A bill to expedite processing of veterans benefits co-sponsored by state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) and state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) was recently signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The new law requires directors of city and county veterans service agencies to become accredited as veterans’ service organization representatives. Only individuals who have this accreditation have access to pertinent data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be able process benefit claims.
Approximately 40 percent of those representatives in New York State are currently not accredited as veterans’ service organization representatives, Schimel and Martins said at a press conference trumpeting the new law last Friday.
“This is a perfect bill. No cost to the state and the veterans will see immediate results,” Schimel said in the press conference at Albertson VFW Post 5253. “The paperwork needs to be streamlined and efficient and this bill accomplishes that.”
She said as things stand, veterans’ service organization representatives who are not accredited can’t review veterans’ benefits claims or effectively manage workers who process those claims.
The new law, which takes effect on Aug. 30, requires current directors of local veterans agencies to become accredited within three years. Directors hired after the law is in force would have 18 months to become an accredited veterans’ service organization representative.
“Through this law, we’ve been able to legislate common sense,” Martins said. “To make sure someone is there to process the benefits is key.”
Cuomo signed the bill into law on July 31, according to Martins spokesman Joseph Rizza.
Schimel and Martins both credited Andrew Booth, co-chair of the Nassau County American Legion’s Legislative Committee, for taking the initiative to draft the first version of the bill and for his persistence in lobbying them both to support it.
“This bill was a must. This bill had to be done,” Booth said. “No longer can anybody be a director without doing quality control in the [Veterans Affairs] agency.”
Booth praised the bipartisan effort that enabled the bill to get through both houses of the state Legislature in the last session.
John Javis, chair of the Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island said 500,000 veterans benefit claims statewide are now 120 days old. He said it typically takes 18 months for veterans’ claims to be settled. And he said veterans are committing suicide at a rate of 22 per day nationwide.
“The time is right for this legislation,” Javis said.
Asked why the bill provides a three-year window for directors of veterans service agencies to become accredited as veterans’ service organization representatives, Schimel and Martins said there were political considerations in gathering support for the measure.
“We had discussions about it,” Martins said.
But he said it was ultimately necessary to compromise on the accreditation time frame. Schimel said without the three-year allowance for accreditation, the bill wouldn’t have passed in the state Assembly.
“It should make it easier for veterans to get their benefits accurately,” said Tom Rumore, commander of the Albertson VFW post.
