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Florida Regional VA Office Facing Backlog in Financial Guardian Program

The financial guardian program at the VA helps older veterans, their widows, and veterans with disabilities manage their finances. According to an article in The St. Petersburg Times, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regional office in Florida alone is facing a backlog of 800 cases deep.

The 800 cases backlogged include veterans and surviving spouses who are waiting for just the initial interview of their case. U.S. Rep Rich Nugent (R-Fla) has contacted VA Sec. Eric Shinseki and asked him to actively reduce the unacceptable amount of backlogged cases.

Many of the people waiting for assistance are elderly and/or sick and many will not live long enough to ever have anyone assigned to their case. The VA is looking into its current staff levels and comparing them to the need for help to avoid just those scenarios.

There is another problem as well. While financial guardians are awaiting approval, it is possible they can still manage the finances for a ward; however, the VA can elect to hold off on certain funds owed to the veteran or surviving spouse until the guardian is officially approved. This essentially puts a veteran or surviving spouse in dire straits.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.