|
VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.
Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases
Download your
free copy of the
2008 VA benefits
handbook here...
|
Printer-Friendly Version
VA NOW ACCEPTING ON-LINE CLAIMS APPLICATIONS -- But,
will it work, is it safe and will it make the
process any faster?
Just think, now you can file a VA claim and have
it denied electronically.
Will this work? Not if the VA's previous
Information Technology attempts are any indication.
Is it safe? Don't count on it. Do you
really want your personal information being stored on a VA computer server
that is accessible on-line? Use this at your own risk.
Will it make the process faster? How?
By the two or three days it takes for a mailed claim to get to the VA?
What does a couple of days mean if your claim is still going to sit there
for six or eight or ten months?
This has all the makings of a catastrophe.
We have two pieces of information...first is a VA
press release...and second is a news story.
-------------------------
VA press release here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/vap08/vap071608-1.htm
Press release below:
VA Announces On-Line Claims Applications
July 16, 2008
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that
on-line applications are now accepted from veterans, survivors and other
claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation,
pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits
without the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the
application.
 Effective
immediately, VA will now process applications received through its on-line
application website (VONAPP) without the claimant's signature. The
electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant’s
application for benefits. Normal development procedures and rules of
evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications.
VONAPP (
www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm ) is a Web-based system that benefits both
internal and external users. Veterans, survivors and other claimants
seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation
benefits can apply electronically without the constraints of location,
postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery.
VONAPP reduces the number of incomplete applications received by VA,
decreasing the need for additional development by VA claims processors.
The on-line application also provides a link to apply for VA health care
benefits and much more.
Over 3.7 million veterans and beneficiaries receive compensation and
pension benefits from VA and approximately 523,000 students receive
education benefits. Approximately 90,000 disabled veterans participate in
VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.
For more information about VA benefits, go to VA’s website at
www.va.gov or call our toll-free
number at 1-800-827-1000.
---------------
News story here...
http://www.nextgo
v.com/nextgov/ng_20080716_9291.php
Story below:
Veterans Affairs further streamlines benefits
application process
By Bob Brewin
bbrewin@govexec.com
The Veterans Affairs Department announced on Wednesday that its online
benefits application process now is completely paperless. VA no longer
will require veterans to submit a signed paper copy of a benefit
application in addition to the electronic version.
Comment on this article in The Forum.The department will process
applications received through its Veterans Online Applications Web site
without a signature as the electronic application will be sufficient
authentication. Veterans, their survivors and beneficiaries will be able
to file electronic applications for disability compensation, pension,
education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without
submitting a signed paper copy, according to VA.
"We applaud the Department of Veterans Affairs for making the online
application process simpler and more users friendly," said Gerald Manar,
deputy director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars' National Veterans
Service. He added the paper-copy signature requirement along with the
electronic application often resulted in "substantial delays in processing
claims." A VA spokeswoman did not respond in time for publication to a
question on how long the department has operated its online application
system.
In addition to expediting the claims process, Manar said eliminating the
paper signature would lower the risk of denying a claimant simply for
failing to submit a piece of paper. "This is a positive step," he said.
"We hope that VA makes the most of this new procedure."
VA said its online application system already reduces the number of
incomplete applications it receives, which decreases the need for
additional work by claims processors.
VA provides compensation and pension benefits to more than 3.7 million
veterans and beneficiaries, and approximately 523,000 students receive
education benefits. About 90,000 disabled veterans participate in the
department's vocational rehabilitation and employment program.
-------------------------
posted by Larry
Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
Don't forget to read all of today's VA
News Flashes (click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
email Larry
(go
back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page) |
Military
Medical Malpractice
Legal
Network
VA Watchdog Stuff...
cups, hats, shirts...
click on item to order
and support the site.
|
