WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has established emergency procedures for veterans whose VA financial benefits have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“It is critical that veterans and their families who are victims of this devastating hurricane continue to have access to their funds,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Nicholson said the Department is providing replacement checks for victims of Hurricane Katrina who are unable to obtain VA benefits checks mailed to their homes or electronically deposited in banks within the affected area.
More than 80 percent of veterans receive their VA benefits checks through direct deposit and those payments will continue without interruption. Veterans and beneficiaries who do not have access to their banks or who normally receive a paper check can obtain a replacement check by calling 1-800-827-1000 or by visiting any VA regional office in the country. VA hospitals are not able to provide replacement checks.
For questions related to health care for veterans within the hurricane zone, VA is operating a toll-free hot-line at 1-800-507-4571. Information for veterans affected by the hurricane is also available on the Internet at http://www.va.gov.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
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