation, pension is about ivers pension, claims, dependency and
indemnity compensation. And then other assistants such as requesting their
D two fourteens, requesting their medical records, getting them preregistered
for burial with the state cemeteries, aid and attendance, uploading
(22:17):
information for their claims, and any other you know, we
help them with their appeals if they've been denied. So
those are our primary services that we offer. And if
there are other types of referrals that they need, we
can assist with that too, Okay. So I would suggest
that that young lady just called the Social Security Office directly.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Yeah yeah, yeah, And let me asking Sheila that go back.
And you were talking about the d D two or
two fourteen.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Okay, what is that when you serve in the military,
once you are discharged, that is the document that you
should always keep, you should always put in a safe
space because what it does is it helps well not helps.
It is proof of your service, of your military service,
and if you entered service, especially if you entered here
(23:12):
in Shelby County, we can probably get those records within
about a half hour. Yeah, but most times if you
entered here, and then if not, we can still help
you to process the paperwork to obtain your d D
two fourteen. And we also once we get your DD
two fourteen in case you lose it, in case it
(23:34):
becomes you know, we've had individuals who've had a fire us.
We also send you around the corner from our office
and have you to register it with the Register of
Deeds so that when you pass away or if you
need a copy, Shelby County Government Register of Deeds will always.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Have a copy for you. Oh that I didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
So we partner. You know, we try and find every
resource available to better to help them prepare for things
that may come a little bit later. So that little document, again,
let's get your proof of service that you have been
in the service. You should have been in some military absolutely,
and it also tells what your discharge were. Will you
(24:17):
honorably discharge, dishonorably discharged all of those things.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
It is your service record.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Okay, good, while we're talking, Sheila, why not give out
that telephone number.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
We'll give it again, Okay again.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
If you are a resident of Shelby County, a resident
of Shelby County, you can call our intake line at
nine zero one two two two four two three seven. Again,
that's nine zero one two two two four two three seven,
and Miss Davis. If she doesn't answer, go ahead and
leave your information, and I promise you within a forty
(24:52):
eight hour period you will receive a return call. I
anticipate the numbers will go up after your show.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
BIB.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
Then that's good, and I've already told her. You know,
the phone may probably be ringing off the hood. But
again that's nine zero one two to two four two
three seven, and Miss Davis will return your call if
she is not able to answer the phone. You can
also visit us at Shelby County TENN dot gov slash
(25:19):
veterans at Shelby County ten dot gov slash veterans, And
for those who want to email us, you can email
us at Veterans Services at Shelby countytn dot gov. But
the easiest way would be to give us a call okay,
and go ahead and do your intake over the phone,
and then we will schedule an appointment. And we have
several locations and depending on where you live, we will
(25:43):
schedule an appointment with you closest to your home. Our
main office. You know, most people say, oh, I thought
you all located on Madison. We still have a satellite
office on Madison, Okay, but our main office is now
located at ten seventy five Mullins Station Road. That's ten
seventy five Mullet Station Road. We are in building W two.
Where where are satin is out there near the Pentafarm right.
(26:05):
We have a satellite office at ten sixty Madison, and
we also have a satellite office at the Baker Community
Center in Millington. In order to serve our other municipalities
including Arlington, Bartlett, and Kyaville. On Wednesdays we have our
outreach days, so I have a veteran services officer who
is scheduled or stationed at our sites out at those
(26:30):
and those municipalities only on Wednesdays. In Arlington we're at
the Patriot Bank, and Bartley we're at the Bartlett Library,
and in Caryerville we're at the VFW post. Let me
also reiterate that when you call, and it's best to
call to get an appointment so that you can be seen.
What we would hate to have to happen is for
you to just show up and all of our veteran
(26:52):
services offices of books. Yeah, and then you're upset right
because we're not able to see you. So give us
a call and we will schedule an appointment that will
keep you from sitting and waiting. I don't want that
to happen to you.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
Okay, go to our phone lines to talk with you.
W d I a HI caller.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
Here for bear?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Yes?
Speaker 10 (27:15):
Yes, hey, I didn't hear a click on. I'm sorry. Yes,
it's good to hear your boys.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Hi William, how are you today?
Speaker 10 (27:23):
I'm doing good And to your guest, a happy great
day to you. Thank you. I've I have, you know,
a percentage of disability and it was all based on
my own primary care physician, all my records with you know,
outside the VA. Now that I have a certain percentage,
(27:46):
do I have to go to the v A or
can I still continue to go to my own private care?
Speaker 11 (27:52):
Oh?
Speaker 8 (27:52):
No, you can.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
Continue to go to your own private doctor if you
decide that you are going to apply for something else
or to have your disability rating upgraded. What the VA
will do after your paperwork has submitted, They're going to
schedule you for what they call a C and P exam,
that's a compensation and pension exam, So you will have
to go to one of their doctors so that they
(28:15):
can verify your condition.
Speaker 5 (28:19):
You absolutely continue to see your.
Speaker 10 (28:21):
Private doctor for the rest of my life. Yes, sir,
I just didn't want them. I just didn't want them
to think, all, he's not coming to the VA, so
he must be all right.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
No, Well, well let me ask this question because that's
a good way. So you you have a primary physician,
But have you ever been going in checking in at
the VA.
Speaker 10 (28:46):
In an emergency? I've gone there in two emergency situations. Okay,
I got said it over the last twenty thirty years.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
It's important to note that if you I do have
a rating with the VA, the VA will take whatever
that condition is as you can go and see the
VA physicians for that particular diagnosis, and depending on your
percentage of rating, you may be able to go and
see the VA doctors for other things. But if you
(29:14):
are happy with your primary physician, your private primary physician.
Absolutely keep seeing that.
Speaker 10 (29:21):
Person, all right. And one of those emergency situations I
had was COVID. It was it was in February before
we shut down in March, I think, okay, and they
didn't they didn't know what. They said, you have a virus,
but we don't know what it is. We're going to
give you this and send you home. Okay, And that
must have spread so very much.
Speaker 5 (29:43):
Thank you, William. A good question.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
And as you said, Sheila, no tell our veterans still
check in with them, but what you all do is
help them get that pension and the assistance things that
they need. You all again, y'all, that office Shelby County
Veteran Services assist you, right.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
That is correct, And we do not make the decisions.
The VA makes the decisions on whether or not you
have a condition that is compensable.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
Okay. We'll help you to complete your paperwork, all right.
Going back to our phone lines to talk with you.
Speaker 10 (30:21):
Hi, caller, Hey, bab, how you going to that?
Speaker 5 (30:25):
I'm doing well in yourself.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
I'm good.
Speaker 9 (30:28):
Thanks for asking and your guest, Hello, I was calling Hi.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
I have a question for you regarding a veteran, Well,
my brother's a veteran. How did you go about getting
a private getting your own private position when you go
to the VA all the time?
Speaker 5 (30:44):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (30:45):
We are not again, we are not the VA. We
are Shelby County Government Veteran Services. And if you're asking
how do you get a private physician? Does he have
a private health care insurance?
Speaker 11 (31:01):
I don't think so That's why I'm calling how do
you get that private? Help here because going to the
b A, I'm trying to find something, you know, like
gett him a private insurance that he can't go to
a doctor decide going to the VA all the time,
and when they can't get.
Speaker 9 (31:16):
Him in at a certain time when he needs to be,
he can go to his.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Own private position.
Speaker 6 (31:21):
And I'm trying to see how you go about getting
a private position.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Well, I would call the BA and then if they
can't get you in, you could ask them that question.
But that is outside of the services that we provide.
Speaker 9 (31:35):
Okay, so you can't suggest how you can do that.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Okay, all right, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
I'll do that.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
I'll go through the v A and see can I
get him something.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
On the outfie and they probably will tell you something.
They will give you some information. I don't Yeah, let's
try him and see what happens.
Speaker 10 (31:51):
Okay, I'll do so, bab.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Thank you all so very much, Thank you for calling,
and thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Sure y'all have a blessed.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
Dad YouTube Baba. I wanted to ask you, Sheela. You
mentioned that the veteran should make an appointment with you
all's office.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
You don't do walk in walk in now. Our goal
is not to do walk in. You just happen to be,
for example, at our molestation ten seventy five molestation location.
You know, sometimes people are out there getting their car
tags or whatever, and they see us and they walk in.
If we have a veteran services officer available at that time,
(32:27):
of course, we won't turn you away. If we don't
have a veteran services officer available at that time, we
won't turn you away. We will simply take your information
and schedule you an appointment to come back and see us,
depending on where you live again, we will schedule you
at the office closest to you.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
All right, Hi, John, I'm doing fabulous.
Speaker 10 (32:50):
And you.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
Awesome, awesome, awesome, and your guests.
Speaker 8 (32:54):
How are you?
Speaker 4 (32:55):
I am incredibly William.
Speaker 7 (33:00):
For I just have one quick question for you. I'm
a veteran that's about to turn sixty five. Do your
office work with medicare we do not?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
You do not?
Speaker 5 (33:10):
We do not?
Speaker 7 (33:11):
Okay, okay, thank you, John.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
You know, call my girl Laurie.
Speaker 8 (33:17):
Lauri.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, Laurie Swan again with the.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Benefit Solutions Group, and they could probably help you with that.
I know they can at the at the h th
Benefit Solutions Group. Yeah, put that in front of it
th h E the Benefit Solutions Group.
Speaker 7 (33:38):
Okay, is the lady whose office is close to the
radio stations right exactly?
Speaker 5 (33:44):
Yes, yes she is. But yeah, they can help you.
Speaker 8 (33:50):
Okay, I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
You welcome Bye bye w D I a nurse Beverly.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Man. Good afternoon, the Queen.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Yeah, good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
I call because I want to.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
Ask you a question.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
And you may have covered this because I've been kind
of I've been driving and kind of in and out.
But uh, I read this magazine called The Best Times.
Are you familiar with it?
Speaker 4 (34:24):
I am.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Okay in there? You know it has a lot of
information and it also had like questions and I'm sorry
just GPS. It also has questions that people put in posts,
and one of them is they talk about UH and
I can't think of the correct name, but it's some
(34:47):
type of veteran's pension benefit that veterans who become UH
unable to care for themselves. And I think that's for
the and it does not have to be service related.
But I guess if they come up with some type
of chronic illness and they not able to properly care
(35:11):
for themselves, that there are some type of veterans benefits.
That's a pension benefit that's available. I can't think of
the correct name. I wish I had put it in
my car when I heard you was going.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
To be on.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
That.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
You might be talking about aid of attendance, whether they're
not able to care for the sales or their spouses
or not able to care for the sales. But the
best thing to do is to have the veteran or
the veterans representative to call our office complete a quick
intake and the quick the intake form is only about
six or seven questions, get an appointment, and then we
(35:46):
can have one of our Veterans Services officer to just
review all of the information that you bring to them
and help you, help steer you in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Okay, And what is the problem. What's the name? I
can't recall it.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
What is it called?
Speaker 4 (36:03):
If I'm thinking you may be referring to aid in attendance,
but I'm not sure. If I'm not completely sure, but
I'm thinking it's eight in attendance. But give us a
call at two two two for two three seven and
we'll see what we can do to help you.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Well, every time I read it, I think about, you know,
the veterans. I'm not a veteran. I don't have any
veterans in my family that may fit that criteria, but
I know there are people out there listening. Because she's
on then I'm going to ask her about that, because
you know it maybe a lot of times the source
is out that people are not aware of a you know,
(36:43):
and you find out things by reading or either by
world or mouth like I'm doing. So I'm hoping veterans listening,
we'll call your office and then you can give them
the correct information and steer them in the right direction,
because it will be nice, you know, if they're benefit
it did not that they're entitled to that. They get
(37:03):
them absolutely all right?
Speaker 6 (37:05):
Thank you?
Speaker 5 (37:06):
Be safe out there about it.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
Yeah again, And I like what you said, Chela that
just call the office, get the information and get the.
Speaker 5 (37:17):
Get an appointment. Get an appointment, all right? W d
I a high caller.
Speaker 9 (37:25):
To catch the show before you do.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
How are you doing, sister?
Speaker 9 (37:31):
Hanging in that bill?
Speaker 7 (37:32):
Thank you so much, hanging hang on in there.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
You know you have my sympathy and heartfelt sympathy and condolency.
So hang on in their system.
Speaker 9 (37:42):
Nicky sweetheart, You know I appreciate it. All Okay, I
want to move. You know, I'm like you, BAP. I
didn't know about the Shelby County has Veterans for the
Veteran right right, good information there and out of a nonprofit.
Are y'all nonprofit?
Speaker 2 (38:00):
No, we're not.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
We are part of Shelby County government and we are
under the vision of Community Services.
Speaker 8 (38:08):
Got you?
Speaker 1 (38:09):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (38:10):
So are y'all helping veterans spouses as well? When your
veteran spouse's deceased? Are your assisting the spouses?
Speaker 4 (38:17):
We are assisting the spouses and their children if they
are eligible. And again you have to meet the eligibility criteria.
Speaker 9 (38:29):
And when you say eligibility thesists of spouse. What does
that mean?
Speaker 4 (38:33):
It depends on what it is that you're interested. You know,
are you interested in the pensions?
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (38:37):
And pension?
Speaker 8 (38:38):
Did?
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Did you what was your veteran rated? Did you need
to get copies of the veterans records? The d D
two fourteen?
Speaker 5 (38:48):
It just depends.
Speaker 9 (38:49):
Every situation is different, I got you. I guess it's
just to find out if there's any resources just available
that I may not know about since I am here
and then all the services out there. So that's why
I was calling.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
So just call their office, Golden girl, and I don't
know if you've gotten the number, but Chila will give
the number again.
Speaker 5 (39:13):
And again. This is part of this is part of
the Shelby County government.
Speaker 9 (39:20):
Gotcha, okay, okay, And I'm driving now, but go ahead
and leave that again. And I have to go back
and listen to it.
Speaker 5 (39:28):
Yes, yes, yes, go back and listen. Thank you, Golden Girl.
Speaker 9 (39:33):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (39:34):
Bye bye bye bye.
Speaker 5 (39:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
So if they call again, they will give you the information, Chila,
and if you all can't help, you will try to
send it up to another resource.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
Absolutely, Okay, we'll.
Speaker 4 (39:46):
Do a short intake form and there are some generic
questions that we can just answer and they don't have
to have an appointment. But if they need an appointment,
we will schedule an appointment right then for them.
Speaker 5 (39:57):
And we can also schedule telephone.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
Appointments if we think it'll run fifteen to twenty minutes,
and so that they don't have to come into the
office for a fifteen or twenty minutes appointment.
Speaker 5 (40:09):
Okay, Yeah, wd Ia, Hi caller.
Speaker 8 (40:13):
Hey Bell, this is Luther King.
Speaker 5 (40:14):
Hey, Luca.
Speaker 8 (40:16):
What I was trying to let a lot of vetters
know they can call it DAZ out of Nashville or
the Community Care at the V eight and they can
help them with those type programs. I have some programs
out there to assist, yeah, and help your family members.
They'll pay them to take care of you. Okay, So
(40:36):
check with the DAZ out of Nashville to say, the
Veterans Association or the Community Care with the VA making
me gifts.
Speaker 10 (40:45):
Together for you.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
All right, Thank you, Luci for the information. All right,
thank you, come by all right, Seeta one more time.
Give that telephone number and the website where people can
get in touch with.
Speaker 5 (40:58):
The Shelby County Veteran Services.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
Okay, if you are a resident of Shelby County, a
resident of Shelby County, Tennessee, please give us a call
at nine zero one two two two four two three seven.
Again that's nine zero one two two two four two
three seven, and we'll do what we can to assist
(41:23):
you in obtaining the benefits and resources to which you
may be entitled.
Speaker 5 (41:30):
Sounds good.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Thank you Sheila for coming in and sharing with us,
because I know a lot of people didn't know you
all exist.
Speaker 4 (41:38):
No, they did.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Well.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
I am glad you are here, and thank you again
for being here and sharing that great information. Thank you
for having me again, and I hope you enjoy just
hope everybody enjoys the rest of that day.
Speaker 5 (41:52):
Sounds good.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
That's miss Sheila ted Terrell, who is the administrator of
the Shelby County Veterans Service.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Is The views and opinions discussed on the BEV Johnson
Show are that of the hosts and callers and not
those of the staff and sponsors of wd IA.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
We want to thank you callers, we want to thank
you listeners for joining us this day on the BEV
Johnson Show. We do we really do appreciate you, so
until tomorrow, please be safe, keep a cool head, y'all,
and don't let anyone still your joy. Until tomorrow, I'm
(42:36):
Bev Johnson, and y'all keep the faith
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