Bill Overview
Title: Veterans Claims Education Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to, upon receipt of an initial claim for benefits from a claimant that is not represented by an accredited entity, provide (1) notice that an accredited entity may assist the claimant, (2) information regarding a search tool to find an accredited entity to assist in the filing of claims, and (3) information on how and where to report an entity that is not accredited and charged a fee to assist with a claim.
Sponsors: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans who file initial claims for benefits with the VA
Estimated Size: 1000000
- Veterans Claims Education Act of 2022 is specifically aimed at individuals who are filing initial claims for benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- According to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 40% of veterans do not utilize their benefits; a portion of these may be due to unassisted initial claims.
- The bill primarily affects individuals not represented by an accredited entity when filing claims, targeting those who might be unaware of potential assistance from accredited entities.
- Veterans around the world, including in the U.S., may file claims with the VA if they fulfill the requirements and have served in the U.S. military.
Reasoning
- The policy's target audience is veterans who are filing initial claims for VA benefits without the assistance of accredited entities. Since the policy provides educational resources and direction to these veterans, it directly targets this group.
- Considering that around 40% of veterans might not be utilizing their benefits due to lack of assistance, this policy could be impactful but its reach may be limited by the budget which restricts extensive promotions or large scale support.
- There are about 2,000,000 potential claimants (globally) with a significant portion concentrated in the U.S., as the VA is primarily an American institution affecting U.S. veterans.
- The budget context indicates that while the policy can influence many individual cases, its capability to impact every eligible person is limited, requiring prioritization or a gradual rollout.
Simulated Interviews
IT Specialist (Austin, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wasn't aware I could get assistance filing my claims.
- This policy sounds helpful because I was struggling to understand the process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Dayton, OH)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't trust those outsiders trying to charge fees for help.
- Having reliable sources to approach may help veterans like me who aren't good with computers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Medical Assistant (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More guidance is definitely needed, especially for those just starting out.
- This policy could prevent people from getting scammed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wouldn't know where to begin with claims, it's all overwhelming.
- This could really simplify things for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Accountant (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think any step that makes this easier for veterans is great.
- I've read about scams, so this is reassuring when seeking help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Starting to learn about the benefits I can access, any reliable info helps.
- This could be more useful when I'm ready to file other claims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Chef (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always thought I wouldn't qualify due to my discharge, but I could be wrong.
- Knowing where to get proper help is a good start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Most veterans in my community already support each other, so I'm not directly affected.
- However, I can assist others better with this policy in place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 74 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s difficult to navigate the system with language barriers, so additional help would be wonderful.
- This policy ensures us we have a fair chance to understand our rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Engineer (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the importance of guiding veterans through the initial steps.
- Stories about unaccredited entities charging veterans are alarming, so this policy is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Year 3: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $5500000 (Low: $4500000, High: $6500000)
Year 100: $8000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $9000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill enhances veteran claim support potentially improving success rates of initial claims.
- Initial cost outlay for system upgrades and staff training.
- Potential future savings through reduced erroneous claims.