VETERANS: The people who are used to putting themselves in danger for others are usually the last to ask for help.

When the country’s veterans do ask for help, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is warning them to watch for people looking to take advantage of them.

“Veterans, active military and their dependents should never pay for help to apply for veteran’s benefits,” a statement from the department read.

Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general, explained, “Through the years we have seen businesses and individuals who offer ‘free’ help applying for veterans benefits, but in the end they issue a bill under the guise of financial planning or some other service rendered.

“Understanding and learning about benefits can be challenging at times, and the last thing our veterans and their families need to worry about is an unexpected charge for something that should be provided for free,” he said.

Organizations such as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offer assistance for free, according to Carrelli. Each county has a Veterans Affairs representative, too. Also offering free help are other organizations with a local presence such as the American Legion, the VFW and Disabled American Veterans.

What kind of benefits are available veterans? According to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, benefits include burial allowances, help to request and place grave markers and headstones, the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program, emergency assistance, pensions for blind and paralyzed veterans, the Educational Gratuity Program, disability pensions, federal health care benefits and survivor benefits.

The Veterans Affairs tab on the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website, www.dmva.pa.gov, has more information on resources for veterans.

For veterans in the Bradford area, a service officer from the American Legion will be in Bradford 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at American Legion Post 108.