Rep. Ciscomani Questions VA on Long Wait Times for Veteran Counseling

Veteran Counseling Wait Times

• 🎯 Rep. Juan Ciscomani questioned the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Benefits at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Margarita Devlin, regarding extended wait times for VA counseling services.
• 📌 The average wait time at the Phoenix VA for vocational rehab counseling was reported as 114 days, significantly exceeding the VA's goal of 60 days.
• 💡 In response, Devlin stated that wait times in Arizona have improved to just over 41 days due to a national strategy of reassigning cases and utilizing virtual counseling capabilities.
• 🚀 This strategy allows veterans to connect with counselors from any station with available capacity, aiming to expedite entitlement decisions and program entry.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program

• 💡 Ciscomani highlighted the importance of his bill, HR 3579, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act, which emphasizes success metrics like participant employment status and annual wages.
• 📈 Transparency in publishing average wait times for counselors was also stressed as crucial for program improvement.
• ⚠️ Ciscomani expressed concern that while the statewide average has improved, wait times at the Phoenix VA may still be high, suggesting a need for further investigation.

VR&E Program Reenrollment

• ❓ Ciscomani inquired about the high reenrollment rate in the VR&E program, with approximately 45% of veterans reenrolling.
• 💡 Devlin explained that reenrollment is permitted by statute if a veteran's disability worsens or they can no longer perform their previous occupation, necessitating a new rehabilitation plan and goal.
• ✅ This reenrollment is considered a new program experience rather than a continuation of a previous one.