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: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or impacted by veteran claims processes
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill targets veterans filing for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), specifically those not represented by accredited entities.
- It impacts veterans who would otherwise be unaware of the support available from accredited entities.
- The assistance and information provided by this bill aim to improve the claims process for these veterans, enhancing their chances of successful claims outcomes.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts veterans who are not represented by accredited entities when filing claims. This could include a broad range of individuals depending on age, location, and personal circumstances.
- The policy's budget may restrict how widely it can be implemented initially, meaning it may focus on areas with a higher density of veterans or target outreach programs more efficiently.
- The potential for improvement in self-reported wellbeing scores is likely higher among those veterans who struggle more with navigating the claims process without assistance.
- Not all veterans in the US will be impacted, as many are already represented, and some may not be filing claims at this time.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran, currently unemployed (San Diego, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I had no idea there were organizations that could help me for free; I thought only lawyers did that for a fee.
- The process is overwhelming and confusing on my own.
- If I had known earlier, I would have felt a lot more confident about my claim.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired veteran (Austin, TX)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've filed claims before without help and it was tough, I wish I had known about this resource earlier.
- It's reassuring to know that future veterans won't feel as lost as I did.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Veteran and current corporate employee (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this would impact me directly as I already have representation.
- However, it's good that others will have better access to help.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Veteran, works part-time (Orlando, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great that they provide this information up front.
- I haven't filed a claim yet because I didn't have help, but now I feel I can.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran, working as a contractor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a useful initiative, especially for those just starting the claims process.
- I often help others understand the process, and this policy aligns with my advice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran, pursuing higher education (Denver, CO)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's scary to think people would try to take advantage of veterans like that.
- I'm glad they're making it clear where to go for help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired veteran (Seattle, WA)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hearing about bogus organizations is stressful, having this list is peace of mind.
- The bill sounds like it’s long overdue.
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 |
Veteran, manages a small business (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I already know where to find reputable help, but I know many who don’t.
- This should be a standard service to make it fairer for everyone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired with part-time consulting (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle with understanding forms and processes without help, this policy could have helped a lot when I filed.
- I hope this reaches veterans who really need it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran, working full-time (Boston, MA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is excellent as an introduction to finding proper assistance.
- Too many veterans don’t know where to start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $13000000)
Year 2: $9000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $11000000)
Year 5: $7000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $10000 (Low: $5000, High: $20000)
Key Considerations
- The policy requires initial setup and incremental administrative costs, as it utilizes existing VA communications channels to deliver new information.
- Staff training and informational updates are important considerations to ensure proper guidance is provided to veterans.
- Long-term savings might accrue from streamlined claim processes and less legal contention in improperly represented claim issues.