A Web site created by the government offers war veterans a source to find 712 federal and state programs.

The mission statement at www.govbenefits.gov says it will “continue to add programs to become the single source for federal, state and local government benefit programs.”

Its goal is to offer 1,000 benefits by the year’s end, said a site spokesperson.

Site users have several options to figure out what they are eligible for.

A questionnaire was designed to help people figure out what benefits they may be eligible for, or a person may browse by state or category.

As part of President George W. Bush’s eGovernment initiative, the site consolidates 712 state and federal benefit programs on one site.

The Internet is often difficult for the elderly to use, but Dave Norris, a member of seven veterans organizations, said there is always someone at a VFW club to help obtain information. DeKalb’s VFW is located at 421 Oak St.

Others said the site was designed to cater to everyone.

“The design was intended to be manageable to those with high and low computer skills because the questionnaire acts as a guide,” said the spokesperson. The site should be easy for senior veterans to work with.

“Help is out there,” he said. “[Benefits are] a tangled web, but we can wade through it.”

He said the Illinois state benefit handbook is as “thick as a King James Bible” and it took him 10 years to get his veteran affairs straightened out.

Joan Sfoto, the club manager of VFW Post 540 in Dixon, said help is also often available at local libraries.

Depending upon a veteran’s status when he or she was discharged, benefits will be more accessible. A person who is said to be 70 percent disabled is eligible for more benefits than a veteran with a lesser disability, Norris said.

There are a number of veterans benefits available in the ways of health care, prescription drugs and free transportation to hospitals, said Lester Ramsey, the porter master at VFW Post 3878 in Rochelle.

Norris recommends that every veteran returning to the country register with the Veterans Association, a organization designed to help veterans understand their benefits.

Lesser-known benefits that may be requested upon a veteran’s death:

– Government-supplied headstone for plot

– An honor guard that performs the 21-gun salute

– Educational benefits for family members, depending upon the percentage that a person is disabled

– To obtain a burial flag, a family member must go to the post office with the veteran’s discharge papers

Source: Dave Norris, member of

seven veterans organizations

It’s as easy as 1-2-3

1 Go to www.govbenfits.gov and check all the categories that apply.

2 Choose to see a personalized or category list of benefits programs.

3 Answer questions to determine your potential eligibility

Source: www.govbenefits.gov