The Department of Veterans Affairs has notified veterans in several states that the address the agency has on file for them may have been incorrectly changed.
In social media postings and press releases, the VA has stated that both the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration have "detected inconsistencies with how veterans' permanent mailing addresses are being updated and stored at VHA medical facilities and shared with the national enrollment system."
The postings urge all veterans to verify that the information the VA has on file for them is correct. To do this, veterans should go to www.va.gov/change-address and verify that their mailing and home addresses, phone number and email information are all correct.
If you don't have an online account, the webpage will let you create one. If you are unable to do so, you can call the VA at 877-222-8387 to speak with a live person to check out the info the department has on file for you. You can also visit a local VA office for assistance.
Updating your address will affect the information the VA has for:
- VA health care (including prescriptions, appointment reminders, lab and test results, and other communications)
- Disability compensation
- Pension benefits
- Claims and appeals
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
It will not update the mailing address the VA uses for:
- GI Bill benefits
- Home loans
- Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
- Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance
- The Foreign Medical Program
Officials say the different computer systems do not talk to each other. The change of address page above explains how to change your address for these programs.
-- Jim Absher can be reached at jim.absher@monster.com.
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