Not Much Can Be Done To Help Veterans Who Are Waiting For Money
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: August 24, 2012
Jim DeFoor sees it on a daily basis. Veterans patiently waiting to get the money they are entitled to.
"Over the past three years the Veterans Administration has become exceedingly slow in developing and getting out the claims that the veterans file," says Jimmy DeFoor of Taylor County Veterans Service Office.
DeFoor says right now, the Veterans Administration is about 920,000 claims behind, nationwide.
"It's very difficult to sit across the desk from a young veteran and tell them i'm sorry, there's not a lot I can do. It is a system that is broke and it's in dire need of repair," he continues.
Making it is almost impossible for veterans to contact the V.A. and get an update on their claim.
Kelly Smith is all too familiar with the tune to that sad song.
She says, "I'm being promised that yes, you're going to be paid, that we're expediting your claim. We're six months into it and I still don't have anything. They're not paying me."
When the Taylor County Veterans Service Office is at the mercy of the V.A., they have no choice but to wait on them.
However, the Veterans Service Office is trying to be proactive while they wait, so they have been adjusting the way they file claims.
DeFoor explains, "Now we're trying anything we can to make sure the veterans in this area get as fast a service as we can possibly get the va to give us."
So when exactly will this long process get better? We're not too sure, but whatever that time may be, DeFoor knows it will not be anytime soon.
He says, "I see it getting worse before it gets better. I mean we're on a downward spiral and it's not going to stop for a while."
Continuing Coverage:
Woman Claims Veterans Administration Owes Her Over $300,000
"Over the past three years the Veterans Administration has become exceedingly slow in developing and getting out the claims that the veterans file," says Jimmy DeFoor of Taylor County Veterans Service Office.
DeFoor says right now, the Veterans Administration is about 920,000 claims behind, nationwide.
"It's very difficult to sit across the desk from a young veteran and tell them i'm sorry, there's not a lot I can do. It is a system that is broke and it's in dire need of repair," he continues.
Making it is almost impossible for veterans to contact the V.A. and get an update on their claim.
Kelly Smith is all too familiar with the tune to that sad song.
She says, "I'm being promised that yes, you're going to be paid, that we're expediting your claim. We're six months into it and I still don't have anything. They're not paying me."
When the Taylor County Veterans Service Office is at the mercy of the V.A., they have no choice but to wait on them.
However, the Veterans Service Office is trying to be proactive while they wait, so they have been adjusting the way they file claims.
DeFoor explains, "Now we're trying anything we can to make sure the veterans in this area get as fast a service as we can possibly get the va to give us."
So when exactly will this long process get better? We're not too sure, but whatever that time may be, DeFoor knows it will not be anytime soon.
He says, "I see it getting worse before it gets better. I mean we're on a downward spiral and it's not going to stop for a while."
Continuing Coverage:
Woman Claims Veterans Administration Owes Her Over $300,000
