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The Potential Effect of Cutting VA Jobs to Reduce a Budget

Budget cuts are the topic of conversation among every federal agency and will continue to be until the final announcements are made as to where, exactly, cuts will be made. In that light, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) gave agencies very explicit instructions relating to their 2013 budgets. This will likely affect veterans disability in one way or another.

The OMB told agencies they would need to eliminate at least 5% of their "2011 enacted discretionary appropriations." The most likely way this will be done is by cutting jobs, and this directive could not have come at a worse time as employed veterans are already few and far between.

John Gage, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, believes cutting jobs is not the right answer. Even a 5% reduction will have ripple effects throughout the country and will likely directly affect tens of thousands of veterans. There are approximately 14 million unemployed people in this country, and the veteran unemployment rate is already above the national average.

The employment cuts will likely come across the board, possibly resulting in fewer staff members at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals to care for recovering and ill veterans. It will likely mean there will be fewer employees processing disability claims, which means the VA disability claim status will worsen. That would mean thousands of veterans going without money and benefits they need to live their daily lives.

Eliminating or diminishing necessary services through job attrition is not the answer. Cutting jobs at this magnitude will not help any economic recovery, it will only serve to make them worse, according to Gage.

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 veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.