VA Press Release on delayed mail

[Berta]

 VA statement on GPO printing and mailing delay

"WASHINGTON — Due to supply chain and staffing shortages, the vendor contracted by the Government Publishing Office to provide printing services for the Department of Veterans Affairs is experiencing delays in printing and mailing notification letters to Veterans and claimants. The disruption may impact the ability of some claimants to meet required deadlines via written correspondence with VA.

In response to the mailing delays and to protect the best interest of claimants, the Veterans Benefits Administration is extending their response period by 90-calendar days for claimants with letters dated between July 13, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021.

 

If a claimant does not reply to a time-limited notification, such as, making an election of benefits or services, or reporting for a scheduled compensation and pension examination., VBA will not take adverse action to deny, reduce or terminate benefits and services unless: 1) the claimant is contacted and there is documentation of their right to respond; 2) the requested information has been received; or 3) the response period has lapsed.  

 

VA and GPO are proactively working to quickly address the mailing delays. For questions on this matter, Veterans and claimants can contact VA at 800-827-1000.

 

Veterans who filed an appeal with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals can click here for information specific to Board correspondence, scheduled hearings at the Board and receiving your Board decision."

https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5744

[Mr cue]

I feel like this with this mail thing.

A veteran has to be on top of things now.

I also have not received any letter from Nov.

I call the 1800 and have them fax over.

They are not give the veteran the you have to wait 7 10 days to get it fax anymore.

So my advice is to be proactive with your claim.

Because this mail thing make no sense.

First they blamed it on the USPS.

Now it the contractor.

Ok then why do they have a contract.

Ppl they are try to get rid of the va system this and the comp exams

The community care. Are all examples

I see the writing on the wall

 

[brokensoldier244th]

1 minute ago, Mr cue said:

I feel like this with this mail thing.

A veteran has to be on top of things now.

I also have not received any letter from Nov.

I call the 1800 and have them fax over.

They are not give the veteran the you have to wait 7 10 days to get it fax anymore.

So my advice is to be proactive with your claim.

Because this mail thing make no sense.

First they blamed it on the USPS.

Now it the contractor.

Ok then why do they have a contract.

Ppl they are try to get rid of the va system this and the comp exams

The community care. Are all examples

I see the writing on the wall

 

You realize that multi-whatever dollar contract can't just be dropped, and an a new one started, right? Never mind that VA, nor any other agency right now has a budget approved so they can't just go spend money on things that weren't already appropriated. The USPS sucks- that's no secret, so yes, there is blame to be had, there- not a VA issue. The contractor that is used for government mail does mail for everybody, not just VA, and I would bet that the reason that contract exists is because there isn't anyone else that can do it at that capacity. Does it suck for veterans? Yes. Will be change anytime soon? Doubtful, but for many more reasons than just "VA Sucks ™".  

[Mr cue]

Are you say that the problem isn't the va.

Ok I get letter from the us court of veterans appeal in 5 days.

I get letter from the cavc attorney for the va in 5 days

I get my mail from any other ppl in the same time frame.

But now us veterans are to believe the va can process letters and it's on everbody else 

And that they can't go back to processing letter like they have for 40 years.

The va suck and can't read doesn't follow its own va manual.

This is my opinion.

If a contractor can handle the contract yes it's can be cancel by the government.

They are not living up to the contract.

 

[pwrslm]

A lot of things the Government does is bassackwards. Been that way for over a century now.

That is probably why folks with common sense stick in the civilian sector.

[brokensoldier244th]

9 minutes ago, Mr cue said:

Are you say that the problem isn't the va.

Ok I get letter from the us court of veterans appeal in 5 days.

I get letter from the cavc attorney for the va in 5 days

I get my mail from any other ppl in the same time frame.

But now us veterans are to believe the va can process letters and it's on everbody else 

And that they can't go back to processing letter like they have for 40 years.

The va suck and can't read doesn't follow its own va manual.

This is my opinion.

If a contractor can handle the contract yes it's can be cancel by the government.

They are not living up to the contract.

 

Sure it can be cancelled, and then re-bid, and then the bids have to be evaluated, etc etc- but you want an instant solution, and there isn't one. 

[pwrslm]

It would be interesting to review how the VA contracts with NGO's to provide the mail system used in the administration of claims. One would think that the administration of a private or publicly held corporation would be more efficient, even in todays market with COVID, because so many people can work from home.

It would not be that complex to put printers and supplies at the home of a disabled Vet to process VBA outbound mail. Printing and stuffing envelopes is not so hard, and if the volume is high enough the machines used to stuff envelopes are affordable. A $10,000 machine can process up to 2500 pieces of mail per hour. A commercial printers range from several hundred to 3-4 thousand can produce 50+pages per minute. Sending completed claim decisions or any notifications VA needs to make to a processor over the internet could be done in seconds and the letters could be generated and mailed within 24 hours. If one processor became backlogged, another processor could be selected. Its not that complex. The VA can bring 20-30 of these type of work agreements online in a very short period of time.

Its obvious that the current system has a severe bottle-neck. Something should be done.

Edited December 6, 2021 by pwrslm