The Department of Veterans Affairs has extended the deadline to August 14 to apply for retroactive benefits under the PACT Act.
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, PACT Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 10, 2022, expands healthcare and monthly tax-free payment benefits for Veterans and survivors who were exposed to harmful substances, including burn pits and Agent Orange, during their military service.
Technical difficulties on the VA’s website prompted this extension, ensuring that eligible applicants don’t miss out on the opportunity to access their earned benefits.
The VA encountered technical difficulties with its online application system, leading to error messages and challenges for applicants attempting to submit their “Intent to File” claims. Despite these challenges, the VA assures applicants that their intent to file has been successfully logged, ensuring that no eligible individual misses out on their benefits due to technical glitches. The VA has been actively working to resolve these issues, with the majority of the technical problems already resolved.
The original deadline for Veterans and survivors to apply for retroactive PACT Act benefits was August 9. However, due to technical issues with the VA’s online application portal, the department has extended the deadline to 11:59 PM Eastern Time (8:59 PM Pacific Time) on Monday, August 14.
While there is no firm deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits, this extension allows applicants to have 12 months of compensation backdated to August 10, 2022, aligning with the day the PACT Act was signed into law.
Members of Congress, including House VA Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano and Senate VA Committee Chairman Jon Tester, have expressed concerns about the technical difficulties faced by applicants. They have called for an analysis of the root causes of these issues to prevent similar incidents in the future. Ensuring that all eligible Veterans and survivors receive their benefits in a timely manner is a priority for lawmakers.
Veterans and survivors can apply for PACT Act benefits by clicking here or by calling 1-800-MYVA411 (1-800-698-2411).
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
