Here We go Again!- Government Shutdown

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I have heard the elephant creeping around the room, but haven't heard anybody point it out, so here goes.

Government shutdown and IDES. How will this impact it?

First it is may well slow everything down on the military side. The house is going to send a bill forward today to ensure troops get paid, but it doesn't address the administrative side of the military. There may well be an impact and/or delay in PEB processing. And, it may also result in all new IDES entry to be delayed if those workers are considered non mission essential. I am speculating here, but there may be significant delays in PEBs; we will have to see how this plays out.

As far as the VA, I just read an article that indicates all medical services will be funded, but new and appeal ratings will not happen until this issue is solved. The reason for this is veteran benefits and services are appropriated one year in advance, but their operational budget is not. So again, all the admin stuff stops.

What this means is no ratings and adding to an already huge backlog. The article mentioned no processing of loan applications. I am again speculating when I say I think it will stop voc rehab claims, as well as GI bill stuff. It is going to be bad.

On the good side, Social Security and unemployment will not be impacted.

What is the word on the street? Please try and post links to your source whenever possible.

http://news.yahoo.com/shutdown-impact-tourists-homebuyers-hit-quickly-213542750--politics.html

Joe
 
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This is going to make it really difficult for me since my wife and I are going through the CareGiver steps now... Great... Guess I need to get on my cart and stand on a corner with a sign stating "Veteran, almost homeless due to government shutdown"...
 
ranger2992 said:
I have heard the elephant creeping around the room, but haven't heard anybody point it out, so here goes.

Government shutdown and IDES. How will this impact it?

First it is may well slow everything down on the military side. The house is going to send a bill forward today to ensure troops get paid, but it doesn't address the administrative side of the military. There may well be an impact and/or delay in PEB processing. And, it may also result in all new IDES entry to be delayed if those workers are considered non mission essential. I am speculating here, but there may be significant delays in PEBs; we will have to see how this plays out.

As far as the VA, I just read an article that indicates all medical services will be funded, but new and appeal ratings will not happen until this issue is solved. The reason for this is veteran benefits and services are appropriated one year in advance, but their operational budget is not. So again, all the admin stuff stops.

What this means is no ratings and adding to an already huge backlog. The article mentioned no processing of loan applications. I am again speculating when I say I think it will stop voc rehab claims, as well as GI bill stuff. It is going to be bad.

On the good side, Social Security and unemployment will not be impacted.

What is the word on the street? Please try and post links to your source whenever possible.

http://news.yahoo.com/shutdown-impact-tourists-homebuyers-hit-quickly-213542750--politics.html

Joe
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Indeed, I briefly recall hearing on the news the other day about the potential effect on DoVA disability claims for new ratings and re-ratings; hmm, I guess it still may have some merit as previously reported! :(

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
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grizz13 said:
This is going to make it really difficult for me since my wife and I are going through the CareGiver steps now... Great... Guess I need to get on my cart and stand on a corner with a sign stating "Veteran, almost homeless due to government shutdown"...
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Hmm, my family shall be directly behind your family; maybe we can build a bigger sign together for advertisement purposes; a sad day is potentially forthcoming indeed! :(

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
Warrior644 said:
Hmm, my family shall be directly behind your family; maybe we can build a bigger sign together for advertisement purposes; a sad day is potentially forthcoming indeed! :(

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
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I know, and the thing is my appointment with Occupational Therapy is on the 2nd... ARGH!!! This is so stressful!:(
 
grizz13 said:
I know, and the thing is my appointment with Occupational Therapy is on the 2nd... ARGH!!! This is so stressful!:(
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Indeed, albeit, I shall continue to pray for us all!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
Not sure how helpful this is, but this is an interesting graphic:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/09/27/us/who-goes-to-work-during-government-shutdown.html?hp
The most important figure that caught my eye was the VA figures:

Veterans Affairs (total employees): 332, 025 / Percentage Furloughed: 4%
Who is furloughed ("stays home") : Public affairs officers.
Who must work: VA Nurses.
This related article explains more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/u...-contingency-plans-for-possible-shutdown.html

As for IDES/MEB/PEB issues, as well as Federal Court issues, I have a few email queries out to my contacts. I will update if/when they respond.
 
I appreciate the posts. This is my fault - my claim was about to change status, and the Gods that be have had to punish all of you in order to stop mine :)
 
"The Veterans Affairs Department warned Saturday that an extended government shutdown could result in a cutoff of veterans’ benefits checks by the end of October."

"Earlier, the VA had stated that benefits checks would continue under a government shutdown but that claims processing could be delayed. Now, VA officials said claims processors will be exempted from the shutdown, so they’ll continue to process applications and pending claims."

Per the linked article ...


http://www.militarytimes.com/articl...A-Extended-shutdown-could-stop-disability-pay
 
... said:
"The Veterans Affairs Department warned Saturday that an extended government shutdown could result in a cutoff of veterans’ benefits checks by the end of October."

"Earlier, the VA had stated that benefits checks would continue under a government shutdown but that claims processing could be delayed. Now, VA officials said claims processors will be exempted from the shutdown, so they’ll continue to process applications and pending claims."

Per the linked article ...


http://www.militarytimes.com/articl...A-Extended-shutdown-could-stop-disability-pay
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Interesting since they are appropriated a year in advance. I think one think one thing that we all have to watch for is political brinksmanship. People from all branches of service are going to come out and say how bad this is. They are all now trying put put pressure on sensitive points.

Let's all hope and pray that this ends quick.
 
Jason Perry said:
Not sure how helpful this is, but this is an interesting graphic:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/09/27/us/who-goes-to-work-during-government-shutdown.html?hp
The most important figure that caught my eye was the VA figures:

Veterans Affairs (total employees): 332, 025 / Percentage Furloughed: 4%
Who is furloughed ("stays home") : Public affairs officers.
Who must work: VA Nurses.
This related article explains more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/politics/federal-agencies-lay-out-contingency-plans-for-possible-shutdown.html

As for IDES/MEB/PEB issues, as well as Federal Court issues, I have a few email queries out to my contacts. I will update if/when they respond.
Click to expand...

Indeed, interesting; well, we shall see! Thanks! :confused:

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
... said:
"The Veterans Affairs Department warned Saturday that an extended government shutdown could result in a cutoff of veterans’ benefits checks by the end of October."

"Earlier, the VA had stated that benefits checks would continue under a government shutdown but that claims processing could be delayed. Now, VA officials said claims processors will be exempted from the shutdown, so they’ll continue to process applications and pending claims."

Per the linked article ...


http://www.militarytimes.com/articl...A-Extended-shutdown-could-stop-disability-pay
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LOL the Military Times is the Globe of the military, enough specks of truth, but A LOT of grey everywhere else. Though there are times that they do have good coverage over things, I tend NOT to read much from their papers...
 
grizz13 said:
LOL the Military Times is the Globe of the military, enough specks of truth, but A LOT of grey everywhere else. Though there are times that they do have good coverage over things, I tend NOT to read much from their papers...
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ranger2992 said:
Interesting since they are appropriated a year in advance. I think one think one thing that we all have to watch for is political brinksmanship. People from all branches of service are going to come out and say how bad this is. They are all now trying put put pressure on sensitive points.

Let's all hope and pray that this ends quick.
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The appropriated funding for the VA will run out by the end of October if the shutdown extends that long
 
Combat Eng said:
The appropriated funding for the VA will run out by the end of October if the shutdown extends that long
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That is what the article says, but it is not 100% true. They may lose funds for some admin stuff, but medical care is appropriated already. This is saber rattling by the administration to get people excited. Combine that with the fact the longest gov shutdown in history is 21 days, I would not count that as a viable outcome.

My suggestion would be prepared for a lot of mud to be thrown in the next 48 hours. If you remember, in 2010 the same exact thing happened. It went to the final hours. I was in Afghanistan at the time, and our BC pulled us all together to us know that we were not going to be paid, that death benefits would not be paid, nor any insurance until the deadlock was solved. He said it would all be back paid, but we had to trudge on. It was a horrible conversation for him and us. He was a good man and I know it hurt him to have to give that news.

Politicians playing veterans and service members as trump cards is the worst thing I can think of, but they do it all the time.
 
So if the budget isn't signed and it goes into October all of us using education benefits and receiving VA disability will not get paid?
 
I hope all of our elected leaders can come to an agreement. With that being said, I am sure it isn't likely to happen before midnight tonight. I know that any shutdown will affect IDES claims because the case managers are civilian employees so if your case has been sent to the PEB it may sit longer. If the VA does complete your proposed ratings during the time of the shutdown then there won't be a case worker there to handle your package. Regardless of what the VA does the bottle neck will be at the PEB's. I would also think that if you had a formal hearing scheduled that it may get pushed back to a later date because of a lack of funds for travel to the PEB.

Everything above is simply my opinion and I hope that it is all untrue or that we avoid a shutdown. All of you will be in my thoughs and prayers and I hope that I remain in yours. This shutdown hurts me too because being a National Guard Military Technician I will be furloughed without pay if the shutdown occurs and unless congress can agree to back pay everyone following a shutdown I will likely lose a week's pay and have my time in IDES extended even more. As a civilian I don't make as much as I do in a military status so it is already hard enough to get by on what I make after taxes, health care, and a debt I incurred while on INCAP for health care while I was away from work. My portion of my health care premiums are $138 every two weeks for my current plan and $125 every two weeks for the debt incurred for my continued coverage...

It is also my opinion that we all can change this by sharing with everyone we know about the harships we are facing and voting out every single incumbent in the current House and Senate to show them that it is not ok to use all of us to prove the other side wrong. There is no right or wrong when it comes to taking away earned benefits from veterans but sending Social Security checks to people who have never served their country for a minute and never will unless it involves holding their hand out.

Oh yeah I just saw on defense.gov that Secretary Hagel is running around Asia like everything is business as usual while all of us are stuck waiting to see if and how our lives will be affected...
 
I just spoke with my Voc Rehab counselor and she said "all disability payments WILL stop" if the budget is not signed, this includes BAH stipends. She did say that once budget is signed Vets will receive retroactive payments but she said she has not been told at which the speed of those payments will be dispersed. My question now is this: since my disability rating is higher I don't get a retirement check from the AF. If this shutdown happens will I receive my pension check from the AF or are those not going to be paid too?
 
7LVL said:
I just spoke with my Voc Rehab counselor and she said "all disability payments WILL stop" if the budget is not signed, this includes BAH stipends. She did say that once budget is signed Vets will receive retroactive payments but she said she has not been told at which the speed of those payments will be dispersed. My question now is this: since my disability rating is higher I don't get a retirement check from the AF. If this shutdown happens will I receive my pension check from the AF or are those not going to be paid too?
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Honestly, I don't believe she knows what she is talking about. Attached is a VA document I pulled from their site that describes the effects of the government shutdown. Pay special attention to page 5 and page 8. They both deal with VBA issues such as voc rehab, comp and pen, and ratings appeals. The first page also will show you that medical services will continue.

Again, the VA is appropriated two years in advance. They have money for this and will continue providing services.

An important aspect of this thread is not to post purely speculative comments. Please post references that can be verified. The purpose is not to panic members, but educate them on what can, or is likely to be affected. There is going to be lot's of mud slinged from both sides of the isle. Don't let yourself get caught up with that, or you will become exactly what they want, a victim.

Joe

BTW, this is dated 3 days ago.
 

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