Arlington, VA — A new report released this week from the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that improper funding of VA burial payments will cost taxpayers $28 million over the next five years.
The investigation, started by the OIG in 2014, found the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) made thousands of improperly automated burial payments from August 2014 to January 2015. The report also found the VBA wrongly cut off disability compensation benefits to at least 68 veterans who are still alive and in need of monthly payments to receive care.
Concerned Veterans for America Policy Director Dan Caldwell issued the following statement:
“These regular, costly errors from VA leadership are negatively impacting veterans across the country. Every cent we send to the VA should be spent ensuring veterans have access to high quality care, but instead we’re left paying for sloppy mistakes made by VA bureaucrats. Without proper accountability reforms, widespread transparency, and regular audits, these kind of problems will continue to fester at the VA, impacting veterans, military families, and all tax-paying Americans.”
###