Veterans likely to see delays in processing of benefits if shutdown doesn't end soon
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said this morning 9,800 workers from the Department of Veterans Affairs have been sent home as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.
"The shutdown has already slowed down the claims process and these furloughs can only make things worse. For veterans who have been waiting months or even years for the benefits they deserve, that's outrageous," Pingree said.
The furloughs mean that local offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration will be closed to the public—although offices and employees involved in medical care will remain open and on the job. Also, the national benefits processing centers and their toll-free numbers will continue to operate. (800-827-1000)
"This is the latest example of the real pain that the shutdown is causing to families all across the country," Pingree said. "It's outrageous that Republican leaders are keeping the government closed because of their obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act, and now veterans are paying the price."
The House passed a VA spending bill earlier this year on a bipartisan basis but then last week passed another stop-gap spending bill that cut the VA's budget by $6 billion. Pingree opposed those cuts.
Pingree said she is also concerned about what could happen to VA benefits if the shutdown continues.
"The VA has made it clear that if the shutdown goes into late October there could be a delay in disability payments," Pingree said. "That would be a real hardship for veterans and their families."
The furloughs announced today include 7,000 workers at the VA's benefits division and about 2,800 in the Office of Information Technology, which is playing a key part in addressing the backlog in VA claims.
Here in Maine, the regional benefits office is located at Togus. "Not only is this a hardship for veterans, but also for the men and women at the VA who work every day to process claims for our veterans," Pingree said.
