Contact:
Motor Vehicle Administration
Office of Media Communications
mvamedia@mdot.maryland.gov
New Office Offers Support to Veterans, Dependents Applying for Benefits and Other Services
Glen Burnie, MD (June 13, 2024) -- The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) today announced the opening of a Veterans Services Center at the Elkton MVA Branch to provide retired and active duty military personnel, and their dependents, with essential resources to apply for benefits and other vital services.
“This valuable partnership between MDOT MVA and the MDVA ensures that our veterans and their families have quality access to key services they deserve," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “The opening of this new service center is another example of MDOT's commitment to listening to our residents and providing them with exceptional customer experience."
Six veterans affairs offices have opened at MVA locations across the state since 2019. Those offices are located in Glen Burnie, Salisbury, Hagerstown, Bel Air, Gaithersburg and Cumberland. The Elkton MVA branch office at 105 Chesapeake Boulevard, Suite A, serves 7,000 veterans from Cecil County and thousands of others living in the surrounding area.
The program helps men and women who served in the uniformed services of the United States, as well as their dependents and survivors, obtain benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, the State of Maryland and other agencies. Each of these MDVA offices is staffed with a fulltime veteran benefits specialist.
“At the MVA we are committed to honoring our veterans and always looking for ways to better serve them," said MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “Our ongoing commitment to providing a one-stop service for all residents along with our respect for Maryland's veteran population makes today's opening very special and truly rewarding."
The MDVA operates veterans service offices in more than a dozen communities around the state and has filed more than 4,000 claims in the last year, resulting in over $35 million in monetary benefits awarded to Maryland Veterans.
“This is more than just opening another office; it is about making a meaningful difference in the lives of Maryland's veterans and military personnel by offering them another location to take full advantage of the benefits that they have earned," said MDVA Secretary Anthony Woods. “I want to thank MVA Administrator Nizer for her valuable support in serving our veterans and their families."
MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer (center) was joined (from left to right) by MDVA Veterans Benefits Specialist Advanced James Wilkes, MDVA Deputy Secretary Ross Cohen, MVA Deputy Administrator Leslie Dews, MDVA Baltimore Veterans Affairs Regional Office Director Antoine Waller and MVA employees for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new Veterans Service Center at the MVA Elkton Branch.
To assist veterans and active-duty personnel as they transition to civilian careers, the MVA has waived the Commercial Driver's License skills test requirements for a class A or class B commercial license for qualified veterans who have been discharged within the previous 12 months along with active-duty personnel, reservists and members of the National Guard. All active military personnel are exempt from VEIP requirements for vehicles owned by at least one active-duty member of the military who is deployed outside of the United States or in a state not subject to a vehicle emissions inspection. The MVA also honors veterans by:
- Offering a “Veteran" designation to their driver's license or ID card, which indicates eligibility for state veteran benefits.
- Issuing permanent vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers to Maryland veterans who qualify as 100% disabled.
- Allowing veterans who qualify as permanently disabled to receive free registration with any of our more than 100 types of specialty license plates honoring veterans and their families.
For a link to our recorded ceremony (RT 16:11), click here. (Bold numbers indicated important messages from speakers and the ribbon cutting)
-- “Our members of the military and their loved ones have shown boundless courage and sacrifice to serve our nation and it's frankly the least we can do here at MVA to demonstrate our gratitude by always offering that premier customer service and connecting our state military members with these vital services." [5:11] MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer
-- “It takes creating these great ideas and really considering putting these offices where it can be of most value. Today, it is about making sure that every veteran that comes here feels that they are being really served well and being provided a world class service." [12:50] MDVA Baltimore Veterans Affairs Regional Office Director Antoine Waller
-- Ribbon cutting [14:04]
-- “Our veterans have selflessly served our country, and it's our duty to ensure they receive the benefits they've earned. Filing claims and utilizing these benefits are vital. These services provide critical support and can significantly enhance the quality of life for our veterans and their families." [14:22] MDVA Secretary Anthony Woods
For more information about additional veteran service members from the MVA visit here and to learn more about the Elkton veteran's office or to schedule a meeting with a veteran's benefit specialist, call 667-225-6870.