Update on Getting My Back Pay
Two days ago I went to the website of Senator Bill Nelson at billnelson.senate.gov and filled out a form asking for his help with my back pay that I am owed. It has been over 8 1/2 MONTHS since the BVA decided to increase the disability rating on my back and I
still haven't been paid for this increase! I have called at least 5 times on this matter and I keep getting excuses, but no money! I have even written them asking when I will get my money and so far I have yet to get a reply! They acknowledge receiving the letter but have yet to reply to it. They tell me that there is nothing in the computer about being owed any back pay! So, I asked the senator to look into this and find out why I haven't been paid yet and when I will be. If I don't hear from him by August 2, 2007 I will call his office and try to find out what is up. I may end up having to go to his office in Tampa to fill out some forms or something. I do hope that I don't have to travel to Tampa.
Labels: VA Benefits
My Life Is Still On Hold
Back in December of 2006 the BVA decided to increase the disability rating on my back from 10% to 20%. The effective date for this is September 2003.
Normally, whenever I get an increase in my disability rating it only takes a month or two to get my back pay and the new increased amount. For some reason that I do not know and have yet to get anybody to explain to me, it had taken
over 8.5 months for them to process my paperwork and I
still haven't been paid yet! This is ridiculous and inexcusable! There is no valid reason for this! I was told back in February that partial grants take priority over remands and that I should be paid within two month. Well, that just hasn't happened yet and I want to know why!
I desperately need this money to get on with my life and the longer that they make me wait for it the longer I will have my life on hold! I need the back pay to get my own car and I need the car to get a decent paying job. Also, I need an new suit to were to job interviews because I gained too much weight to fit into my old one. Again, I need that back pay that I am owed to buy a new suit.
What sucks is that if it were the other way around and I owed the VA money they would charge me all kinds of interest and penalties for taking over 8.5 months to pay them! It simply is unfair that I can't charge the VA interest and penalties for taking this long to pay me!
When all is said and done my overall disability rating should be
at least 70%. However, I am quite sure that I will get cheated out of some of the back pay that I will be due. It has happened several times already.
Labels: VA Benefits
