I receive 60% comp. from VA and get an additional amt for my disabled son. Who do I contact regarding this amount?

SSgt John Carpenter — Thu, 09 May 2019 09:35:06 -0400

I was discharged from military in 1974 and I adopted my Autistic son in 1985. The VA started paying me an additional amount to my comp claim in 2009. I would like to know why they did not start paying the amount for disabled son since the time I adopted him. Who do I contact about this? Our local VA rep was not sure who I would contact

Response by SrA Travis Griffin made May 9 at 2019 10:01 AM

SrA Travis Griffin — Thu, 09 May 2019 10:01:02 -0400

You need to contact the Department of Veteran Affairs. The number is [login to see] . They should be able to help you.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made May 9 at 2019 10:38 AM

SP5 Peter Keane — Thu, 09 May 2019 10:38:01 -0400

from the VA : If it’s been more than 1 year since you got married or had or adopted a child, we may not pay you back to the date of the marriage, birth, or adoption. Instead, we may pay you back only to the date we received your claim for additional disability for the dependent or, in some cases, up to a year before before this date.

Response by Sgt Robert Case made May 9 at 2019 2:48 PM

Sgt Robert Case — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:48:05 -0400

The law, Title 38, only allows VA to use a pay date on a claim for additional dependents pay to the first day of the month following the date you filed the claim. It's a way congress came up with screwing us out of money, and not the VA's fault. They can't go back to 85 unless you submitted the claim in 85?
Call VA at [login to see] and you should get same answer. You can also go to VA.Gov, click on Contact Us Tab in upper right, go down to ask a question and follow the prompts to get an answer using IRIS, the va portal for Q&A.
Who is the "VA Rep" you mention? It helps to understand this because all "VA Reps" are not always VA employees. Some are county people (usually good) some are state people (also good) and some are reps from non-profit Veterans Service Organizations like DAV, VFW, PVA, Amer.Legion, WWA, etc etc.

Response by SPC Pat Laughon made May 9 at 2019 9:18 PM

SPC Pat Laughon — Thu, 09 May 2019 21:18:45 -0400

Your son is eligible as helpless child if disabled on 18th birthday. Prior to that he would be normal dependent child which ends on 18th birthday.

Response by CPT Allan Lobeck made May 10 at 2019 2:15 AM

CPT Allan Lobeck — Fri, 10 May 2019 02:15:33 -0400

contact your local DAV rep

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made May 10 at 2019 9:39 AM

PVT Mark Zehner — Fri, 10 May 2019 09:39:21 -0400

I'm dealing with a guy with a similar problem. Contact your local DAV chapter ask for a State or a National representative they will file the paperwork for you. You will need to sign a power of attorney to this person but it's only good for this issue do no worries. It sometimes takes a while for your process to go through but it's the easiest way! All the best