VA MOVES THE OFFICE OF SURVIVORS ASSISTANCE TO MAKE BENEFITS ACCESS EASIER
In a move aimed at simplifying and improving access to crucial support for bereaved military families, the Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking to restructure the placement of the Office of Survivors Assistance from the Veterans Benefits Administration back into the Office of the Secretary. Here, a staff of five will help oversee the program and will provide Doug Collins guidance.
VA officials released a statement earlier this week stating that by moving the office back into the Office of the Secretary, they will help reduce the bureaucracy faced by eligible survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and servicemembers.
VA Officials Call for a Better, More Accessible System
The push to reposition the Office of Survivors Assistance is championed by key figures within the VA, including VA Secretary Doug Collins.
Collins believes that placing the office outside the direct purview of the Veterans Benefits Administration will allow it to function with greater autonomy and focus specifically on the unique needs of surviving spouses, dependents, and parents.
He went on to explain that the current structure has reportedly led to instances where the specialized needs of Veterans and military families are not adequately addressed or easily identified within the larger Veterans benefits administration system.
Collins explained, “The last thing survivors need in their time of grief is frustrating red tape and bureaucracy. That’s why we are creating a better system to more quickly and effectively provide survivors the services, support and compassion they’ve earned.”
What Is the Office of the Secretary?
The Office of the Secretary was established under the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. The office was intended to act as a “hub” to help “advise the Secretary on VA policies, programs, legislative issues, and other initiatives affecting survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and members of the Armed Forces.”
Before the Biden Administration moved the Office of the Secretary in February of 2021 to the Veterans Benefits Administration, it was shifted from the secretary’s office to the Chief of Staff to the Veteran Experience Office.
This shift led to a lot of benefits survivors not knowing that the office existed. According to the senior director of government and legislative affairs for the nonprofit Tragedy Assistance eProgram for Survivors,
“The frequent moves of OSA and its minimal staffing appear to the survivor community to reflect a less than full understanding of the comprehensive nature of their needs and willingness to support their access to the full range of care, benefits, and memorial services that they so desperately need at a most difficult time in their lives,” she said, noting that under the Pension and Fiduciary Service, OSA staff only had access to pension and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation records and no information about other benefits.
OSA appears not to have the authority and full range of case management coordination processes in place to ensure that they can help survivors access all of the care and memorial services available in other administrations within the VA.”
The VA Hopes That This Change Will Improve the Benefits Process for Veterans
Through the proposed change, the VA is aiming to improve the benefits process for survivors. Survivors often face a complex web of applications, eligibility requirements, and bureaucratic procedures while grappling with grief.
By elevating the Office of Survivors Assistance, the VA aims to create a more streamlined and dedicated point of contact.
This would allow the office to develop specialized expertise, tailor its outreach efforts, and advocate more effectively for the specific needs of survivors seeking access to Veterans Benefits Administration programs.
What Impact Will The Office of Survivor Assistance Shift Have on Survivor Support?
While the final decision on the relocation of the Office of Survivors Assistance is pending, the initiative reflects a growing recognition within the VA of the importance of providing dedicated and specialized support to grieving surviving families and Veterans.
By potentially separating the office from the Veterans Benefits Administration, the department says that it will help to ensure that individuals receive the guidance necessary to navigate the complexities of Veterans Benefits Administration.
The outcome of this proposed change is sure to be closely watched by survivor advocacy groups and the Veteran community, as it holds the potential to significantly impact how military families can access resources and benefits.
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