Obama Pledges Help For Veterans, Touts Reduction Of Backlog Of Disability Claims/Operation Confidence Tribute To Our Disabled Veterans
President Barack Obama assured disabled veterans Saturday, August 10, 2013, that his administration is making progress on reducing a backlog of disability claims and said the number of requests for assistance has fallen by nearly one-fifth since peaking at more than 600,000 just a few months ago.
In an address at the Disabled American Veterans' convention in Orlando, Obama also announced a national plan to guide mental health research, as well as commitments from 250 community colleges and universities to help veterans earn college degrees or get the credentials they need to find jobs.
A chief concern for veterans is the backlog of disability claims for compensation for illness and injury caused by military service.
"After years of military service, you shouldn't have to wait years for the benefits you've earned," Obama said.
The number of claims ballooned after Obama made it easier for Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange to get benefits. Access to benefits also was eased for sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder and Gulf War veterans afflicted with malaria, West Nile virus or other infectious diseases.
The backlog is shrinking due to some aggressive steps taken by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including requiring claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices to work overtime and moving from a manual to a computerized system to help speed the judgment of claims, administration officials said.
About 780,000 claims are pending. About 496,000 are considered backlogged after the 20 percent reduction Obama highlighted, down from 611,000 at the end of March, said White House press secretary Jay Carney. A claim is considered backlogged if it has been in the system for 125 days, or roughly four months.
Even with that progress, Obama acknowledged the amount of work still needed to eliminate the backup by 2015 as VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has promised.
"Today I can report that we are not where we need to be, but we are making progress," Obama said. "So after years when the backlog kept growing, finally the backlog is shrinking."
In an address at the Disabled American Veterans' convention in Orlando, Obama also announced a national plan to guide mental health research, as well as commitments from 250 community colleges and universities to help veterans earn college degrees or get the credentials they need to find jobs.
A chief concern for veterans is the backlog of disability claims for compensation for illness and injury caused by military service.
"After years of military service, you shouldn't have to wait years for the benefits you've earned," Obama said.
The number of claims ballooned after Obama made it easier for Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange to get benefits. Access to benefits also was eased for sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder and Gulf War veterans afflicted with malaria, West Nile virus or other infectious diseases.
The backlog is shrinking due to some aggressive steps taken by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including requiring claims processors in its 56 regional benefits offices to work overtime and moving from a manual to a computerized system to help speed the judgment of claims, administration officials said.
About 780,000 claims are pending. About 496,000 are considered backlogged after the 20 percent reduction Obama highlighted, down from 611,000 at the end of March, said White House press secretary Jay Carney. A claim is considered backlogged if it has been in the system for 125 days, or roughly four months.
Even with that progress, Obama acknowledged the amount of work still needed to eliminate the backup by 2015 as VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has promised.
"Today I can report that we are not where we need to be, but we are making progress," Obama said. "So after years when the backlog kept growing, finally the backlog is shrinking."
Operation Confidence
In 2009, members on Operation Confidence's team discovered thousands of wounded
and disabled veterans living on the streets in the skid row district of Los Angeles Skid Row district .
Several disabled veterans were still wearing portions of their military uniform while holding onto the American flag as they slept in their wheelchairs. They found others lived under freeway bridges. Shocked and concerned research took place and found this was national crisis and here in Los Angeles 33,000 thousands more will be out on the streets by 2016.
Check out our blog:
Shortly after that experience, Dr. Phil had a heartfelt documentary about this same injustice.
Several disabled veterans were still wearing portions of their military uniform while holding onto the American flag as they slept in their wheelchairs. They found others lived under freeway bridges. Shocked and concerned research took place and found this was national crisis and here in Los Angeles 33,000 thousands more will be out on the streets by 2016.
Check out our blog:
Shortly after that experience, Dr. Phil had a heartfelt documentary about this same injustice.
As a civilian organization Operation Confidence, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization felt the need to do its part to help so
in 2010 and again 2011, they hosted United We Service Tribute To our Disabled
Veterans. Each event was a resource and job fair held on the grounds of
the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Check out our website
Check out our website
Click link
for the program book with military letters of support.
http://issuu.com/operationconfidence/docs/united_we_serve_tribute_to_our_disabled_vets_2011?e=7631844/3122961
All branches of the US military and the Los Angeles Sheriff Department participated
Although both resource fairs were a success it still had'en gotten to the
core of the problem, jobs and housing. In 2012, Operation Confidence opened a small store, Handi Crafts Woodworking Boutique for Wounded & Disabled Veterans, in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles .
Visit our website at www.operationconfidencehandicrafts.org.
Visit our website at www.operationconfidencehandicrafts.org.
The program provides a therapeutic work environment while helping
disabled and wounded veterans transition back into society. The goal is to have signature woodworking pieces featured on Internet sites, such as,
Overstock.com, Etsy, Pinterest and in designer stores thus creating jobs for a population of people who have satisfied so much to protect our country, our disabled veterans.
Operation Confidence mission is to obtain accessible transitional housing for wounded and disabled veterans and all support with the infrastructure, grants, donations and more will be humbly welcomed.
Operation Confidence has been in the community for over 25 years advocating for people with
physical disability.
Operation Confidence at www.operationconfidence.org.
Operation Confidence mission is to obtain accessible transitional housing for wounded and disabled veterans and all support with the infrastructure, grants, donations and more will be humbly welcomed.
Operation Confidence at www.operationconfidence.org.
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