As an American Veteran who served during Gulf War I, I am disappointed in the Tea Party Congress for supporting government shutdowns that negatively impact Veterans who have served.

According to Tom Tarantino — Chief Policy Officer, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America:

While veterans may be more protected than other constituencies, a government shutdown does not bode well for top priorities within the veterans’ community.

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Does that mean that I won’t get my benefits in November?

Possibly. The VA has not given any specifics on what will happen if the shutdown continues for the next few weeks, and they run out of cash on hand. IAVA will keep pushing for more information and get it to you as soon as possible.

I’m still waiting for the VA to process my claim. How will that be affected?

If you filed a claim before the shutdown, the VA will continue to process it, but expect there to be some delay. While the VA employees that are working on your claim are protected from the shutdown, many of the information sources that they use to develop your claim are not. This may slow the process down.

I was just about to file a claim? Should I wait?

No, go ahead and file but be aware that the VA won’t be processing any new claims during the shutdown. However, you should still file to protect your effective date. To reduce any confusion or to ensure that the VA doesn’t lose anything during the uncertainty of the shutdown, we recommend that you file your claim through a National Service Officer from the Disabled American Veterans. They can help guide you through the process and ensure that the VA is on top of it. You can locate a local service officer here.

New Post 9/11 GI Bill claims for next semester will also likely be delayed if the shutdown goes longer than a few weeks since they will not be processing new claims during a shutdown. The VA’s education hotline will be shut off during a shutdown as well. If you are experiencing problems with your GI Bill, you can visit www.NewGIBIll.org for assistance.

I’ve appealed my VA disability claim. Does this mean that I’ll be waiting longer?

Yes. All work on appeals will be halted during the shutdown.

I’m currently serving in the military. Will I still get paid?

Yes. Just before the shutdown, the President signed the bill passed by Congress that would ensure that the military continues to get paid during the shutdown.

What about on base services? How will those be affected?

Military hospitals and clinics should remain open. However, expect many MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) and community services (like commissaries) to be either closed or limiting operations. Your chain of command will have detailed information about what is happening on your local base.

Shutdown? I’m deployed to Afghanistan right now. What does this mean?

DoD has stated that combat operations will continue as planned. Be safe and keep driving on. Your chain of command will have any details you need to know and your unit’s FRG (Family Readiness Group) should be able to pass information to your families back home.

What about this whole debt ceiling thing? How will that work?

If America hits the debt ceiling and defaults on our existing bills, virtually all cash on hand will have to be diverted to paying the interest on the debt. This may halt virtually all pay and benefits and further shut down the government. Since the US has never defaulted before, there is not a lot of clarity on what will happen. IAVA will keep pushing for more information and update you as soon as we can.

How can IAVA help?

As Congress remains gridlocked and plays games with the budget, there remains a great deal of confusion and uncertainty for veterans.

IAVA’s case managers are trained to help veterans navigate all types of transition issues. If the government shutdown affects your benefits, livelihood, or wellbeing and you need support, contact us at 855-91-RAPID (72743). We can get you connected to resources and help minimize the disruption to your life.

 

Follow Tom Tarantino on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@tomtarantino