UNION COUNTY, NC (WBTV) -
The Department of Veterans
Affairs announced Tuesday it is cutting red tape for veterans by eliminating the
need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR).
VA
will implement a new process for confirming eligibility for benefits, and staff
that had been responsible for processing the old form will instead focus on
eliminating the compensation claims backlog.
Historically, beneficiaries have
been required to complete an EVR each year to ensure their pension benefits
continued.
Under the new initiative, VA will work with the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify continued eligibility
for pension benefits.
"By working together, we have cut
red tape for veterans and will help ensure these brave men and women get the
benefits they have earned and deserve," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric
K. Shinseki.
VA estimates it would have sent
nearly 150,000 EVRs to beneficiaries in January 2013. Eliminating these annual
reports reduces the burden on veterans, their families, and survivors because
they will not have to return these routine reports to VA each year in order to
avoid suspension of benefits. It also
allows VA to redirect more than 100 employees that usually process EVRs to work
on eliminating the claims backlog.
"Having
already instituted an expedited process that enables wounded warriors to
quickly access Social Security disability benefits, we are proud to work with
our federal partners on an automated process that will make it much easier for
qualified veterans to maintain their VA benefits from
year to year," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.
"The IRS is taking
new steps to provide critical data to help speed the benefits process for the
nation's veterans and Veterans Affairs," said Beth Tucker, IRS Deputy
Commissioner for Operations Support.
"The IRS is pleased to be part of a
partnership with VA and SSA that will provide needed data quickly and
effectively to move this effort forward."
All beneficiaries currently
receiving VA pension benefits will receive a letter from VA explaining these
changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their
unreimbursed medical expenses.
More information about VA pension
benefits is available at http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension and other VA benefit programs on
the joint Department of Defense—VA web portal eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov.
Veterans are encouraged to still file their medical expenses
even though no paper notification will be received by the VA.
The Union County Veterans Service
Office will assist with completing these forms for veterans and family
members.
Please contact
704-283-3807 to make an appointment and for more information. Deadline is
March 1, 2013.
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