Veterans Administration, Finally, Takes Measure To Cut Red Tape
The reaction was pretty universal: What took so long?
The recent announcement from the Department of Veterans Affairs that a bit of burdensome annual paper work would be eliminated was greeted with relief.
Eligibility Verification Reports will no longer have to be filled out each year.
“VA will implement a new process for confirming eligibility for benefits, and staff that had been responsible for processing the old form will instead focus on eliminating the compensation claims backlog,” according to the announcement. “Historically, beneficiaries have been required to complete an EVR each year to ensure their pension benefits continued. Under the new initiative, VA will work with the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration to verify continued eligibility for pension benefits.”
“By working together, we have cut red tape for veterans and will help ensure these brave men and women get the benefits they have earned and deserve,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
“ ’bout time! I hated filling them out every year!” was one response on the Facebook page of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“It is about time,” was another’s reaction. “I get tired of having to do that crap every year and it was old just to take the time to fill all the crap out. I made copies of it just to fill it out each year with the same info. Unless your address changes, there is no point in doing it over.”
“Having already instituted an expedited process that enables wounded warriors to quickly access Social Security disability benefits, we are proud to work with our federal partners on an automated process that will make it much easier for qualified Veterans to maintain their VA benefits from year to year,” Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, was quoted as saying in the VA announcement.
“The IRS is taking new steps to provide critical data to help speed the benefits process for the nation’s Veterans and Veterans Affairs,” offered Beth Tucker, IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support. “The IRS is pleased to be part of a partnership with VA and SSA that will provide needed data quickly and effectively to move this effort forward.”
Those currently receiving VA pension benefits will be getting a letter from VA explaining these changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their unreimbursed medical expenses, the announcement added.
More information about VA pension benefits is available at http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension and other VA benefit programs on the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov.
