The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is extending its suspension of veterans benefits debt payments. (Photo: Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders, U.S. Department of Defense)
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that veterans with benefit debts will not have to make payments until Jan. 1, 2023.
The current suspension of veterans benefit debts payments was set to expire on Sept. 30. It was established shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The suspension currently includes payments for disability compensation, education benefits, and non-service-connected pension debts.
Speaking on the extension, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said, “helping veterans manage, pay off, and — in some cases — eliminate their debt is one of our top priorities. Extending this hardship suspension is a key part of that critical effort, and it will help ease the burden for vets who are living with debt.”
The VA says that veterans will receive new debt notification letters with details and additional options specific to their case in September.
It remains unclear how many veterans are affected by the suspension.
Veterans Have Been Among Hardest Hit Groups of Recent Economic Downturn
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn, veterans have been among the hardest hit groups.
Using San Diego, Calif. as a case study, panelists at a U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing found that rising costs of living in San Diego — which was used as a case study — had become “extremely prohibitive” for addressing basic issues such as food insecurity.
Panelists reported that while San Diego veterans live in one of the most expensive counties in California, the findings generally apply to veterans households throughout California and the United States, at large.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
