VA extends benefit debt relief through end of the year

2022-08-31T14:42:07-04:00

If you owe benefit-related debt to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and otherwise qualify, you now have until Dec. 31 to pay it back, VA announced Aug. 29.

The financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic drove VA to temporarily suspend the requirement that certain Veterans pay this money back right away.

Veterans might accrue debt with VA for past-due health care copayments or if VA paid the Veteran or an educational institution the Veteran attended more in compensation than the circumstances warranted.

With VA’s announcement, the time period for the temporary hardship suspension is extended to Dec. 31, 2022, from Sept. 30.

“Helping Veterans manage, pay off, and — in some cases — eliminate their debt is one of our top priorities,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a news release. “Extending this hardship suspension is a key part of that critical effort, and it will help ease the burden for Veterans who are living with debt.”

VA noted that it has already canceled some Veteran-owed debt, made it easier for Veterans to manage debt, and issued regulations making it less likely that Veterans’ medical debt would affect their credit scores.

For instance, VA canceled medical care and pharmacy copayments owed for services received during April 6, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, saving 1.5 million Veterans roughly $1 billion, officials said. A final rule published Feb. 2 resulted in a 99% reduction in unfavorable debt being reported to the credit bureaus.

VA has also streamlined the review process for debt forgiveness and improved online and other tools Veterans can use to find out what they owe in debt.

Learn more

• Visit VA’s “manage your VA debt” page to sign in to review your debt, make payments, request financial help and read frequently asked questions: https://www.va.gov/manage-va-debt

• Read “VA extends temporary hardship suspension for benefit debts,” news release, Aug. 29, 2022: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5817

• Read “VA establishes new threshold for reporting benefit and medical debt,” news release, Feb. 2, 2022: https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5758

Manage your VA debt for benefit overpayments and copay bills | Veterans Affairs

Review your current VA benefit debt or copay bill balances online. And find out how to make payments or request help now.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 31 at 2022 2:43 PM

2022-08-31T14:43:43-04:00

This good news for our veterans.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 31 at 2022 2:46 PM

2022-08-31T14:46:04-04:00

THANKS FOR SHARING

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Aug 31 at 2022 7:47 PM

2022-08-31T19:47:15-04:00

Through the pandemic I paid my co-pays because I didn't want to get stuck with a huge bill all at once. When the V.A. announced they would waive all fees I did get a refund. The problem delay in paying is if a Veteran can't pay their bill today, how will they pay it next January with additional charges for the last four months of this year. The Veteran is just digging a deeper hole for themselves hoping the government will waive these fees I think which may or may not happen. If we have billions to send to other countries, why not help those who served and fought for our country, first?

Response by Cadet SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2022 6:27 AM

2022-09-15T06:27:12-04:00

Thanks for the update and quick reply. I'll be sure to keep an eye on this thread. Looking for the same issue. Bumped into your thread. Thanks for creating it. Looking forward for solution.

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Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 18 at 2022 4:48 AM

2022-09-18T04:48:12-04:00

thanks for sharing.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Oct 7 at 2022 8:51 PM

2022-10-07T20:51:12-04:00

I am glad someone had some common sense!