by Jamie Reno Feb 9, 2013 The Daily Beast
A VA internal report shows that the computerized system intended to fix the benefits backlog problem is adding to it.
Despite Secretary Eric Shinseki’s oft-repeated pledge to fix the Department of Veteran Affairs broken disabilities claim system by 2015, the problems have gotten worse, according to a scathing new internal report.
Claims now take an average of 272 days to be processed—an increase of nearly 40 percent from 2011—with some lingering for as long as a year. The error rate now hovers around 14 percent, and the mountainous backlog stands at nearly 900,000, as 53 veterans reportedly die each day waiting for their benefits.
The VA’s disability claims crisis has only been made worse by the department’s high-tech new computerized system intended to streamline the benefits process, according to the strongly worded report (PDF) from the department’s Office of the Inspector General. The $500 million computerized Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) has no implementation plan and is riddled with problems, including disorganized electronic claims folders and improper management of hard-copy claims.
Read the entire Article at: http://tinyurl.com/a6xbphm
1 Comment
by Lacey Smith
I keep hearing this and I am very shocked. I don’t think it’s fair that Veterans are dying before they can even receive their benefits. Trying to figure out the VA and what benefits are available is not an easy task and I’m sure I’m not the only child of an aging vet trying to help them navigate the VA system. I’m reading a great book right now called “Crack the VA” by Barbara Steinberg. You can check out her site and the book at http://www.blseldercare.com/. So far it’s been a wonderful help and is a great guide, I’d absolutely recommend it to others. Thanks for this eye opening post!