The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it is resuming debt collections on benefit and medical copays, which were previously paused due to the pandemic.
Notifications and Options
Veterans who owe the VA money can expect to receive notifications this month, if they haven’t already. The debt notification letters will include options to request debt relief for those who continue to need financial relief from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Debt Relief Options
- Apply to defer the collection until September 30, 2022
- Appeal to the VA to have debts reduced or, in some cases, completely erased
Important Dates
- January 2022: The VA will start deducting collections from monthly benefit payouts
- September 30, 2022: Deadline to defer collection
Impact and Response
Approximately 600,000 veterans will be impacted by the move, with a total of $1.13 billion owed to the VA. VA officials stated that they will “continue to provide relief options such as extending repayment plans, waivers and temporary hardship suspensions during these challenging times.”
Contact Information
If you have any questions about debt collections, you can call the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648 .
Veterans who owe the VA money can expect to receive notifications from the VA this month, if they haven’t already.
The VA’s move to resume collections has left many veterans feeling frustrated, wishing for a longer extension.
The debt notification letters sent to affected veterans and beneficiaries will include options to request debt relief for those who continue to need financial relief from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And in an effort to give individuals time to prepare, the VA said they won’t start deducting the collections from monthly benefit payouts until January, 2022.
Approximately 600,000 veterans will be impacted by the move.
VA officials said money owed to them totals about $1.13 billion.
Debt collections were paused by the department as part of a series of changes that the department put in place to respond to the then new pandemic threat.
Many of those office closings and program suspensions have been rolled back in recent months, as the number of staff and patients throughout the VA system have gotten vaccinated and returned to normal business operations.
In a statement, VA leaders said they will “continue to provide relief options such as extending repayment plans, waivers and temporary hardship suspensions during these challenging times. It has been and will remain a priority of the department to work individually with each veteran.” via Military Times
If you owe the VA money you do have some options. You can apply to defer the collection until September 30, 2022. You can also try to appeal to the VA to have your debts reduced or, in some cases, completely erased.
If you have any questions about debt collections you can call the VA Debt Management Center. Their number is 1-800-827-0648.
NOTICE!!!!! To everyone under the “Choice Program” you only have 90 days to file a claim. I didn’t know, cost me over $2,000. I never received a bill for almost a year after care.
I’m in the ‘choice program ‘ since 2017 and I have never received a bill. Why do I have to file a claim?
I agree with Dwayne. Yes, I have gotten bills for care, but I have always paid them. It’s not a big bill so I can afford the bill when I get it.
I thought the VA was partnering with civilian care givers to help get us Vets care. Now they want to come after our benefits and take back monies spent to help get us that care? WTF.
can you send me and my mother e paperwork… Son DavidDewayneRobinson and Mrs.Mary E Robinson….My address is 411 Martin Luther King Blvd Gretna Fl 32332…Thank You for the help call Mr.Ricky Reed he can help you out … The name of the person is Mr.Mike ??……..ThankYou for the help and send it to me and her..
Do I owe any money and if so how much thank you.
How do I know if I owe any money I haven’t received any bill for anything ?