BIG vent... working with the VA

[mtsoxfan]

My father just passed, 12-21-22...
I am executor and am dealing with the VA portion. OK< I get long hold times, only 1 call out of 8 have been less than 56 minute wait. Everyone was nice and accomidating. My first call to the Death Benefits division went smoothly, until it was time to email me forms to fill out. Never came. Two days later, today, I called back. Traditional wait times. Once connected, very nice etc... and the forms came within the hour as promised. One download looked like a cover letter. First and last name of Pop was right. Wrong middle initial. XXXed out SS number except for last 4 was wrong. So I called back, traditional wait time. Gave name and SS# only to be told, no record of my Pop. All other departments in VA, including DB all found him, but not this guy. Couldnt explain the clerical mix up, nor not being able to find record of my Pop. Put me on hold for supervisor. (he offered, I didn't ask for)
After holding 30+ minutes, I hung up. Life is too short...
Lower middle class here, couldn't imagine a family that was really depending on death benefits in order to put loved one in the ground.
This is not about the help, but the red tape etc.

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[Joeiconic]

Sorry for your loss. And to think a lot of the population would like to have government run health care for all. That being said, my dad goes to the VA and they have always been very good to him and he is very grateful for their care.

 

[AzScorpion]

Sorry to hear about your fathers passing. Venting is good and you have a whole family here willing to listen and help if needed. It's hard enough going through something like this without having to deal with all the red tape especially around the holidays. Maybe try again next week and hopefully you'll get someone more knowledgeable and helpful.

 

[mtsoxfan]

My Pop was happy with the care from the VA as well. Never once did I hear him complain about the 6 month wait for Dr. visits.
Me, it would burn me that a veteran had to wait, while our guests crossing the border, once legal, didn't have to. Not my perception, but out of the mouth of a traveling nurse. Maybe they figured the longer you make an elderly person wait, less chance the VA would have to pay for the care.

 

[mtsoxfan]

Sorry to hear about your fathers passing. Venting is good and you have a whole family here willing to listen and help if needed. It's hard enough going through something like this without having to deal with all the red tape especially around the holidays. Maybe try again next week and hopefully you'll get someone more knowledgeable and helpful.

Thanks, and I will try that. Maybe I'm just tired...

 

[Tracy Bowman]

God Bless you. Very sorry about your dad.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Sorry for your loss.

For how good the VA has treated me, it still isn't as nice as a regular PPO.

My own rant : I think anyone who thinks the federal government should run our Healthcare system should be required to spend 6 months in the VA system trying to get care for something that doesn't fit neatly into a little box as diagnosed by the VA....

 

[Radioman]

My father just passed, 12-21-22...
I am executor and am dealing with the VA portion. OK< I get long hold times, only 1 call out of 8 have been less than 56 minute wait. Everyone was nice and accomidating. My first call to the Death Benefits division went smoothly, until it was time to email me forms to fill out. Never came. Two days later, today, I called back. Traditional wait times. Once connected, very nice etc... and the forms came within the hour as promised. One download looked like a cover letter. First and last name of Pop was right. Wrong middle initial. XXXed out SS number except for last 4 was wrong. So I called back, traditional wait time. Gave name and SS# only to be told, no record of my Pop. All other departments in VA, including DB all found him, but not this guy. Couldnt explain the clerical mix up, nor not being able to find record of my Pop. Put me on hold for supervisor. (he offered, I didn't ask for)
After holding 30+ minutes, I hung up. Life is too short...
Lower middle class here, couldn't imagine a family that was really depending on death benefits in order to put loved one in the ground.
This is not about the help, but the red tape etc.

Sorry to hear of you father's passing.
When I attended school under the GI bill, I had problems communicating with the VA a few times. Someone suggested that I contact my congressperson and explain my difficulties. Wow, what a difference that made. I was contacted right away and my problem was dealt with promptly. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

 

[JesseS]

My father just passed, 12-21-22...
I am executor and am dealing with the VA portion. OK< I get long hold times, only 1 call out of 8 have been less than 56 minute wait. Everyone was nice and accomidating. My first call to the Death Benefits division went smoothly, until it was time to email me forms to fill out. Never came. Two days later, today, I called back. Traditional wait times. Once connected, very nice etc... and the forms came within the hour as promised. One download looked like a cover letter. First and last name of Pop was right. Wrong middle initial. XXXed out SS number except for last 4 was wrong. So I called back, traditional wait time. Gave name and SS# only to be told, no record of my Pop. All other departments in VA, including DB all found him, but not this guy. Couldnt explain the clerical mix up, nor not being able to find record of my Pop. Put me on hold for supervisor. (he offered, I didn't ask for)
After holding 30+ minutes, I hung up. Life is too short...
Lower middle class here, couldn't imagine a family that was really depending on death benefits in order to put loved one in the ground.
This is not about the help, but the red tape etc.

First off, Sorry for your loss. As for the VA I have found it is so much eaiser and less frustrating to contact you local VA assistance office, they can help you navigate getting everything worked out. The one here is run by a retired MSGT and he is very knowledgeable, helped me get my PACT ACT disability benefits without hassle, and no hanging on the phone all day.

 

[dtech]

My Pop was happy with the care from the VA as well. Never once did I hear him complain about the 6 month wait for Dr. visits.
Me, it would burn me that a veteran had to wait, while our guests crossing the border, once legal, didn't have to. Not my perception, but out of the mouth of a traveling nurse. Maybe they figured the longer you make an elderly person wait, less chance the VA would have to pay for the care.

Not an isolated incident, social security can be the same way, these are bureaucracies that often rely on inefficient systems and a number of employees that essentially have guaranteed jobs for life. You might also consider contacting your elected representatives in DC , some have staff that can work on your behalf .The debacle with the VA hospital in Denver brought a lot of neg publicity on the VA and some of the missteps that were publicized were eye openers to put in mildly. Good luck. I've used gov agencies several times to settle disputes with airlines and Telcom, but the VA and ss are much larger beauruacies and therefore more challenging

 

[Chris M]

My father just passed, 12-21-22...
I am executor and am dealing with the VA portion. OK< I get long hold times, only 1 call out of 8 have been less than 56 minute wait. Everyone was nice and accomidating. My first call to the Death Benefits division went smoothly, until it was time to email me forms to fill out. Never came. Two days later, today, I called back. Traditional wait times. Once connected, very nice etc... and the forms came within the hour as promised. One download looked like a cover letter. First and last name of Pop was right. Wrong middle initial. XXXed out SS number except for last 4 was wrong. So I called back, traditional wait time. Gave name and SS# only to be told, no record of my Pop. All other departments in VA, including DB all found him, but not this guy. Couldnt explain the clerical mix up, nor not being able to find record of my Pop. Put me on hold for supervisor. (he offered, I didn't ask for)
After holding 30+ minutes, I hung up. Life is too short...
Lower middle class here, couldn't imagine a family that was really depending on death benefits in order to put loved one in the ground.
This is not about the help, but the red tape etc.

I am sorry for the passing of your dad, and deeply grateful for his service.

 

[bRaptor]

Good luck, phoning them is very difficult. Persistence is the key, and like all customer service people, not all are equally as helpful. Hopefully the next time you call, they can be more helpful.

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