Veterans and survivors who apply for PACT Act benefits by Monday, Aug. 14, will be eligible to have benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022 — the day the act was signed into law.
This is an extension of the original Aug. 9 deadline, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reported. Those who submit an intent to file for benefits are included in the extension.
The PACT Act, or Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, increased access to benefits for veterans and their survivors impacted by exposure to pollutants, chemicals and other health-threatening toxins during service. This includes veterans of the Vietnam War exposed to the infamous herbicide Agent Orange as well as younger veterans of Gulf wars suffering burn pit exposure.
Beyond benefits, the act is credited with increasing veteran access to health care as well as screening for toxic exposures. The VA reported since the law passed, 332,252 veterans enrolled in VA health care, which is almost 50,000 more enrollees than during the previous year.
Erik Flowers, veterans service officer with Crow Wing County, joined the KAXE Morning Show recently to break down how the PACT Act affects local veterans and their families, who could receive benefits for more than 300 conditions presumed to be caused by toxic exposures. Flowers said he’s on a constant quest to ensure those who’ve served the United States in the military access the benefits to which they’re entitled.
“There’s a lot of veterans out there that don’t know that they are eligible for benefits,” Flowers said. “And so I learned that as part of my job. You just kind of assume that the veterans are aware of what the benefits are, but even to this day — even in Crow Wing County, and I do a lot of outreach — there’s still veterans out there that don’t know what their benefits are.”
Flowers said he’s helped numerous veterans previously considered ineligible for benefits in the wake of the new legislation. He noted, however, he’s worried talk of a “deadline” in relation to the law may confuse or discourage some. While missing it means losing out on a year’s worth of benefits, it does not mean veterans won’t be able to seek those granted in the law going forward.
A doctor’s diagnosis is required to file for benefits, and Flowers noted the lack of one represents one of the most common hangups his office sees. But again, the lack of one isn’t a reason to skip seeking benefits ahead of the deadline, he said.
“You can go into your county veterans service office and file what’s called an intent to file, and that starts that retroactive date for you to have another year to be able to get the documentation you need,” Flowers said.
Veterans and survivors have submitted 843,448 PACT Act-specific disability claims since Aug. 10, 2022, the VA reported. In this fiscal year, veterans and survivors have submitted 1.95 million total claims — 37% more than last year and on pace to break a record. Veterans have also submitted 1.65 million “intents to file” during this fiscal year — 44% more than last year and also on pace to break the record.
Veterans and their survivors may apply or submit theirintent to file for PACT Act benefits by visiting VA.gov/PACT.
