VA Benefit Claims Updates For 2023
As we head into 2024, you may wonder about the progress of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Due to the PACT Act, which expanded health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances such as burn pits and Agent Orange, veterans have filed for benefits at the highest rates ever — exceeding the record by 39%.
This means that the VA also sent veterans a record-setting amount of benefits, to the tune of $150 billion. All these claims and payments also means delays for claimants. The backlog includes claims that take longer than 125 days to process. There are currently 378,000 claims in the backlog.
The total claims inventory has been decreasing since December. However, the backlog is expected to grow in 2024 before it returns to normal levels. That’s because the VA is processing more claims than ever before. In fiscal year 2023, the VA processed nearly 2 million claims, beating the previous all-time record by 16%. The VA is expecting to break that record again in fiscal year 2024.
The VA has been working hard to address this issue. The agency has been taking aggressive steps to ensure timely processing of claims.
According to the VA, veterans are likely to receive a benefits decision more quickly than they would in the past. The average claim processed by VA takes approximately 149 days. This may seem like a long time (five months), but this is actually 198 days faster than in 2013, which is the last time applications were nearly this high. What you may not know is that the VA does not always process your entire claim at once. They may process some parts of your claims faster than others, which means it is possible that you may get a first payment before your full claim is completed.
On another positive note, the VA is granting benefits at higher rates. The goal of the VA is to work with veterans every step of the way so that the claim is approved. Because of this, the VA granted benefits for 65% of claims filed in 2023, including 76% of PACT Act claims. This is much higher than previous years.
Keep in mind that the VA wants every family member and survivor to get the care and benefits they deserve. The VA has hired thousands of claims processing employees in anticipation of this surge, with 1,400 more coming onboard soon. Be sure to submit your claim as soon as possible.
Learn More About Veterans Benefits
It may seem as though the VA is not doing enough to help veterans. With veterans applying for benefits at all-time highs, backlogs are likely to occur.
A White Plains veterans disability benefits lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon can guide you through the claims process. We can also help you with any denied claims. Schedule a free consultation to get started. Call 914-294-2145 or fill out the online form.
Source:
news.va.gov/127378/2023-end-of-year-veteran-benefits-update/
