Tag Archives: disability

Weekly update: Veteran’s disability claims backlog as of 11/2/2013


By SB Anderson

Below is our weekly snapshot of claims status and two graphics from the Veterans Benefits Administration’s weekly “Monday Morning Workload Reports” that track claims processing progress.

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 651,288 382,473 58.70% 168.3
Last week 656,726 386,489 58.90% 178
Change -5,438 -4,016 -0.20 -10
Year ago 819,768 554,587 67.70% N/A

Below: Claims pending (left) and backlog (right) as of 10/5/13. (Note: Includes disability and pension). Pie charts are from the Veteran’s Benefits Administration.

11-2-13-report-claims-pending

Weekly update: Veteran’s disability claims backlog as of 10/26/2013


By SB Anderson

Below is our weekly snapshot of claims status and two graphics from the Veterans Benefits Administration’s weekly “Monday Morning Workload Reports” that track claims processing progress

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 656,726 386,489 58.90% 178
Last week 660,997 391,605 59.20% 180.8
Change -4,271 -5,116 -0.30 -3
Year ago 819,768 554,587 67.70% N/A

Below: Claims pending (left) and backlog (right) as of 10/5/13. (Note: Includes disability and pension). Pie charts are from the Veteran’s Benefits Administration.

10-26-13 disability report

Despite government shutdown, VA disability claims backlog shrank


By SB Anderson

Despite warnings from Veterans Benefits Administration officials that this month’s 16-day government shutdown could reverse progress in eating away at an enormous backlog of disability claims, just-released data shows the processing continued, albeit at a slower pace, and the backlog continued to shrink.

VA employees shaved an average of about 3,500 claims a week from the pile of 400,000 claims that were pending for 125 days or more, based on reports released on Monday that include the 16-day shutdown. That is about one-third less than the weekly average in September, but still marked progress that some feared would not come. Overall average days pending for claim completion stayed about the same.

“The VA was able to avoid furloughing its workers who processed the claims during the shutdown, but it did have to stop its mandatory 20 hours of monthly overtime, which has been credited with helping make a dent in the claims backlog.
With the government back open, the mandatory overtime has been extended through at least Nov. 16,” TheHill.com reported.

Below is our weekly snapshot of claims status and two graphics from the VBA’s weekly “Monday Morning Reports” that track claims processing progress.

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 660,997 391,605 59.20% 180.8
Last week 665,128 393,581 59.20% 179.4
Change -4,131 -1,976 0.00 1
Year ago 819,768 554,587 67.70% N/A

VBA Claims 10/29/2013

10/5 VA disability claim backlog snapshot


By SB Anderson

Here is our weekly update on the status of the enormous backlog of Veterans Benefits Administration disability claims. The data below is extracted from the weekly “Monday Morning Workload Report” released by the VA. The most recent cover the week ending Oct. 5.

Initial indications were the government shutdown that began a week ago would halt progress made in eliminating the backlog but at least in the first week, progress continued, based on the data released on Monday.

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 670,124 399,214 60% 181.2
Last week 670,674 401,952 59.90% 185.2
Change -550 -2,738 -0.30 -4
Year ago 809,240 544,591 67% N/A

Below: Claims pending (left) and backlog (right) as of 10/5/13. (Note: Includes disability and pension). Pie charts are from the Veteran’s Benefits Administration.

10-5-13 backlog

→ Full VA disablity data dashboard on Medill National Security Zone.

9/28 VA disability claim backlog snapshot


By SB Anderson

Here is our weekly update on the status of the enormous backlog of Veterans Benefits Administration disability claims. The data below is extracted from the weekly “Monday Morning Workload Report” released by the VA. The most recent cover the week ending Sept. 28.

With the government shutdown that began today, it is most likely that processing of claims will come to a halt and recent progress that has trimmed the backlog will come to a halt and, if the shutdown continues for very long, would backslide.

“The backlog will go in the wrong direction by 2,000 claims every day,” Jon Soltz of VoteVets.org told Politico. “They’ve cut into that thing a lot, and they’re going to lose that momentum. Every day that the government is shut down, the claims begin to build up.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/veterans-backlog-at-risk-under-shutdown-97593.html#ixzz2gUAfbkCC

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 670,674 401,952 59.90% 185.2
Last week 681,228 414,155 60.80% 192.1
Change -10,554 -12,203 -0.90 -7
Year ago 809,240 544,591 67% N/A

Below: Claims pending (left) and backlog (right) as of 9/28/13. (Note: Includes disability and pension). Pie charts are from the Veteran’s Benefits Administration.

9-28-13 Backlog Pies

 

→ Full VA disablity data dashboard on Medill National Security Zone.

VA disability claim backlog could grow worse with government shutdown


By SB Anderson

It’s kind of stating the obvious, but if a government shutdown comes to pass, the workers who process disability claims would be furloughed and recent progress to reduce the huge claims backlog would come to a halt, and possibly start reversing.

While most employees who work in VA health-related jobs would stay on the job (the Veteran’s Health Administration is exempt and has its funding for next year already in place), those who handle claims would not be protected and be covered by a 2011 contingency plan, the Washington Post determined.

In that scenario, the VA’s 57 regional offices handling present inventory of 736,000 disability claims around the country would likely have limited services, and the Veterans Benefits Administration would be unable to process education and vocational rehabilitation benefits.
“Veterans will be able to file claims electronically, but not in person because VA Regional Offices might be closed to all but essential personnel,” said Joe Davis, spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars. “That also means no one will be working to process the claims, which means the backlog will continue to grow.”

Below is our weekly update on the status of the backlog, The data is extracted from the weekly “Monday Morning Workload Report” released by the VA. The most recent cover the week ending Sept. 14.

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 681,228 414,155 61% 192.1
Last week 688,677 425,341 62% 198.3
Change -7,449 -11,186 -1.00 6
Year ago 815,252 550,125 68% N/A

9/21 VA disability claim backlog snapshot


By SB Anderson

Here is our weekly update on the status of the enormous backlog of Veterans Benefits Administration disability claims. The data below is extracted from the weekly “Monday Morning Workload Report” released by the VA. The most recent cover the week ending Sept. 14.

At the bottom is a weekly snapshot done by the Center for Investigative Reporting.

  CLAIMS PENDING OVER 125 DAYS % OVER 125 DAYS AVG. DAYS PENDING
This week 681,228 414,155 61% 192.1
Last week 688,677 425,341 62% 198.3
Change -7,449 -11,186 -1.00 6
Year ago 815,252 550,125 68% N/A

 

Below: Claims pending (left) and backlog (right) as of 9/21/13. (Note: Includes disability and pension).

Pending and backlogged claims