VA supports veterans seeking PACT Act benefits by employing “maximum capacity.”
In order to “maximize its capacity,” the Veterans Affairs Department benefits division is trying to appoint thousands of new workers as it gets ready to execute legislation that would make millions of fresh veterans qualified for VA health care and benefits.
The chief financial officer of the Veterans Benefits Administration, Charles Tapp, informed the sources that around 145,000 veterans have already submitted claims under the PACT Act.
Tapp said every veteran is welcome to register, as they want to encourage them. This is an opportunity to receive health care, and this gateway will also open doors to several other services and benefits that are unquestionably deserved.
The PACT Act was approved and became law by President Joe Biden in August; it provides the VA with the funding it needs to hire more staff for its medical workforce in order to address around 3.5 million veteran population which was exposed to Agent Orange, toxic burn pits and other dangerous materials during their service in the military.
Before the PACT Act became law, VBA established a target of hiring roughly 2,100 claims processors this spring.
Tapp further showed his gratitude by saying that they highly appreciate Congress as it has been so kind in giving them the resources they require to handle all the claims successfully.
As more calls are coming in, VBA is training its call-center staff to serve veterans better, trying to submit a claim under the PACT Act. The organization is also getting in touch with veterans who might be qualified for PACT Act benefits to teach them about the program and clear up any confusion about how to qualify.
Tapp said that they had sent emails and messages to veterans identified as belonging to the Gulf War, Vietnam War, post-9/11 era, or those who fall into the criteria for PACT Act. They have invited them to come and submit claims so they know what PACT is and how to qualify for it.
VBA is well aware of all those advertisements, schemes, emails, posts, and blogs, and it always advises veterans to be careful about who they work with.
VBA advises veterans not to sign any contracts with unlicensed businesses committing to pay a fee in exchange for assistance submitting claims. He also advised veterans to keep a close eye on their financial situation.
Tapp sounded confident enough as he said they always trace and track when they feel things are going out of hand or when they find signs of despicable activities. For instance, VBA can determine if repeated requests for direct deposit modifications come from the same IP (Internet Protocol) address.
Tapp said the VBA expects a potential increase in cases of fraud in January. To investigate potential fraud cases, the agency will collaborate closely with the Justice Department and the VA Inspector General Office to reach a favorable conclusion.
The VBA is currently developing regulations that will serve as instructions for the agency as it begins processing PACT Act claims at the beginning of the calendar year 2023.
Tapp added that veterans deserve only the highest quality services; VBA wants to be sure that it has the correct protocols to guarantee that its rating professionals are intelligently processing the claims.
