A GOVX EXCLUSIVE
MyVetBENEFITS CEO Todd Ernst on the
Mission to Help Veterans Access the Benefits They’ve Earned
For so many veterans, attempting to navigate the benefits system can feel a little bit like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Just like the cube’s countless combinations, the system has dozens of programs, forms, and eligibility rules. Make one wrong move and you’re back at square one. A frustrating gauntlet to navigate for even the most patient, the outdated system and inconsistent process times are a sign that assistance isn’t just welcome – it's needed.
Enter Todd Ernst, and MyVetBENEFITS. After 22-year career in the United States Air Force, participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ernst leveraged his leadership, family values, and deep understanding of the veteran experience to create MyVetBENEFITS as a website and app in 2023, with a clear objective to simplify how veterans, service members, and their families discover and access entitled benefits.
SHAKING UP THE SYSTEM
To fully understand the journey, you have to take a good hard look at the start. For Ernst, the genesis of MyVetBENEFITS was born not from duty, but out of service to others. Out of an injustice, a mistake, a wrong – and the decision to take the fight further.
“In 2003, an Air Force buddy of mine passed away in an accident. I was the Missing Man for his memorial, which is where you fly four jets overhead the memorial site, and one jet pulls up and away, so there’s an open, signifying the Missing Man in the formation,” said Ernst. “After the services, I learned that his wife and their kids would not receive the benefits that they were counting on. They were told a mistake was made, that because he was a reservist all the survivor benefits were immediately going to be rescinded. It was a mess, and there were no real answers.”
He spent the next half decade battling for his family, from San Antonio to the Pentagon, ultimately making headway only after pleading his case before Congress.
“We ultimately got the law changed,” recalled Ernst. “These days, it doesn’t matter what status or orders you’re on. If you’re in the line of duty, when you pass, your family gets the same survivor benefits.”
Knowing that there was more that could be done, the gears were in motion to create something greater. In his mind’s eye, Ernst would continue his plight and commit himself to making sure that all those entitled to benefits weren’t left with just a 1-800 number and a letter in their hands.
MAKING THE OVERWHELMING, WHELMING
As MyVetBENEFITS nears its two-year anniversary, Ernst acknowledges that at its core, it’s best described functionally as a benefits matching app. They take the information that the user inputs and matches them up with the benefits they’re most likely to be eligible for.
When you consider that there’s tens of thousands of benefits including Veteran Affairs, federal, DOD, Department of Labor, and state, narrowing down your search isn’t just important, it’s imperative.
“A big thing I’ve learned in my post-military career is that not every state is created equal,” added Ernst. “Some have phenomenal benefits, some very little. Doing a little research on our app before you settle somewhere can make a massive difference. That's how you get a better grasp of what benefits are available to you and your family. You’re talking tens of thousands of dollars depending on what state you live in."
IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW
While identifying the disparity in benefits across states is a major reason to become an active MyVetBENEFITS user, other perks, such as discovering accessible benefits you didn’t even know existed cannot be understated.
“There are a few really cool benefits out there,” said Ernst. “One that jumps out to me is a lifetime pass to visit any National Park in the country. For anyone who is or has served, we want them to know that even if they’ve received their VA benefits, they’ve only just scratched the surface.”
OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES
Patience may be a virtue, but at the end of the day, we all want what we feel is owed to us. It’s just that simple. As we mentioned before, the frustrations run deep.
“One, it’s just about being unaware,” added Ernst. “When you’re transitioning out, you have a lot on your plate. Two, it’s how the information is presented. If it’s not presenting in a way that you’re going to retain, it’s information overload.”
This, of course, isn’t entirely the fault of those who call the shots.
“Government agencies, most of the time are extremely well-intentioned – but they’re not built like most companies,” said Ernst. “They’re not product people or communications experts, so they’re not going to promote or market effectively. We take pride in making it all digestible through how MyVetBENEFITS operates as a resource. We don’t aim to be the White Pages.”
ADAPTING TO THE TIMES
In a world where so much of our daily operations are filtered through our phones, Ernst and the MyVetBENEFITS teams have seen 83% of their traffic through their mobile app, featuring a heavy split of older and younger users.
“I’m continually blown away at how many older veterans consistently use our mobile app,” remarked Ernst. “The younger veterans are obviously tech-savvy, familiar with features such as filters, but the older users have been instrumental in providing feedback that we used to fine-tune both the app and website. Input is always welcome.”
The platform is designed to be intuitive, enabling users to save, compare, and explore benefits anytime, from any device.
USING MYVETBENEFITS
Putting an emphasis on a seamless user experience, getting started on MyVetBENEFITS is easy. Here's how it works.
1. Answer a few questions to create a personalized profile based on the veteran or military member’s service history.
2. MyVetBENEFITS automatically matches your profile to relevant benefits and resources from a database of thousands.
3. You can save your favorite benefits to a tailored list for easy reference.
Additionally, the app offers powerful tools to search by keyword or filter by categories such as government/non-government, employment, disability claims support, financial assistance, and more.
“In the mobile space, you’re not going to find anything else like MyVetBENEFITS,” added Ernst. “It’s safe. It’s free. We serve all phases of life. Service life, caregivers, spouses, families, but we do thrive in that veteran retiree space. After all, there’s more resources available for those still serving than there are for those who aren’t.”
Ultimately it’s about getting the right benefits in front of the right person, at the right time.
“We can match a user all the way to the zip code,” Ernst elaborated. “As I mentioned before, we have all the state benefits and all the states and territories. That’s a big deal to have it in one spot, especially in an app.”
