Please answer if you understand VA disability benefits.

Question

ok, so my husbands VA disability claim was approved January 2003, and he received a letter telling him his claim was approved, and that he was entitled to so much a month, but his payments were going to be withheld until he paid off a government debt. Once the debt was paid he would receive his full benefits. So here is is 2008 and we have finally gotten the government debt paid off. He received a letter from the VA on saturday saying he needed to call with a address to give them so they know where to start sending his benefits. Will we get a lump sum from January 2003 until now? Will he be entitled to all that had been withheld? also the withholding were not being paid to the government debt we paid that on our own. I know there are numbers I can call but nothing is open on the weekend. I was just wondering if anyone else had been through this and might know the answer. thanks

Answer 1

Yes. He will be entitled to all of the benefits owed to him since the day he applied or the day he was found to be disabled. It is all retroactive and should pay out between 1-6 months from approval. Sometimes there are delays b/c the money has to be physically released on a computer program...so it is a bunch of paperwork and a bunch of different people shifting the case around. If you do not receive the lump sum in a decent amount of time, I would call the SSA or VA and see if you can speak to someone regarding the lump sum payment being released. It is an agrivating process--but it will come!!

<<ssa claims adjuster.

Answer 2

  Iam a DAV you can check with your county courthouse, and find out who the service officer is in the county, and call him anytime you want he will search it out and call you back, some of them get paid some work as a volenteer for the veterens. good luck to you.

Answer 3

If I remember my ACAP briefing in this situation he would be entitled to all of his benefits, thou if you allow me on my soap box that is a little BS reason to keep him away from benefits. Anyhow it should all be sent to you guys. If not then just call up to the VA to confirm, all cases are different. Best of luck to you and your husband  

Answer 4

I think he will get back pay from 2003, but the only way you can be sure is to contact the VA.  

Answer 5

Anything that was withheld and used as repayment for the debt will not be paid to your husband now, unless you can prove the debt was paid off independently. You probably need to discuss that with the agency to whom the debt was owed, and presumably to whom you made direct payment, and ask them to forward your proof of payment to the VA.

As to his monthly payments, you can have that done by direct deposit to a bank account and be assured of having it in your account on the due date.