Schatz, Kilmer Demand All Underpaid Veterans Be Reimbursed

Statement

Today, following a new report that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not reimburse veterans who were paid less than they were owed due to technical errors, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i), top Democrat on the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) Vice Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, are demanding that the VA pay back the estimated 360,000 veterans impacted by the error.

"The VA's current position is that the only way to fix this is to freeze current payments. That is Orwellian in its incompetence, and it is offensive in the real harm that it does to veterans who put their lives on the line for our country," said Senator Schatz.

"Veterans have already fought for our country, they should never have to fight the VA to get the benefits they earned and deserve." Rep. Derek Kilmer said. "The VA had a year to plan the rollout of the Forever GI Bill's housing stipend changes, and the fact that it has been bungled so badly is unworthy of the service veterans have provided the nation. The VA needs to repay veterans every cent they're owed immediately."

"The VA's position is unacceptable and deeply ignorant of the financial burden that too many of our veterans and their families now face because of its gross mismanagement. We are not asking the VA to create more problems for itself by expediting a fix for processing housing stipends that could cause further delays or missed payments. But we are demanding that the VA do right by our veterans," the lawmakers wrote. "There is no question the government should provide retroactive payments to these veterans; we must. The question is how we will restore our veterans' confidence in the VA's ability to continue to deliver the care and benefits that they earned and we promised them. That is your responsibility."

Technical glitches at the VA caused delayed or inaccurate GI Benefit payments, leaving many veterans struggling to pay their bills. In response, the VA pledged to repay veterans who received incorrect GI Benefit payments. A new report, however, said VA officials told Capitol Hill staffers that the agency will not retroactively reimburse underpaid veterans.

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