The Veterans of Foreign Wars is warning veterans about scams arising following the passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
Since the law was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022, there has been an increase in PACT Act-related phishing, vishing and social media scams targeting veterans to access their PACT Act benefits or submit claims on their behalf for a fee, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Firms that charge fees for providing a service or consultation and promise faster, more accurate results are generally misleading the veteran,” director of VFW National Veterans Service Ryan Gallucci stressed. “There is no magic bullet or way to make the process go any faster or influence the outcome.”
The PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances and is arguably the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history.
The VFW has launched PACT Act Info, a consumer information initiative to provide veterans with guidance on eligibility, protection from scams and direct referrals to free, expert assistance in filing VA claims.
“We want veterans to know there is no need to pay for consultations or any kind of assistance to pursue PACT Act benefits,” said Gallucci. “Through the new law, more health conditions than ever before have been deemed presumptive to military service, so the burden of proof is minimal.”
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The VFW National Veterans Service trains and oversees a global network of more than 2,000 veterans service officers who VA accredits to file benefit claims on behalf of any veteran, regardless of VFW membership. VFW Accredited Service Officers walk the veteran through the entire process, from determining eligibility and the initial filing, to the decision and any additional appeal actions all free of charge, as required by law.
“The VFW was instrumental in passage of the PACT Act to secure the life-changing legislation for veterans, but our mission does not end there,” said VFW National Commander Tim Borland. “Now comes the hard work of ensuring every veteran receives the care and benefits they have earned, without paying unnecessary fees.”
For more information, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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