COUNTY AUDITOR ISSUES AUDIT REPORT ON VETERANS PROGRAM

DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan released an audit report on Monday on the operations of the DuPage County Veterans Assistance Program administered by the County's Veterans Assistance Commission.  The audit, notes Grogan, "complies with most of the guidelines established by the Commission in providing emergency financial assistance to the County's veterans in need."

The Program reviewed in the audit provides limited financial assistance to veterans requiring temporary aid related to housing, transportation or basic-needs.  The amount of financial assistance provided to clients is limited to the guidelines established by the independent Veterans Assistance Commission.  The financial assistance for eligible veterans, approximately $1,400 per year, is not paid directly to the veterans but to service providers.  The audit reviewed the internal controls, client eligibility, and payment transactions for a sample of veterans who participated in the Program. 

"The transactions reviewed were processed properly and the service providers received the funds on a timely basis," said Grogan.  "The audit also found that the Program assisted only those veterans who met the eligibility requirements."

The audit also recommends that the Veterans Assistance Program work more closely with the County's Department of Community Services "in order to provide Veterans with the greatest range of benefits available to them, in addition to the temporary financial assistance."

The audit report can be viewed on the DuPage County Auditor internet website at www.dupageco.org/auditor.