Advocates are urging veterans exposed to toxins during their military service to apply for expanded health and disability benefits through the PACT Act, which may grant them backdated benefits if they apply by Monday, Aug. 14 — a newly extended deadline announced this week by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Officials say the PACT Act application website experienced technical issues as thousands of people applied in the final hours ahead of the original Aug. 9 deadline.
“Due to high volume, some veterans have received error messages when submitting their intent to file PACT Act claims. If you received one of these messages, don’t worry! We have logged your intent to file and saved your effective date for benefits,” according to a message on the VA website.
President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan legislation into law on Aug. 10, 2022; it is designed to help approximately five-million veterans across the country, including veterans of conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the Cold War era.
National VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said these veterans were potentially exposed to dangerous toxins.
“Predominantly for anyone who may have come in contact with toxic substances, things like Agent Orange, things like burn pits, other toxic substances because of their service,” he said, “whether in Afghanistan or Iraq or any other places, and Central Command. So this is vital.”
The airborne toxins are strongly linked to many serious health conditions, including respiratory problems and cancers. And, for the first time, the law added presumptive service connection for almost two dozen health conditions, including several additional cancers.
The presumption means the VA now automatically assumes a veteran’s service in particular locations caused a health condition, with the complete list of exposures and PACT Act presumptive conditions is available on the VA website.
Survivors of veterans are also eligible to apply through the PACT Act.
Hayes said it’s important for everyone to apply as soon as possible, even if they don’t have all the required documents.
“An “intent to file — that basically holds your place in line,” he said. “And then you, too, will still be eligible for backdated benefits.”
Although there’s no deadline to apply for un-backdated PACT Act benefits, applying by the new deadline means living veterans or the surviving family members of the deceased could also be reimbursed for healthcare expenses dating back to last August.
For more information about the PACT Act and to apply, visit the VA application portal.
