VA regional offices shut down

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
VA regional offices shut down
Because of the continuing government shutdown, VA closes all
public services at its regional offices
 
WASHINGTON (Oct. 8, 2013) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced it is placing more than 7,000 employees on furlough, effective Oct. 8, a move that will eliminate public access to all 56 of its Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) regional offices.
As a result of the furloughs, VBA can no longer conduct personal interviews and hearings, process GI Bill benefits, offer educational or vocational counseling, or provide outreach activities and programs -- including VetSuccess on Campus. The reduced work force also means that American Legion service officers are unable to use office space allocated to them at the regional offices.
Daniel M. Dellinger, national commander of The American Legion, expressed outrage at the latest impact of the government shutdown on veterans. "Because Congress and the White House refuse to speak to each other, our country's veterans are suffering more with each passing day of this extremely dangerous impasse.
"Now we've reached the point where VA can't even process benefits claims for our men and women who served in uniform. Our nation's leaders need a reality check. Do they really think they are serving the best interests of our veterans -- or the best interests of all Americans -- by forcing government agencies to shut down?"
On Oct. 4, Dellinger held a press conference at the World War II Memorial in Washington, a memorial that was initially closed to World War II veterans and is still closed to the public. He told reporters that the House of Representatives, the Senate and President Obama were all to blame for the shutdown.
Besides the 7,000 VBA workers furloughed, VA has also placed more than 2,700 OIT workers on furlough. This means that all development of VA software has ceased, including work on the Veterans Benefits Management System, which VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has repeatedly identified as a key component to eliminating the claims backlog.
In a statement, VA said claims processing will continue until funding is exhausted, "which is projected to happen in late October." Mandatory overtime for claims processors, scheduled to continue until Nov. 16, has also been abruptly halted.
VA employees who staff the department's compensation and pension call centers are still on the job. Veterans who want to file benefits claims or check on a claim's status can still do so by calling (800) 827-1000.
VBA also announced it will no longer be able to respond to congressional inquiries until appropriations have been restored.
Secretary Shinseki is scheduled to testify Oct. 9 at a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing that will examine the impact of the current government shutdown on VA operations.
-30-
 
Contacts: Marty Callaghan: 202-263-5758/202-215-8644, mcallaghan@legion.org or Craig Roberts: 202-263-2982/202-406-0887, croberts@legion.org. A high resolution photo of Nat. Cmdr. Dellinger is available at www.legion.org.
 
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

100% Disabled Veterans and Unremarried Surviving Spouse: Michigan Property Tax Exemption

Image
Affidavit Required in December I n late 2013 the state legislature and the governor enacted Public Act 161 of 2013, the Disabled Veterans Exemption.  This act gives qualifying disabled veterans or their unremarried surviving spouses a property tax exemption for their primary residence in Michigan.  For some qualifying veterans, not having to pay their property taxes could mean the difference of staying in their current home or having to move. Summary of Benefits The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be mailing out to all veterans who receive benefits their ‘summary of benefits’ letter in the month of November and December.  The veteran will need that summary along with Michigan Treasury Form 5107.   The surviving unremarried spouse will need to provide the last summary of benefits letter or other documentation showing the qualifying veterans status at time of death and Form 5107. To Be Done Annually Every city tax assessor may have a diffe...
Read more

Legion opposes permanent extension of Choice program

Legion opposes permanent extension of Choice program   WASHINGTON, May 27, 2016 — During a congressional hearing May 24, The American Legion delivered written and oral testimony regarding access to healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).   Director of Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Lou Celli addressed members of the Senate's Committee on Veterans' Affairs, highlighting the Legion's views on the Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016.   If enacted, this Act would eliminate the VA's Veterans Choice Program (VCP) termination date, expand program eligibility, and extend certain operating hours of VA pharmacies and medical facilities.   "We stated at the time, and state here again today, that we never supported Choice becoming a permanent program," Celli said. "The reason is because we know that VA already has every authority granted to it through Choice when it comes to providing contracted care to our nation's v...
Read more

#Veterans Day Editorial: War, Sacrifice and America's Veterans

Image
War, Sacrifice and America's Veterans By Dale  Barnett While we can all rejoice this Veterans Day that the steady flow of U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan has slowed to a trickle, we must never forget the incredible sacrifice that America's defenders continue to make on our behalf. Such is the case of Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler, who died leading a Delta Force rescue mission of ISIS hostages held in Iraq on Oct. 22.  A veteran of 14 combat deployments, his sacrifice is shared by four boys who are now fatherless and his wife, who became a widow far too early. But another important part of his legacy are the 70 hostages who were spared brutal executions by an enemy that is as ruthless as any that America has faced. The willingness to face pain and death so others can be spared isn't unique to just the fallen.  Consider the case of two American veterans and their longtime friend when they bravely stopped a terrorist attack aboard a train bound...
Read more