Illinois veterans often face highest waiting times in the nation for disability claims processing
WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 30, 2013. U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday joined a bipartisan group of 67 Senators in urging President Obama to take direct action and involvement in ending the current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims backlog. In Illinois, veterans have some of the highest claims processing wait times in the nation, and efforts to date have been unsuccessful in addressing this crisis.
“In the last four years, the number of claims pending for over a year has grown by over 2000%, despite a 40% increase in the VA’s budget,” the Senators wrote in their letter to President Obama. Solving this problem is critical for veterans of all generations. We need direct and public involvement from you to establish a clear plan to end the backlog once and for all.”
The Chicago Regional Office – which processes claims for all Illinois veterans – is the fourth most backlogged processing center in the country. More than 82% of its 20,000 claims have been pending for more than 125 days, which is significantly above the national average. Senator Kirk questioned VA Secretary Eric Shinseki about this Chicago claims backlog at an April 18 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
More than 600,000 veterans are still stuck in the VA’s disability claims backlog as of April 20, 2013, according to the VA’s weekly public disclosures. While the average wait time for first time disability claims currently ranges between 316 and 327 days, veterans in certain parts of the country are waiting even longer. In the worst cases, veterans have waited and continue to wait 800 days, 900 days, and even more than 1000 days for a disability claims decision from the VA.
[Text of today’s letter is below]
April 29, 2013
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
We are writing to request that you take direct action and involvement in ending the current
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims backlog.
After a decade of war, and despite the VA’s efforts to modernize, more than 600,000 veterans are still stuck in the VA’s disability claims backlog. While the average wait time for first time disability claims currently ranges between 316 and 327 days, veterans in certain parts of the country are waiting even longer- 681 days in Reno, 642 in New York, 625 in Pittsburgh, 619 in Los Angeles, 612 in Indianapolis, 586 in Houston, and 510 in Philadelphia. In the worst cases, veterans have waited and continue to wait 800 days, 900 days, and even more than 1000 days for a disability claims decision from the VA.
In the last four years, the number of claims pending for over a year has grown by over 2000%, despite a 40% increase in the VA’s budget. As a reminder, during this same time period, Congress has given VA everything it has asked for in terms of more funding and more employees; however, this has not eliminated the backlog of claims. Solving this problem is critical for veterans of all generations. We need direct and public involvement from you to establish a clear plan to end the backlog once and for all.
This country must be grateful for the safe homecoming of every single man and woman who has served in harm’s way. Our joy at their return must be reflected in our commitment to helping all who have served. We respectfully ask you and your administration to find a solution that ensures that no veterans are stuck in the VA backlog.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Source: kirk.senate.gov
