Shutdown Impacts Veterans
MALORI BIZZELL
THE SIGNAL
With the government shut down for more than two weeks at the beginning of October and the uncertainty of future pensions, payments and claims getting processed, many veterans and their families face a delay in the processing of future benefits.
The 2010 census reports the Department of Veterans Affairs has 297,319 veterans in Texas alone receiving disability compensation and pension payments.
The government temporarily reopened its doors Oct. 17. With services reinstated until Jan. 15, the Veterans’ Affairs office will work to minimize delays in an already backlogged system.
“You don’t just flip a switch and everything turns back on,” said E.A. “Buddy” Grantham, director of City of Houston Office of Veterans’ Affairs. “There will be a delayed effect.”
The U.S. Office of Veterans Affairs had employees working overtime for months before the government shutdown trying to clear backclaims. The shutdown stalled all claims from being processed for 16 days and will affect the timeline for veterans to receive benefits, payments and pensions because of the extended processing time.
The City of Houston Office of Veterans’ Affairs reports Housing Houston’s Heroes, a program sponsored by Houston Housing Authority, helps more than 1,000 local Houston veterans who are homeless; most receive a payment of about $1,000 a month in payments from Veterans Affairs.
“Eighty-four percent of veterans helped by Housing Houston’s Heroes are living month-to-month,” Grantham said. Grantham went on to explain that the loss of a monthly payment could cause repercussions to local veterans.
After the shutdown, Grantham received a surplus of calls from veterans and their families, with one widow in particular standing out in his memory.
The call from a veteran’s widow who was concerned about not being able to pay for food, prescriptions, electricity and mortgage if her veteran’s dependent payment is suspended is an example of the type of phone calls Grantham has been receiving. After her husband died of an illness relating to the loss of his arm in World War II while storming Normandy, her veteran’s dependent payment is her only source of income.
“Most disabled veterans can’t work and rely on their benefit check to be able to pay their bills,” said John Conley, manager of Houston’s chapter of Veterans’ Support Organization who pointed out that he is also a disabled veteran.
These benefits are the only available means to pay bills, go to the doctor and purchase items such as groceries, gas and other necessities for most of the country’s veterans.
Conley went on to explain that veterans who have served in war for our country want the government to work together and help our nation by coming together and fighting for the citizens of our country just as they have.
When the shutdown began Oct. 1, veterans felt “the government wasn’t keeping them in mind and that they were easily cast aside,” Grantham said.
Veterans attending school at University of Houston-Clear Lake might have seen these negative effects if the shutdown lasted through the beginning of November if they are receiving GI Bill benefits to pay tuition cost for the spring 2014 semester.
While the government was shut down, veterans could not have their applications processed for benefits for the upcoming spring 2014 semester.
Because the government reopened before November, pre-registration starting Oct. 28, at UHCL will not have delays for UHCL’s veteran students.
“The processing time for UHCL’s students applying for the GI Bill benefits will not be affected for spring registration,” said Trisha Ruiz, UHCL Veteran Services Office Coordinator. “Students are able to apply for benefits at the UHCL Veteran Services Office.”
Veterans are encouraged to visit the UHCL Veterans Affairs office for more information about GI Bill benefits being offered for the spring 2014 semester.
For more information and updates about the effects of the government shutdown on our nation’s veterans, visit www.va.gov.
