It’s the end of the day on Monday, September 30th, so I’m posting this. I wish I wasn’t.
The inability of Congress to pass a funding bill means a partial government shutdown for the first time in 17 years, leaving some government services suspended and hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed. I know many individuals who are personally affected.
While the most essential government services will continue uninterrupted, the lack of funding will be a minor headache for some Americans, and a serious concern for others.
So what about our veterans? How does the government shutdown affect their benefits? Their healthcare, their resources?
Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued guidance on how veterans are affected by a potential lapse in appropriations. As I predicted in a blog last week, VA call centers and hotlines will cease to function, and the VA will no longer continue overtime processing of backlogged initial disability compensation claims. The full list of areas affected is as follows:
- VBA Regional Offices public contact services will not be available.
- No decisions on claims appeals or motions will be issued by the Board of Veterans Appeals.
- Freedom of Information Act queries will not be processed.
- Privacy Act requests will not be processed.
- The VA’s homepage (www.va.gov) will be updated intermittently, as well as the VA’s main and hospital social media websites (such as Facebook and Twitter).
- The VBA will not be able to continue overtime for claims processors, which will affect the backlog.
- Claims processing and payments in the compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs are anticipated to continue through late October. However, in the event of a prolonged shutdown, claims processing and payments in these programs will be suspended when available funding is exhausted.
- The recruiting and hiring of Veteran job applicants will cease with the exception of the Veterans Health Administration.
- Presidential Memorial certificates will not be processed.
- Internments at National Cemeteries will not be processed, and cemeteries will be conducted on a reduced schedule.
- Overseas military coordinator operations will be suspended.
- VA Secretary correspondence with veterans and veterans service organizations will be suspended.
When I receive more information, I will update accordingly relating to how the government shutdown will affect veterans. To stay informed, please sign up for my blog at: https://legalmeetspractical.com. You can also access the veteran’s field guide to government shutdown at: http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Field_Guide_20130927.pdf. The latter document contains a link to the VA’s contingency plan, which will be updated in the event of a prolonged government shutdown.
Stay tuned, and please – comments on this important subject are welcome.
