The amount of emergency financial aid given to veterans in southwest Ohio counties has plummeted, state figures show.

Statewide, the amount of county emergency financial aid peaked at $23 million distributed to 71,112 recipients in 2009, before it plummeted to $20.7 million and 62,572 applicants last year. The average dollar amount paid out jumped, but only slightly to $331, or about a hike of eight dollars in three years.

The emergency payments are grants given out based on income and need for necessities such as rent, utilities, food and gasoline.

The extension of unemployment compensation benefits and local charities stepping up to help those in need may have contributed to the decline, said Michael McKinney, Ohio Department of Veterans Services spokesman in Columbus.

Montgomery County had the biggest drop in pay out in the Miami Valley, falling by about half in the last three years, figures show.

The commission paid $611,827 in emergency assistance last year compared to $1.2 million in 2009. The average amount paid also dropped to $453 last year compared to $651 in 2009, state data showed. The money provided aid in 1,349 instances last year compared to 1,852 three years ago, according to figures reviewed by the Dayton Daily News.

Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Herbert Davis could not point to any one reason for the overall decline. But he said the extension of federal unemployment benefits or veterans who found jobs could have been partly responsible for the sharp drop.

“The (emergency) financial assistance is a whole myriad of things as to why we would give it to someone and why we would deny it,” he said.

Butler and Warren counties also had a drop in emergency cash given, data shows. Butler County gave $198,391 last year versus $388,550 in 2009, figures show. The average individual amount dropped slightly to $637 last year from $686 in 2009. The number of requests granted reached 311 last year versus 566 in 2009.

Warren gave $475,569 in aid compared to $727,502 in 2009. The individual average amount awarded rose slightly to $186 from $169. The number of requests OK’d hit 2,551 last year compared to 4,304 in 2009.

Clark County bucked the trend, however. Veterans received $212,880 last year compared to $163,613 in 2009. The average amount given out also rose to $591 from $498. The number of requests reached 360 versus 328 in 2009.

The agency has had a repeat number of veterans who need help, said Jerry R. Mills, veterans services officer.

“People are not getting jobs in 60 days, 90 days,” he said. “Sometimes it takes a year.”

Greene County also paid out more and, by far, had the largest individual amounts awarded to those who asked for financial help.

Emergency aid reached $196,157 last year compared to $183,032 in 2009. Greene County paid an average of $1,508 last year compared to $1,228 in 2009.

Greene, an area of mostly retirees, doesn’t have as many requests for aid as other counties, said Lance Woodward, Veterans Services Commission executive director.

Even as the dollars increased, the number of requests fell slightly last year when 130 applications were granted. In 2009, the number peaked at 149.

In Champaign County, the total amount given was down about $10,000 between 2010 and 2011 — $48,108 last year versus $59,181 the prior year. Average assistance was $322, down from $405 the prior year. Veterans Service Commission Director Buzzy L. Moore said budget cuts accounted for the difference, not fewer requests. Last year, 149 applications asked for help compared to 148 last year and 138 in 2009.

“The need is greater than what we have,” he said. “We haven’t had the same amount of money to dish out.”

Miami County paid $513,838 last year compared to $539,801 the prior year. Still, last year’s numbers outpaced 2009 which recorded $451,952. On average, recipients received $581 last year versus $488 in 2009. Some 883 claims were awarded in 2011 compared to 925 in 2009.

“We have people coming in here with no job and are off the unemployment (compensation),” said Herbert E. Gragg, county veterans service commission executive director.

Veterans’ demand for services has led the county to hire two service officers to replace his job when he retires this year, Gragg said. He’s currently the only veteran services officer.