• 20
  • January
    2012

The number of soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan is increasing each day. Families that have spent so many anxious nights hoping for a safe return of their loved ones are now able to celebrate and focus on the future.

For many veterans, this can be a very unsettling time. Finding employment or continuing care for wartime injuries can lead to questions and uncertainty. While there are many programs in place to assist those who have served their country so admirably, it is not uncommon for there to be a long wait to receive veterans' benefits. With more and more soldiers returning and veterans from other wars aging, this wait could get even longer.

According the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), last year there were over 1.5 million veterans waiting to receive their benefits. Wait times ranged anywhere from 6 months to years if an appeal is necessary.

Many soldiers are applying for benefits due to disabilities or injuries that directly resulted from their service time. Veterans from the Vietnam War are experiencing health problems related to the use of Agent Orange, while many soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq have been seriously injured by insurgents using roadside bombs.

Officials and legislators have made reducing wait times for veterans a priority, as many depend upon these benefits to help them make ends meet. While more attention is being focused on the issue, there are some steps that veterans can take to help the process of applying for benefits run more smoothly.

For example, when applying for veterans' benefits or Social Security Disability, it is essential that applications are completed properly. Many going through this process for the first time are unsure what to include, and may omit necessary documentation. While the process may be confusing, attorneys experienced with veterans' benefits can help ensure that applications are complete and give the agency enough information to award benefits.