Legislation would help cut red tape for veterans

Legislation would help cut red tape for veterans
BY KRISTINA SMITH HORN • Watchdog/enterprise reporter • November 11, 2009


FREMONT -- A U.S. senator introduced legislation Tuesday that he said could help Ohio's disabled veterans receive medical and social security benefits faster with less bureaucracy.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced the Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act to the Senate. The BRAVE Act, if approved, would allow disabled veterans to apply at the U.S. Veterans Administration for benefits and Social Security disability at the same time, Brown said.

Currently, they must apply separately to the VA and Social Security. "It's a cumbersome process," Brown said. "It takes weeks, sometimes months, for people to go through this. If you can meet VA criteria, you automatically should meet Social Security disability requirements."
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