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Each year, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) processes more than one million compensation claims, which provide $65 billion in benefits. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggested recommendations to improve the processing performance. The GAO’s full report appears here. About the Report The report examines how the VBA manages workload performance, how the VBA reports timeliness…

Some disabled veterans are eligible to receive both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Disability Benefits through the Veterans Administration (VA) at the same time. A detailed article on the process appears here. About VA & SSDI The VA provides disability benefits to military veterans who were disabled during…

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced some combat veterans may be due a refund for taxes applied against their disability severance payments over a 15-year period. A detailed article on this announcement is available here. According to a recent press release, approximately 140,000 combat-injured disabled veterans may be due a refund. In…

A former welder from Tremonton, Utah who has applied repeatedly for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits has sought the assistance of local investigative television journalists after receiving multiple letters denying his claim. A detailed article on what the news crew found is available here. A History of Medical Problems Randy Thompson  said he first…

Robert Wilkie, the newly appointed secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, has opposed a bill to extend benefits based on exposure to Agent Orange to Navy veterans who served during the Vietnam War. He based his opinion on high costs and insufficient evidence sailors were exposed to the toxic chemical. A detailed article on…

According to a recent report from the Office of the Inspector General, the case backlog to receive benefits through the Veterans Administration (VA) is worse than originally thought. A detailed article on the results of this new investigation is available here. The VA inspector general has identified tens of thousands of cases for benefits that…

A significant group of disabled Americans could be missing out on receiving the social security disability (SSD) benefits they deserve, because they don’t think they need to apply. Those who are 50-62-years-old may become disabled, but think that social security disability is not for them. Perhaps they are daunted by the seemingly complicated process or…

While both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provide assistance to American citizens in need, the two agencies differ greatly in scope, intent and procedure. Understanding the differences between the SSA and VBA can save claimants time—and prevent potential headaches. An article on these differences appears here.   Understanding Social…

The House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee recently organized a hearing in which witnesses discussed pending changes affecting how the Social Security Administration (SSA) processes claims for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. A detailed article on the proceedings appears here. The changes are expected to affect the efforts of private disability insurers to…

An older Oregon couple—he with a degenerative muscle disease and she with a rare form of cancer—claim they are now entangled in a battle with the Social Security Administration (SSA) as they battle for their lives. A detailed article on the couple’s claims is available here. Last year, the SSA sent the couple a letter…