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[pacmanx1]

VA, SSA and IRS Cut Red Tape for Veterans and Survivors

December 20, 2012

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New Policy Eliminates Paperwork, Allows More VA Staff to Focus on Eliminating Claims Backlog

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today 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

I knew I read it somewhere but it took a while to find it again.

www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2414

[john999]

Is this just for pension benefits? How about those on TDIU for SC? I have to send in an employment questionnaire each year.

John

[71M10]

With the Medical Records provisions in Affordable Care Act I expect to see the VA accessing your private medical records whenever they want too, in the not to distant future.

[hedgey]

71M10, did you receive the VA Privacy notice about a month ago? I read through it, and it essentially says that VA patients have no privacy.

John, thanks for mentioning the TDIU EVR... I have to send in mine this month.

Pete, thanks for posting this... I suppose that they will be searching for W-2's that show employment and income. Or maybe they'll troll through our entire returns looking for any sign that a veteran is actually making ends meet. It wouldn't surprise me if they saw charitable donations and said "Aha!! This vet has enough to give money away!! Let's cut 'em off!!"

[Guest]

I think this has to do with pension and not compensation payments. I was way confused when I first read it and I thought it was for TDIU veterans http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-4140-1-ARE.PDF but after letting my brain think a little I started to think that it only deals with veterans receiving pensions.http://www.veteransaidbenefit.org/forms/VA%20Form%2021-0517%20EVR%20Veteran%20with%20Children.pdf and form http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0516-1-ARE.pdf My op does not mention TDIU and if I was a veteran on TDIU I would send in my employment questionaire every year until VA tells me to stop. Always have something in writing. Also some TDIU veterans get social security so I am quite sure income and taxes are being watched.

Edited December 5, 2013 by pete992

[broncovet]

The VA and politicians have been promising to cut red tape for decades. I am from Missouri, and I will beleive that when I see it. THe government has promised one too many unfullfilled promises for me.

[meghp0405]

pension only