Sen. Carper and VA Medical Center Highlight Aug. 9 PACT Act Deadline

U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a 23-year Veteran of the U.S. Navy, joined representatives from the Wilmington VA Medical Center today to highlight the benefit of filing a claim under the PACT Act by Aug. 9, 2023, for Veterans to be eligible for 12 months of backdated compensation. The PACT Act, supported by Delaware’s Congressional Delegation of Sens. Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for more than 3.5 million veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras.

“As the last serving Vietnam Veteran in the Senate, I believe it is our sacred obligation to care for our servicemen and women – along with their families – when they return home,” said Sen. Carper. “When the President signed the PACT Act into law, he put into place the most significant expansion of VA Health Care for Veterans and their survivors in 30 years. We must make sure veterans here in Delaware and across the nation sign up for the health care and benefits they have earned through their service. There’s no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits. But if a Veteran files a PACT Act claim – or quickly submits an intent to file – by August 9, 2023, they may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.”

The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act helps veterans and their families in the following ways:

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for upwards of 3.5 million Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.
• Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures.
• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.
• Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care.
• Helps the VA improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.

“Wilmington VA Medical Center staff are excited to now provide care for the many Veterans impacted by toxic exposure,” said Kim Butler, Associate Director, Wilmington VAMC. “We’re appreciative that Senator Carper chooses to highlight this important new authority.  Anyone wondering whether they qualify under this new law can start a claim online or stop by one of our facilities.”

Sen. Carper and the VA encourage all eligible Veterans and survivors to file a claim – or submit their intent to file a claim – for PACT Act-related benefits now. Veterans who do so by Aug. 9, 2023, may have their benefits, if granted, backdated to Aug. 10, 2022, the day that President Biden signed the bill into law. Veterans can go VA.gov/PACTAct.

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