The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released its PACT Act Year-In-Review Dashboard. The initiative highlights more than $1.85 billion in earned benefits delivered to veterans across the U.S. since the law's enactment, according to an Aug. 10 news release.
"Thanks to President Biden, millions of veterans who fought for our country are now getting health care and compensation for the conditions that followed them home from war," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in the release. "We’re proud that so many veterans and survivors have already benefited from the PACT Act, but this is just the beginning. We won’t rest until every veteran and every survivor gets the VA health care and benefits they deserve."
The law led to a historic increase in care and benefits, with more than $1.85 billion in earned PACT Act benefits distributed to veterans and survivors, the release reported. The VA has processed a record-breaking 1.65 million veteran claims this fiscal year. This is 16% more year-to-date than the previous record.
Furthermore, veteran access to healthcare has expanded significantly, with 332,252 veterans enrolling in VA health care since Aug. 10. The VA has also taken steps to screen more than 4.1 million veterans for toxic exposures, offering convenient and free screenings under the PACT Act to detect and address diseases, according to the release.
A substantial outreach campaign has made it so veterans and survivors are applying for benefits at a record-breaking rate. This fiscal year, 1.95 million total claims have been submitted, including 843,448 PACT Act-specific claims, marking a 37% increase from the previous year. Veterans have also submitted 1.65 million "intents to file," a 44% rise from last year, the release reported.
"The PACT Act is here to stay, and Veterans and survivors can apply anytime for the care and benefits they’ve earned," the news release noted.
Veterans or survivors who apply for PACT Act benefits by Aug. 14 will be eligible to have the benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022 — the day the Act was signed into law. According to the release, this Aug. 14 date is an extension from the original deadline of Aug. 9.
