Clark Dyrud, Supervisor. The claims division represents veterans and their dependents who seek benefits from the United States of Veterans Affairs involving compensation, pension, insurance or educational benefits and other veterans benefits. This division is responsible for the financial management, personnel and information systems of the department. The financial management division coordinates the annual and biennial budgets, monitors monthly expenditures and purchases, and coordinates inventory control. The personnel unit is responsible for recruitment, hiring, and staff development.
Information systems coordinates all computer operations.
The commissioner of veterans affairs serves as fiscal guardian of the estates of incompetent veterans through appointment of various probate courts in Minnesota, as well as by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The guardianship section makes application for all benefits on behalf of the incompetent veterans and manages the veteran's estate to ensure that funds are utilized to provide food, shelter, medical treatments and other requirements. A fee of up to five percent of the monthly balance in a guardianship account may be charged for these services. Charges are levied only on those accounts with resources sufficient to ensure that the fee charged does not create a financial hardship on the individual.