Veterans Outraged as VA Shifts Blame for Overpayments: What You Need to Know

Christopher Praino, a veteran, faced a shocking dilemma after he went back on active duty in 2019. He signed a waiver and was told his $965 monthly payment from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would stop due to a law that prohibits receiving both active-duty pay and VA benefits at the same time.

However, the VA didn’t follow through completely. Instead, they sent inconsistent amounts over the last three years, sometimes as low as $0 and other times over $2,000. Praino recalls, “The VA never stopped. It was response after response and call after call.” Despite his efforts, in 2023, he received a letter claiming he owed nearly $68,000. The VA began deducting money from his military pay, leaving him struggling to support his family of five.

Praino expressed deep emotional distress about the situation, saying, “It’s eating away at me.” During a congressional hearing, officials blamed veterans for not reporting changes that could have led to reduced benefits. But Praino and others, like Brent Aber, argued they had informed the VA. Yet, overpayments continued for months or even years.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell of Texas highlighted that the VA overpaid veterans by roughly $5.1 billion in disability and pension payments from 2021 to 2024, and that about $1 billion is lost to administrative errors annually. He stated, “It’s not the veterans’ fault; it’s the system that is failing.” The overpayment issue is made worse by outdated systems that struggle with information sharing.

Brent Aber’s experience reflects similar frustrations. After reporting his divorce in 2015 to remove his ex-wife as a dependent, he learned years later that he owed more than $17,700 because the change wasn’t reflected in the VA’s system. Now, with $500 deducted from his monthly compensation, Aber has to cut costs on essentials.

Additionally, John Mullens faced problems after he reported a dependent change after his son became eligible for a VA education benefit. Despite his prompt reporting, the VA continued overpaying him. As of 2021, nearly $913 million of overpayments were attributed to dependent changes like his.

According to VA spokesperson Peter Kasperowicz, handling these changes takes time—averaging about 21 days to remove or 91 days to add a dependent. Unfortunately, in complex cases, many veterans don’t see timely corrections, leading to life-changing debts that accumulate over years.

The VA has acknowledged these problems, stating they are working to fix issues that limit communication within their systems. New measures are being introduced to lower improper payments and keep veterans informed.

For many veterans, the ripple effect of these financial missteps leads to significant stress and hardship. Praino, dealing with PTSD and chronic health issues, emphasized how this financial crisis compounds the challenges of military service, making emotional recovery even harder.

As veterans continue to raise these concerns, the hope is that necessary changes will finally improve the system, allowing them to focus on their recovery rather than tackle crippling debts.



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