Status Change For Dependent Claim 5/17/2013

[AFButch]

I checked ebenefits this afternoon and found that the status has changed on my dependent claim adding my wife. It is over 13 months in the processing. I have no other pending claims or appeals. Through this frustrating experience an Outreach Specialist took pity on me and has provided me with his personal email and phone number. He made efforts to get this thing done but met brick walls even with his inside connection. When the mandatory work on claims over 2 years was placed on the VA he was told NO dependent claims would be processed until at the earliest July 2013. This is out of the Portland, OR RO.

Well today there was a message on my ebenefits: Copied directly from ebenefits: Change of Status: We determined that your claim needed additional review. If additional evidence is needed from you, you will receive a letter from us explaining what is needed.

That worried me. I had been assured ALL was there that they needed to complete this claim. It has sat at Decision Approval Pending for at least 7 months. NOW WHAT?????!!!!!

So I emailed my VA contact. He replied with: I guess they listened to my pleading to get it done. The authorizer sent it back to the developer to correct the letter.

What letter???? I emailed him again asking what letter. To that email he replied: It means a decision on your dependency claim was made. The notification letter detailing what actions VA took needs correction before the claim can be authorized. Once its corrected and the decision is authorized, you will receive your notification letter.

I do not know what this means as to the completion date. The Developer has to make whatever corrections needed. Then the claim has to be authorized. This could be next week or next year, no way to know. Ebenefits now projects between June 29th and September. But, SOMETHING was done, the letter correction is an internal issue, nothing missing from my portion of the process.

So, although they are focusing on the backlog SOME other stuff IS being done! I hope it means that not only my personal claim will soon be completed but that their backlog is progressing favorably as well. I am once again hopeful but optimistically. The paper shuffle is frustrating.

[chrome_305]

Sounds good.

My dependency claim was opened Oct'12 via phone & fax & mail> Claim closed and disappeared from Ebennies on 4/3/13 because it never went to correct department > Got a letter on 4/5/13 saying I can not get dependent benifits unless im 30% or higher. > Shows as new claim for dependency 5/18/13 (today).

I have been awarded VA pension since Nov 11 and been trying to add the dependents since Oct 12. I think the VA should have known. At least the retro should be nice I guess.

[AFButch]

Sounds good.

My dependency claim was opened Oct'12 via phone & fax & mail> Claim closed and disappeared from Ebennies on 4/3/13 because it never went to correct department > Got a letter on 4/5/13 saying I can not get dependent benifits unless im 30% or higher. > Shows as new claim for dependency 5/18/13 (today).

I have been awarded VA pension since Nov 11 and been trying to add the dependents since Oct 12. I think the VA should have known. At least the retro should be nice I guess.

That is what they keep saying "you will receive your back pay once this is approved." As nice as it will be, it would be better to have had it all along! I am 100% disabled. Just adding my wife of 27 years, LOL. Was beginning to worry I would die before it was completed.

Good luck on your claim's expediency. Hoping it means they now have your dependent claim being processed under your pension benefits! I guess they got too wrapped up in the backlog to realize not every claim is for the disability compensation process. I didn't realize ebenefits would have new postings applied on a Saturday....wondering if that means some ROs are working the mandatory over-time on Saturdays.