“Veterans Affairs officials acknowledged to lawmakers that the department’s debt collection practices remain ‘too clunky and too confusing’ to ensure families aren’t left in financial jeopardy. And they promised additional reforms within the next year…”
“Last fiscal year, VA overpayments to veterans totaled roughly $1.6 billion, on par with mistakes in previous years.”
“The cases include mistakes in disability payouts after beneficiary information is updated, payments that conflict with other federal benefits like drill pay, changes in college enrollment that lower GI Bill eligibility, and simple math errors by department employees…”
“Rychalski said officials have to balance their responsibility to taxpayers to recover overpayments with veterans’ financial health, but said the department is reviewing how cases are handled to see if systemic changes are needed.”
“He said within the next year he expects VA to offer a new online portal where veterans can monitor any outstanding debts, and new department policies to minimize the number of debt notices sent to veterans from various sub-agencies within VA…” Read the full article here.
Source: VA concedes its debt collection systems leave veterans confused, frustrated – By Leo Shane III, September 19, 2019. Military Times.
