Veterans
Deadline for veterans to apply for backdated PACT Act benefits is Aug. 9
Stars and Stripes
August 2, 2023
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An airman tosses unserviceable uniform items into a burn pit at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on March 10, 2008. (Julianne Showalter/U.S. Air Force)
Just over a year ago, President Joe Biden signed the law that will expand eligibility for health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins.
Next week, Aug. 9, is the deadline for veterans to apply to receive the backdated benefits, or those owed in the year since the act was passed.
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, or PACT Act, seeks to provide an easy path to health care and benefits for veterans who served near open-air burn pits, which were used throughout the 1990s and the post-9/11 wars to dispose of garbage, jet fuel and other materials.
Any veterans who believe they were exposed to toxic substances while in service can apply. Surviving minor children and spouses of veterans who died from service-related disease can receive compensation, too. Monthly payments can range from $165 to over $4,000 per month, depending on a veteran’s disability rating and their number of dependents, according to the VA.
For those who served in post-9/11 wars, those conditions include:
Asthma
Chronic bronchitis
Many common types of cancer
Emphysema
Pulmonary fibrosis
For those who served in the Vietnam War, those conditions include:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Type 2 diabetes
Certain cancers
Hypothyroidism
Parkinson’s disease
During a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in July, the Department of Veterans Affairs said it has received more than 772,000 claims and completed about 425,000, with a 79% approval rating, as of July 26.
Veterans and families can learn more about the PACT Act by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411.
Contributing: Tribune News Service