From left: US Representative John Garamendi and Solano County Veterans Services Office (CVSO) Director Alfred Sims
The PACT Act deadline is August 9, 2023.
On Aug. 2, The American Legion (TAL) Post 550 & 603 Service Officers, US Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) personnel, Solano County Veterans Services Office (CVSO) Director Alfred Sims, and US Representative John Garamendi held a “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics” (PACT) Act and Veterans Town Hall with dozens of Veterans in Vallejo.
They answered questions about the PACT Act www.VA.gov/PACT and repeatedly emphasized that Veterans must submit the “VA Form 21-0966 – Intent To File” by August 9, 2023 in order to receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.
To submit the form, Veterans can:
- Visit their local TAL Service Officer – https://calegion.org/find-a-post/
- Visit their local Congressmember – https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
- Visit their County Veterans Service officer – https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/CVSO-Locations.aspx / 1-844-SERV-VETS (1-844-737-8838)
- Call the Veterans Affairs main line – 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411)
- OR self-submit the “Intent To File VA Form 21-0966” which can be downloaded at https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-0966/
Please remember the August 9, 2023 deadline.
Author: Nestor Aliga
Nestor Aliga was born in the Philippines and migrated to Vallejo, CA in 1967. He was in the US Marine Corps from 1974 to 1976 then in the US Army from 1976 to 2008. He is a life-member of the Big-Three, www.CALEGION.org, www.VFWCA.org, and www.DAVCAL.org.
