{"id":80829,"date":"2024-09-19T16:56:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T16:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/09\/19\/congress-approves-3b-lifeline-to-prevent-delay-in-vet-benefits\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:38:03","slug":"congress-approves-3b-lifeline-to-prevent-delay-in-vet-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/veterans\/2024\/09\/19\/congress-approves-3b-lifeline-to-prevent-delay-in-vet-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress approves $3B lifeline to prevent delay in vet benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Senate lawmakers approved a $3 billion budget stopgap<\/a> for the Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday, preventing a threatened delay in the delivery of some veterans benefits<\/a> checks next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move came just two days after House lawmakers advanced the same appropriations measure, which also mandates a report from department officials on the reasons behind the department\u2019s budget shortfall<\/a> within a month. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden before the end of Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sept. 20 was the deadline given by VA leaders<\/a> earlier this month for when they needed money approved by Congress to avoid benefits delays starting in October. On Wednesday, Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs<\/a> told members of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee that education support and monthly disability payouts could be delayed days or weeks without the emergency funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe majority of the funds that we provide are delivered through direct deposit \u2026 and we\u2019re working closely with the Treasury to find ways to compress that timeline,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t