VA extends debt collection relief until the end of 2022
VA officials are once again extending the suspension of benefit debts for veterans facing financial difficulties, this time through the end of this year. The move covers debts related to disability compensation overpayments, education benefit mistakes, and pension payouts not related to service-connected injuries. Veterans who owe money will not have to pay it back until early 2023 if they can show the move would cause financial hardship. Learn More
Thousands of Camp Lejeune water contamination cases were botched by the VA
In recent years, VA processors mishandled more than one-third of all disability claims related to water contamination issues at Camp Lejeune, potentially cheating as many as 21,000 veterans out of financial compensation. The majority of the mistakes came because staff prematurely denied claims without requesting additional evidence of injury and exposure to the contaminated water.
The VA disability claims process can sometimes feel like a city highway during rush hour - slow-moving and frustrating. Luckily, for some qualifying veterans, there is an express lane: the priority processing request. And while there's still plenty of traffic in all lanes, the express lane moves a bit faster. With priority processing, most initial disability applications are expected to receive a decision faster than the average time of 125.3 days.
Senator says the VA should make it easier for vets to get reimbursed for appointment travel
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester is pushing VA officials to make it easier for rural veterans to be reimbursed for the cost of their travel to VA appointments. Tester expressed concerns about "shortcomings" with the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System and urged the VA to make it easier for rural veterans with limited internet access to claim the benefit.
Did you live or work at Camp Lejeune before 1987 and now have a health condition? You may be eligible to take legal action and seek a financial settlement from the U.S. government.
