‘It’s time for us to act’ — VA plans week of outreach and education on PACT Act benefits

WASHINGTON DC — ‘It’s time for us to act’ — VA plans week of outreach and education on PACT Act benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to educate veterans who were exposed to toxins during their time in the military. The VA is calling it the “PACT Act Week of Action” at facilities across the country. It started on Saturday, and stems from legislation that President Joe Biden signed in August.

Toxic fumes from burn pits often filled the air in recent war zones. They may have caused health problems for nearly 3.5 million service members.

It’s the reasoning behind the PACT Act. The legislation says if service members have one of more than 20 listed conditions, they no longer have to prove anything. The VA is going to presume it was caused by their service to the U.S., which means they get benefits including money, education and health care.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“Various individuals, various veterans passed away fighting for these benefits,” VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said.

The mission is personal for him.

“Being a veteran myself, an Iraq war veteran, this has touched me, touched some of my battle buddies,” he said.

So far, the agency has received 146,000 PACT Act-related claims. It has already hired 2,000 people to judge them. They might hire an additional 2,000 employees.

We asked if the VA has enough people to handle this.

“We know that it’s going to be a tall task, but this is something that we’re up to do and why we’re up to do that is because these men and women fought for our country,” Hayes said.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Police: Foul play suspected after woman found dead inside Buckhead home
• ‘I got down, ducked for cover’: Witness recalls moment 14-year-old shot himself at Stonecrest Mall
• Georgia man turns himself in on murder charge, police say

Veterans have told us they’ve been put through the wringer to try to get their benefits in the past and are skeptical about this process.

“That’s totally understandable,” Hayes responded. “There are veterans that have been denied time and time again and we are studying that.”

Officials want veterans to file their claims now, so everything is ready to go in January when they start looking through them.

“Toxic-exposed veterans have waited entirely too long to receive the benefits that they’ve earned and we’re here to provide those benefits now,” Hayes added.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

Scammers acting as customer service reps online to steal your money

©2022 Cox Media Group