Rep. Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia tells FOX 29 there are 875,000 veterans who have waited more than four months to get the benefits they deserve from Veteran's Affairs.
Fattah, a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, who has a Veterans Affairs claim center and hospital in his district, says "this has been a decades-old problem for hundreds of thousands of veterans."
Fattah, in an interview with FOX 29 last week, listed a number of reasons for the long wait for benefits.
He said "not only is Veterans Affairs largely paperwork dependent, its computers often have different operating and software systems." Fattah also said there are walls of paper files still to be entered into VA computers.
Fattah argues the Congress and the Obama Administration are working on the problems. He says 17 billion in additional funding has been provided to the VA and more case workers have been added. He says there is a new effort underway to get some of the old records on computers, and it seems to be working well.
The Congressman still sees a number of challenges for Veterans Affairs.
He says case workers carry about a 400 case workload. He is concerned that the files of older veterans are sometimes lost causing their cases to drag on for years.
FOX 29's Claudia Gomez had been reporting recently on veterans from wars long past who have had to fight another battle to get the benefits they believe they deserve.
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Wednesday, May 8 2013 4:26 PM EDT2013-05-08 20:26:44 GMT
You saw it only on FOX, a state representative so desperate to get away from investigative reporter Jeff Cole that he drove into traffic. Now, see what happened after our story aired.
You saw it only on FOX, a state representative so desperate to get away from investigative reporter Jeff Cole that he drove into traffic. Now, see what happened after our story aired.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 10:21 AM EDT2013-05-07 14:21:17 GMT
The man behind the wheel of that car is a state representative. So, why is he darting into traffic, ducking our questions? Watch this exclusive report by FOX 29 Investigates' Jeff Cole.
The man behind the wheel of that car is a state representative. So, why is he darting into traffic, ducking our questions? Watch this exclusive report by FOX 29 Investigates' Jeff Cole.
Tuesday, April 16 2013 1:41 PM EDT2013-04-16 17:41:36 GMT
They go to school for years, with taxpayers helping to foot-the-bill, to become doctors, dentists and chiropractors. But years later, why do they owe Uncle Sam millions of dollars in school loans?
They go to school for years, with taxpayers helping to foot-the-bill, to become doctors, dentists and chiropractors. But years later, why do they owe Uncle Sam millions of dollars in school loans?
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:20 AM EDT2013-05-19 12:20:57 GMT
Finding a job without a college degree can be a difficult task, even if you're a war veteran. Now, they have the opportunity to turn their military training into college credits.
Finding a job without a college degree can be a difficult task, even if you're a war veteran. Now, they have the opportunity to turn their military training into college credits.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:58 AM EDT2013-05-19 11:58:46 GMT
Once hailed as a hero after surviving a shotgun blast to his face in 2007, a former police officer is now charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint he met at a party.
Once hailed as a hero after surviving a shotgun blast to his face in 2007, a former police officer is now charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint he met at a party.
Sunday, May 19 2013 1:45 AM EDT2013-05-19 05:45:51 GMT
A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold in Florida, but there were also million-dollar winners sold in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the lottery.
A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold in Florida, but there were also million-dollar winners sold in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the lottery's website.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:28 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:28:06 GMT
Rain moved in Saturday afternoon and the chance for it will stick around through the seven day forecast.
It becomes very unsettled across our area with clounds and showers again Sunday. The best chance for rain is in the morning and afternoon thunderstorms are possible towards our south.
Sunday is cool but we do warm up well into the 80s by Tuesday. With the warm weather comes a better chance for thunderstorms.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:44 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:44:01 GMT
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:38:13 GMT
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
